You won't hear any more moaning from me. No way. Not at all. Nada peep! On Saturday afternoon a fresh and confident Bristol Rovers team swept Welling aside in a performance of total dominance. After a frustrating goalless opening 45 minutes, Darrell Clarke's introduction of Nathan Blissett and Angelo Balanta sparked the Pirates into some bouts of thrilling football.
Like Elizabeth Taylor in her prime, Rovers' play had an awesome glamour which consumed the crowd in appreciative gasps. For the first time this season, the Blues looked like they deserved to play in a higher division. In the face of this flirtatious onslaught, Welling's tired defenders had nothing to offer in return.
Both substitutes combined to open the scoring when Balanta played a perfectly-weighted pass behind the opposing back four. Blissett charged onto the through ball and bundled the ball beyond the 'keeper. Welling's misery was compounded a few minutes later when Jake Gallagher was shown a red card for a rough foul on Lee Mansell. From then on, the Kentish club were powerless to restrict the home side's controlling play. A Matty Taylor penalty effectively ended the contest inside the last 20 minutes and only then did the pressure begin to ease on the visitors.
The deficit remained two goals through mercy more than anything else. Once again the strict conversion of goal opportunities eluded the Gas, in particular, Taylor failing to complete his brace when gifted a one-on-one chance.
Suddenly, from perpetual doom and gloom, a buoyant sense of optimism has nested itself in North Bristol. One defeat in their last sixteen league games shows that even without reaching top gear, Rovers are a dominant team in this league. Now, with a lethal burgeoning pairing of Blissett and Taylor up front, they could take this competition by storm. Balanta and Lyle Della Verde - a loanee from Fulham - are also a step above this level and could prove to be major assets.
In the aftermath of Tuesday's downpour, the sun is shining on the Memorial Stadium. Will it last? Until Santa has been and gone over the next month, it is too hard even for my mystical powers to foresee.
