NORTHERN LEAGUE CUP 2nd ROUND
SEAHAM RED STAR 6 WHITLEY BAY 2
Tuesday 11th November
Finalists in the competition last season, Whitley suffered an embarrassing early exit from the League Cup at Second Division Seaham Red Star.
The hosts came into the cup tie full of confidence having won 13 of their last 14 games while Whitley were missing four key players, but there was no excuse for such a poor performance, especially in the second half when Seaham took complete control.
The early stages looked quite promising for Whitley, with Robbie Bird using his pace to good effect in attacks down the left wing but despite good approach work, the finishing touch was missing. The closest they came was in the 20th minute when Bird racing through on goal, collided with Shaun Newbrook and play was held up while the Seaham keeper received attention.
Eight minutes later there was a much longer delay when Craig Smith, who had come upfield for a corner, fell badly following a challenge for a high ball. In obvious pain, he had to be helped from the field and was taken to hospital with what was later confirmed as a dislocated hip and ligament damage.
With Chris Reid completing his suspension and Leon Ryan also unavailable, it left Whitley short on central defensive options and forced a reorganisation which exposed the lack of cover in defence and midfield.
On the half hour, Paul Chow played Bird through on goal but Newbrook, showing no effects from his earlier knock, made the save. Chow was again the provider a few minutes later but Peter Watling’s first time effort lacked accuracy and missed the target.
Seaham took the lead in the 37th minute after Gladstone had made a good save but Josh Home-Jackson drove home the loose ball after a second shot on goal was only parried.
Three minutes later, with the home side calling in vain for an offside flag, Bird raced through from the half way line but his shot was deflected behind for a corner. Whitley were still well in the game at this stage and in stoppage time they drew level when the ball was played in from the left and from about 12 yards Michael Laws fired home a first time effort across Newbrook and into the far corner of the net.
The second half must rank among the worst displays by a Whitley team for a long time, alongside previous League Cup defeats to Second Division sides Easington, Team Northumbria and Newton Aycliffe.
Controlling the game from the Seaham midfield was former Bay hero Lee Kerr, back to his best with some superb distribution and one free kick in particular that curled just wide of the upright. He captained the side for this game and was given a great ovation by Bay fans when he was substituted shortly before the final whistle.
It wasn’t all about Kerr though as the home side looked hungrier and were first to the ball in all areas of the park. Home-Jackson put Seaham back in front nine minutes after the restart, firing home unmarked after a cross from the left. A rare Bay attack saw McFarlane’s cross from the right fly across goal just ahead of Chow but when Lewis Wing’s 25 yard shot put Red Star 3-1 ahead after 69 minutes it was virtually all over. Liam McBryde added the fourth from a left wing corner on 74 minutes before Home-Jackson raced clear to complete his hat trick with a neat finish just inside the near post as Gladstone tried to close him down. Three minutes later it got even worse as Andrews rubbed salt into the Bay wounds with a sixth for the rampant home side. A last minute goal from Paul Chow was little consolation for a dispirited Bay side who will want to put this performance behind them but that will be far from easy against Shildon on Saturday, and while other players will be returning, Whitley will be without the services of Craig Smith, whose serious injury was the worst aspect of a thoroughly bad night.
WHITLEY BAY: Gladstone, McFarlane, McDonald, Smith(Day 32mins), Brooking, Ellison, Bird, Laws, Watling, Chow, Redford
Substitutes not used; Harris, Kempster, Foster
Referee: Lindsey Robinson
Cautions: None
