(Under) Hill Street Blues

Another Saturday in the capital for Tony but despite playing up in north London, we first wander southwards to the tried and tested Maries where we find John W is already tucking into his breakfast.

We then catch the Northern Line from Waterloo and by chance, Brian joins our train at Leicester Square - very spooky timing - and after a while we emerge into the light and arrive at High Barnet.

(left) Welcome to Barnet

As we walk up the High Street we bump into John Bell who's lurking by the Olde Mitre - a quick peep though the window suggests that there's a underwhelming choice of beers on offer.

Recent reports on BITE suggest that this pub has improved of late but we've found it to be very disappointing on our last few visits. We'll be giving it a miss today I think.

As it's not yet noon, the first port of call is the White Lion as this is one of the few pubs in Barnet that opens early. Or it did last season. The door is shut when we arrive.

We notice that we've lost Tony and Brian somewhere on the way - by the time we call them and decide we'll go somewhere else the pub is now open. We decide to wander in for a quick one and my polite query about opening time is met with a mumble and a glare. Very friendly.

John W and I opt for the guest beer - Moles Best- which is OK-ish, possibly on it's way off, but it's difficult to tell as Moles always seems to have a distinctive tang. John B sticks to Fullers Discovery.

We don't linger long however and soon we join the others in the Lord Nelson. This is a bright airy pub that we really enjoyed last season.

It's hidden away to some degree and as a result it never seems to get too busy - certainly as far as football fans are concerned - and we arrive to find that Tony and Brian have joined Trevor.

It's a Youngs house so normally there's a choice of Ordinary, Special and Bombardier - all in excellent nick. There is a guest however and today it's Titanic Iceberg. I find this to be one of my favourite beers for session drinking - nicely tart and very more-ish.

We're later joined by Geoff, the tame Argyle fan, and then Durham Tony pops in too.

The food menu looks good though most of us are still full from breakfast. Brian isn't and he opts for the lamb shank which looks delicious. After finishing it, Brian soon falls asleep. Not a surprise.

(left) Sleeping Beauty

After a pleasant couple of hours we gird our collective loins and leave for the game, reaching Underhill just in time for kick off.

There are quite a few new faces in for Darlington - the story of the season so far - with loan signings and youth players getting a chance under Staunton.

The first half was excellent from a Darlington perspective - the team looked to have a good shape - the defence looks solid whilst Thomas and Collins up front look lively - and we have several excellent chances - one brings a great save from their keeper whilst the rest were poorly finished. Lack of practice no doubt.

Ian Miller was lost after about 30 mins after a clash of heads - Plummer came on and did well in his stead.

By the time we get to half-time it's a wonder we're not 3-0 up at least. Certainly the best half I've seen from us this season.

Darlo are out early for the second half obviously keen to get going - Barnet though are out much later and look like they've been kept in for a bollocking. If they were, it certainly worked.

The Quakers failed to keep their momentum going and after 15 mins Barnet had taken the lead through a header from a corner.

Barnet kept the pressure on and increased their lead with a breakaway through the middle though their scorer looked offside to most of us on the terraces - we were more or less in line with the backline unlike the linesman who seemed to be behind play (not for the first time).

It had to be said that the referee had an atrocious game too - not that he was to blame for the result but he was extremely poor for both sides - advantage was not given on many occasions and then bad fouls were not punished. Just as well Colin F was absent!

The tie was over a few minutes later as Darlington heads dropped and we were caught napping as a cross came in. Goodnight Vienna, Arrivederci Roma.

(left) Away entrance at Underhill

Tony, John W and Brian headed for the exits and I joined them. We'd seen enough for today.

We caught a City-bound tube with a minute to spare and headed off to the King Charles I at Kings Cross. A decent selection of brews on although sadly no Brodies - Deuchars IPA, Brains SA, Hopback Odyssey and a beer from Palmers whose beers you don't often see.

The jukebox got a bit of hammer - a wide range of music on there from old crooner Andy Williams though early Jethro Tull to classic Motorhead.

Tony was pleased to find some Neil Young whilst John and I were delighted to find one of our old favourites, Big Eyed Beans From Venus by Captain Beefheart - who can resist lyrics such as:

Men let your wallets flop out, and women open your purses

Cause a man or a woman without a big eyed bean from Venus

Is suffering with the worstest of curses

Yeah, you're suffering, with the worstest of curses.

Wonderful stuff, oh my oh my!

After a few pints Tony and John B leave to catch their trains home leaving Brian, John W and I to soldier on.

I move onto bottles of the Brodies Porter. I read the label and suddenly realise that it's over 7% which should be no surprise given my last two visits here when I've left a little worse for wear. I tread more carefully this time and sip instead of sup.

Bev joins us having just watched Chelsea demolish Blackburn 5-0 and then we're later joined by Liz and Jenny who've been up to Bury.

We discuss the arrangements for the Darlo -v- Rotherham fixture next February - train tickets will soon be on sale - and it looks like I'm being tasked with getting the tickets for the London Millers as well as the Capital Quakers. That's going to be a fun day out...

The FA Cup draw has now been made and we've been drawn away to Barnet on Sept 7th. The Lord Nelson will be our meeting place once more.