Monday 30th July - Bray

And another glorious morning welcomed us with what looks to be perfect weather for a visit to the seaside. And after yet another healthy breakfast, complete with a small bit of traditional white pudding, we wandered through the throngs of tourists to Pearse Station to take the DART to Bray - a dormitory town about 12 miles out of Dublin. The journey took us through Dun Laoghaire and other seaside towns alongside Dublin Bay, including the very posh Dalkey, home of Lisa Stansfield and most of U2, until we got to the small town of Bray.

Our opponents played at the Carlisle Grounds, which is a couple of minutes' walk from the station. We had a wander into the ground since the gate was open and there was no one to stop us.

The ground was a wonderful mixture of old and new, not too dissimilar to Feethams, with an old barrel-shaped roof of the old stand, slowly falling to bits despite some new paint, and a bright new open seated terrace opposite with grassy slopes behind one of the goals.

We then walked along the seafront for a little while - the sea looked tempting, but with a beach like Brighton we'd decided to hunt out the Bray Porterhouse instead - the first of the three pubs they now run. Not long after, Neil joined us and we sat out watching the world go by...

And lo and behold there's the Darlo coach going by. Shortly after, Benno along with physio Nigel Parnell and kit-man Peter Darke wandered past and gave us a wave (well, that's what it looked like). No sign of the rest of the squad though - no doubt reserving their energy for the game. Finally the GoT joined us after they'd visited a few other pubs. Deciding that it would be silly to waste the good weather simply drinking, we go for a bit of an explore along the seafront.

After a few hundred yards we come across the team lounging outside the Esplanade Hotel . A little after this we came across Alex Jeannin - sat staring out to sea - a centime for his thoughts... He explains to us that Kirk Jackson hasn't travelled because of a 'muscle problem'. Time then for a quick bite to eat (and another beer) before heading to the ground. Good to see that there are a few more people coming to this game - but again there is a vast display of Arsenal, Liverpool, MUFC, Leeds and Celtic shirts.

CARLISLE GROUNDS: Home of Bray Wanderers

The GoT head straight for the club shop to get a few souvenirs - the first chance they've had all of the tour so they're buying everything in sight. Before the match, Liddle receives a spot of on-pitch chiropracty from the physio - we hear a large crack, but it seems to work!

Bray Wanderers 2-1 Darlington
Att: 400 approx. Darlo fans: 11. Entry £6.

In earlier friendlies, Premiership side Bray Wanderers had recently beaten Northampton 3-0 and then drew with Coventry 1-0 and so this was expected to be Darlo's sternest test of the tour. And so it proved. Darlington continue to play the three-man defence - Liddle, Brightwell and Jeannin - still looking very uncomfortable with each other and there was a great deal of shouting - mainly Brightwell - between them in order to keep on top of things.

Harper played at right wing-back and Betts at left-wing back. In a bright opening for both sides, Darlington took the lead (a shock lead according to the local papers) in the 5th minute through a good shot from Danny Mellanby - his second goal of the tour - and a real boost for the team after the previous low-key performances.

However, Darlo went to sleep and allowed Bray straight back into the game immediately after the restart - the defence gave the Bray front-line far too much room and Barry O'Connor volleyed in from the edge of the box - lots of accusative glances in the Darlo defence... Things got worse a couple of minutes later as Bray took the lead after continuing to prove too quick for Darlo - Ciarin Ryan heading in unopposed at the far post. Three goals in ten minutes - the locals scented blood and it looked like we were in for a hatful of goals (and most in our net).

Bray's forward line wasted a number of good opportunities through poor finishing, last ditch tackles and good work from Collett. Liddle spent a lot of time covering for Brightwell who, apart from his ability to head the ball away and make one other good tackle, continues to defy logic in even getting a game. The midfield was slow and cumbersome when they got the ball and by the time the ball was moved forward, the Bray defence were back in place. Quite often the ball was lofted forward from defence and Barry Conlon was unable to make anything of his possession. Most of the thought and invention came from Danny Mellanby and he was unlucky not to have drawn the Quakers level on a couple of occasions before half-time.

Alex Jeannin was withdrawn at half-time - he was complaining of what he suggested was a groin injury - as was first-half MOTM Danny Mellanby. They were replaced by the skinhead two-some of Hodgson and Convery who made an immediate impact as they won a freekick only for Convery to shoot straight at the keeper.

Hodgy then went in for a tackle with Bray defender Jason Bryne - no obvious foul from Hodgy - but the Bray player went down in a great deal of pain, clutching his chest and crying out in agony. It really looked quite serious and the tannoy announcer asked if there was a doctor in the ground. After five minutes or so he was stretchered off and dumped right under our noses on the sidelines before being taken to hospital (later released with badly bruised ribs).

Darlo went even closer as they hit the post with a looping header, Brightwell headed over the bar and Conlon had an effort cleared off the line - whilst Bray also had their chances - Collett again making more good saves and the Darlo defence also clearing off the line when it seemed certain Bray would score. Go to column two

A good workout for Darlo and no disgrace in losing to a well-organised and skilful side. However it is obvious that Darlo exhibit no such organisation themselves and it does not take a great deal of pressure to induce panic in the back-line. Gary Bennett a much quieter figure on the sidelines today - perhaps thinking of the reality of the season ahead of him...

Darlington: Collett, Ford, Harper, Liddle, Brightwell, Jeannin, Atkinson, Robson, Conlon, Mellanby, Betts (subs: Convery, Marsh, Hodgson). DAFTS MOTM: Danny Mellanby

Farewell - and a look ahead

Once the game was finished we took a few commemorative photos and made our farewells to the local fans before getting a mini-bus back to the bus stop, fortuitously next to a pub.

Here we reflected on a rare away win whilst a report of our triumph was phoned in to the Echo. And so off we went - tour over - and it started to bucket down just in case we hadn't realised it.

STORM BREWING: Conlon pressures the Dublin City defence, as the clouds gather ahead - over another season? PIC: Ted Blair

Player-by-player

It was difficult to assign marks during individual games so I will give my overall view of some of the players we're looking to help us gain promotion this season.

DAFTS line-up: All together for the group photo (right), (l-r) Paul, Paul's mate - sorry, couldn't remember your name!; Brian, Geoff, Neil, Neil J, Gavin, Liz and Ted.
Pics: Ted Blair

It is not easy to categorise Barry Conlon - he still looks far from fit and seems very one-footed - not too happy unless it's on his left peg. York fans have suggested he looks lazy and it has to be said he has what could be diplomatically called a languid style.

Neil Maddison played less than a game and in that he was well off the pace though it is obvious he is still regaining his fitness after his recent op.

Simon 'Betsy' Betts looked good - confident on the ball and willing to get stuck in - I have high hopes that he will prove to be an asset.

Danny Mellanby - our MOTT (Man of the Tour) after scoring two goals and showing some good invention up front, especially when playing with someone as uninspiring as Conlon. Let's hope he can show this form against league sides.

Glen Robson - similar in style to Adam Marsh - willing to work hard but not certain he knows where he fits in. Both Marsh and Robson would benefit from some dedicated coaching but we have no one at Darlo who can help them in this respect.

Gary Pearson - quiet but confident in the times he played - was positioned at the back between Liddle and Brightwell for part of the Dublin City game and didn't look too bad at all.

Mark Convery and Richard Hodgson seem to inject a bit more directness whenever they've played together - they allow us to play the ball down the wings and will take on defenders - something most of the midfield refuses to do. Benno seems determined to keep Hodgy on the bench and only deploy him at half-time - very annoying.

Clint Marcelle - played for an hour in the first game then not even a sub in the final two games (he may have had a knock). He has still to show the skills that a number of people assure us he has.

The defence - Craig Liddle continues to wear his exasperated face as he spends most of his time clearing up behind David Brightwell. I used to feel our defence was our strong point but I don't think this is still the case.

Tour verdict

The team failed to play as a unit and there appeared to be no organisation or game plan in any of these games - perhaps that was the point but somehow I doubt it. Hodgson was not usually played until the second half - this coincided with other substitutions, which meant we played the ball on the floor.

We must avoid the temptation to hoof balls to Colon (or even Marcelle) as rarely does anything come of these balls. Our current midfield (I do not include yet-to-be-fit Maddison here) have no one that will really attack with the ball. Outlook for the season - Depressing. On this basis, we will not fare much better than last.

Tour diary and photographs by Ted Blair

Food and drink

A DRAINING TOUR: Neil's the Mussels man (left), while Brian, Geoff and Neil enjoy the hospitality. Note a decent stout on the table , not Guinness! PICS: Ted Blair

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