Weekly Photo Challenge: Unusual

For the Transport Enthusiast, Unusual means an odd working – something out of the norm.  For example: –

The 460 bus route from Willesden to North Finchley is normally the preserve of Metroline’s Volvo double-deckers so it was somewhat of a surprise when MCV bodied MAN MM819 turned up on the route at Golders Green.   Presumably, the rostered vehicle had broken down and the garage was short of spare vehicles of the correct type…

If it’s not an odd vehicle on a route, then it’s a route in the wrong place.   Buses working on a road that normally does not have a bus service.   For example, Woodside Avenue in Haringey.   Here we see a 134 bus on diversion following a burst water main in Muswell Hill which closed the road on its normal route.   Diversions, whilst interesting for the enthusiast, are a nuisance for the operator and passengers alike.  The diversion has to be safe for the size of vehicle (no low bridges for example) and needs to get the passengers back to the normal route as soon as possible – though in this case I recall the 134′s then ran straight up the A1000 to North Finchley rather than regaining their normal route in order to keep lost time to a minimum.  Passengers wanting to get to Muswell Hill were able to change at East Finchley onto the 234 or 102 routes.

Another unusual working – Here is a Bendybus on the North Circular Road.   It’s definitely off route, the 29 doesn’t go anywhere near the North Circular!   So what was it doing there?   London Mayor, Boris Johnson, made an election pledge to get rid of Bendybuses in London (I can think of more pressing things that he could have promised)   Arriva, having won a contract to provide bus services in Malta, decided that some of its relatively new Bendies could go there.  This vehicle (MA128) was one of those selected.   So the conclusion is that it was on its final journey from the capital before being shipped out of the country.  Off then to warmer weather and away from the rain and traffic jams on the A406 North Circular Road – which definitely are Not Unusual!

Finally, Rail Replacement Services – Not unusual in themselves these days with parts of the London Underground Network being closed at weekends to facilitate major uplift work.   They do bring out a variety of vehicles from the operators.   With normal services still to be maintained – it can be an interesting group of vehicles too.  Often older vehicles that perhaps only normally operate at peak hours and invariably the occasional ‘Dog’ that drivers will normally refuse to take out! – It’s amazing how much better a vehicle looks to a driver when there’s overtime at stake   It also brings unusal operating challenges.   Here we see Arriva DLA13 at Woodside Park station.   Normally the station sees services on the 383 route, operated by 8.9m vehicles.   DLA13 is 10.6m long and to turn around requires a three point turn to get back out on the road – an unusual maneouvre for a bus once out of the garage.   Having got to this point, the bus refused to go into reverse gear.   It took a shutdown, restart and lots of engine revving to finally coax it into gear – I guess, with the number 13, the driver should have known it’d be a Dog

Football – When it CeasesTo Matter

On Saturday I attended the home game between Wingate & Finchley and Hastings United, a report of which will follow later.   After the match we congregated in the bar as usual to chat with each other and the players.   The man of the match award was handed out and we all applauded.   The tv was switched to ESPN so that the Tottenham fans and the non-Tottenham fans, who perhaps had alterior motives, could watch the match.   As we chatted about a variety of non-league football matters our attention was drawn to the sudden silence from the TV.  The camera had zoomed out and the commentator was talking in hushed tones…

We learned over the next few minutes of the collapse with a major heart attack of Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba.    As he was gently lifted onto a stretcher and carried from the field amidst a large gathering of medical personnel I think we were all prompted to consider just how minor a distraction winning or losing a game of football is when compared with the fragile nature of human life.   Our thoughts and prayers are with Fabrice, his family and his friends as he continues his battle for life.

United Against East Thurrock

Following the draw against Margate it was a short wait for the next home game as East Thurrock United were due to visit on the Tuesday evening.   East Thurrock have had a mixed season with good cup runs but below average performances in the league.   As a result they are sitting with Wingate & Finchley, close to the relagtaion zone, but with 4 games in hand over most of those around us.   Two of those matches will be against The Blues – this is the first and we will have to travel to their home ground before the end of the season.

It was a fine mild evening that greeted the players as they stepped onto the pitch, East Thurrock in their all red strip and The Blues… well you can work that one out for yourself    After a small amount of rain during the previous days and with a generally moist atmosphere, the pitch presented an excellent playing surface conducive to passing play.   First to take advantage of that were East Thurrock with a smart through ball from the wing finding Harry Cook, who evaded Weathers’ to drive a low shot beyond Bobby’s gloves and give The Rocks the lead in the 5th minute.

On the 14th minute things got worse.   Jordan, only just back from a long term injury, brought down a Rocks player from behind.  Inexplicably he then walked over the prone player rather than around him.  At the far end of the pitch we heard the player cry out in pain.   The refereee was left in no doubt – an immediate straight Red card for an alleged stamp.    Why do some players do these things – assuming the referee was correct in his assessment?    I’m not a psychologist so I’d be first to admit that I haven’t got a clue.   It seems that the natural controlled agression necessary to play competitive sports gets out of hand in a small number of individuals and manifests itself in arguments with referees and random acts of violence towards other players.   It’s disappointing for everyone and sadly, you can usually predict who is going to get themselves into this sort of trouble because you witness the symptoms regularly through their careers at a club.   Please guys, can we try to keep that aggression under control!

So, down to ten men after only 15 minutes – 75 minutes of purgatory to come.   East Thurrock immediately piled on the pressure and within 7 minutes had earned a penalty after Weathers’ brought down Greg Cohen as he ran into the area.   We get loads of penalties awarded against us, some of them 50-50 decisions – we have been in receipt of very few ourselves throughout the season    It either means that we aren’t getting a run on opposition players in the area or referees don’t want to give us anything… Take your pick So that put the lead up to 2-0 for the visitors.   They soon made it 3-0 on the 29th minute when Sam Higgins was able to prod home a close range shot from close to the byeline – beating Bobby at the near post, which he won’t be happy about though he probably didn’t have a clear view because of the number of legs surrounding the ball.

The Blues fans were beginning to worry about another embarrassing result like the ones at Margate and against Wealdstone at home.   However, on the pitch the players seemed to find renewed confidence and to start stringing passes together.   I guess they realised that it’s better to go down fighting.   Weathers’ nearly got one back with a header off a cross from Lewis which just drifted wide.   Then, almost on the stroke of half time a Rocks player handled the ball in the area and the referee pointed to the spot!   Cue desparate calls for ambulances as a number of home fans collapsed with shock    By the time we’d recovered our composure Lairdy was ready to take the penalty and converted it with a low hard driven shot to the keeper’s right.   3-1 and the half came to a close with the deficit slightly reduced.

Fans never know what is said in the dressing room at half time – presumably the East Thurrock manager will have been saying something along the lines keep calm and keep the ball.   Goodness knows what David was saying to our guys…   In the bar the fans were reasonably upbeat – a goal just before half time can be a game changer even with the shadow of playing another 45 minutes with only 10 men.

When the teams returned to the pitch it was apparent almost immediately that David had really instilled some commitment and confidence into The Blues.   Wingate & Finchley surged forwards with every opportunity.  Passing – crisp and accurate – provided for brisk play.   If the visitors manager had said the standard ‘keep the ball’ message of those who are 2 goals up and with an extra man, he wasted his breath – you have to get the ball first before you can keep it!

Lewis was unlucky to see an excellent strike tipped over the bar on the 66th minute as the home side ran the show from midfield.   Fish put the ball in the net on the 70th minute but it was ruled offside – there was some doubt about the accuracy of that decision.   Keiron and Lairdy both had headed attempts saved – pawed over by the keeper and cleared off the line.   Then finally the pressure told and Leon Smith found the bottom corner from a tight angle in the 78th minute.  3-2 and almost all the play was now by the home side.

And the shocks for the home fans weren’t over yet… As the game crept into injury time Lairdy made one of his Panzer runs through the defence somehow taking the ball with him past challenges and evading a vicious looking two-footed lunge before striking a hard low volley that was blocked by the lunge maker, who was still picking himself up.  The bounce of the ball was going to carry it back into Lairdy’s path so without a second thought the defender wrestled it back with his hand – I saw it (through the viewfinder) as did Leon, whose arms went up immediately with a shout of handball!  Max Mitchell joined in, also with a clear view of what had happened.   The referee agreed and pointed to the spot for the third time in the game and the second time for the home side… Something of a record that – I presume that normal service will be resumed at the next match!

It was Lairdy who calmed himself down before beating Richard Wray for the second time to his right from the spot, showing great character to keep his cool and claim the equaliser for his team in the last minutes of the match.    A fantastic comeback by the Blues from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with a man short – it could even have been 4-3 had Fish’s goal been allowed!   We had some sympathy for Wray in the visitors goal – he put in some fine saves and certainly ensured that his side got a valuable away point.   Lairdy was in receipt of an early bath – courtesy of Bobby Smith rather than a sending off.   The ref had left the field by then otherwise they might have got a yellow for excessive celebration

Calming Himself - Lairdy prepares to take the Penalty to Equalise in Injury Time

Players and Fans Celebrate whilst Fish contemplates what Linesmen might taste like!

Lairdy gets a reward - possibly not quite the one he had in mind

All thoughts expressed are my own and do not represent the views of Wingate & Finchley FC.