Chertsey Town 1 Whitley Bay 1

Feb 7 2010 by Steve Brown, Sunday Sun

A MILE or so from Thorpe Park, here was a real rollercoaster. The Seahorses – embittered and embattled – live to swim another day.

This was quite a one for the Hodgsons.

First, Richard scored Whitley’s equaliser to earn a replay at Hillheads on Saturday.

Couldn’t reunite with his former Farnborough team-mates to celebrate – and this result was worth celebrating – mind, as work dictated his swift final-whistle exit on a flight to Dublin.

Wouldn’t have anyway, perhaps, after his sending-off left the Bay hanging on, albeit with the odd chance to win it themselves.

All of which was almost too much for his father John, “kicking every ball . . . I had a great game!”

So too Terry Burke, who made amends for – by his own admission – a disappointing effort for Ollie Treacher’s stunning opener by later conjuring at least five stupendous saves.

On a claggy pitch, it could be he got stuck in the mud when after only seven minutes Treacher’s 35-yard strike sailed over his head.

Instantly, leaving a fog-bound North East on a Flybe flight that required de-icing before take-off, to drink £4.25 pints round the corner from the Curfews’ Alwyn Lane, seemed like the worst move in history.

“That was a great start for us,” said vice-chairman Tony Hyman, adding – I kid you not – “cor blimey!”

But three minutes later the Combined Counties Premier side – wonderfully welcoming, tea on tap – were pegged back when Hodgson Jnr latched onto Leon Ryan’s flick to stab past Liam Stone.

“The Bay’s back in it! The Bay’s back in it!” the Tannoy announcer cried, somewhat unofficially.