Jewson/Hellenic ‘Baffling’ time at Hallen as Baggaley’s side chase last-eight Vase place

HALLEN manager Karl Baggaley and chairman Lee Fairman reflected on a truly helter-skelter season so far for their club and conceded: “It’s completely baffling!”

- Simon PARKINSON [e-mail]

Hallen manager Karl Baggaley Hallen chairman Lee Fairman with his striker son Harrison

While fighting a grim battle at the wrong end of the Hellenic Premier Division table, the Bristol outfit find themselves standing on the cusp of exciting entry into the quarterfinals of the FA Vase.

Dudley-based guests Gornal Athletic stand in the way of a maiden last eight place in Hallen’s proud 77-year history.

While the visitors compete at step 6 status, a level beneath Hallen on the national circuit, the fact they sit second in Midland League Division One, and their hosts are only one off the floor of the step 5 Hellenic Prem table, suggests there may not be a lot to choose between the teams at an expectant Moorhouse Lane tomorrow.

Baggaley, whose men gave themselves a welcome shot in the arm with last Saturday's 4-0 home thumping of high-flying Slimbridge, courtesy of Harrison Fairman’s hat-trick and Akalie Reid’s effort, said: “I guess seasons like ours, full of ups and downs, are why we all love football.

“On the one hand we'll reach the quarterfinals of a _ prestigious national tournament if we win on Saturday, and on the other we're trying to dig our way out of the mess we've found ourselves in in the league.

“We know we'll have our hands full on Saturday: Gornal are going great guns towards the top of their table with two players (Traevay Wright and Taylor Homer) on 32 and 24 goals for the season, respectively. We'll go into the tie having done our homework on them as best we can.”

The Hallen boss spelt out: “We're the last Hellenic League and Western League club left in the competition, although I'd swap our six-win run so far for, say, 20 more league points. But it brings in a bit of money and a bit more exposure for us.

“Of course, it will be hard to go all the way, looking at the strength of clubs left in the competition.