WEST AUCKLAND TOWN 3 WHITLEY BAY 2
Thursday 21st April
Whitley suffered their second defeat in three days with a disappointing performance at West Auckland. Defensive mistakes and a failure to convert first half chances proved costly and the home side deservedly edged the contest.
In an action packed opening to the game, West Auckland took the lead inside the second minute when Adam Burnicle played Callum Hassan clear and the big striker closed in on goal before slotting the ball past Tom Flynn. The lead was short-lived as just four minutes later, Auckland keeper David Knight was penalised for handling a back pass ten yards from goal. Callum Patton rolled the indirect free kick back to Alex Kempster who rifled a powerful shot beyond the wall of defenders and into the net.
The drama continued as two minutes later Chris McDonald tested Knight when he drove a strong shot straight at the keeper. Then in the 13th minute, Tom Flynn mis-hit an attempted clearance and the ball fell kindly for Burnicle who knocked it home to restore Auckland’s lead.
Back came Whitley and twice in the space of 30 seconds, Ash Davis might have levelled before Kempster fired narrowly wide. At the other end of the field, Flynn atoned for his earlier error when he saved with his feet from Burnicle.
Midway through the half, Hassan was cautioned for elbowing Craig McFarlane as the two challenged for a high ball. Fortunately the Bay defender was able to continue after receiving treatment. Whitley very nearly drew level with 36 minutes on the clock when McDonald battled his way through midfield before letting fly with a tremendous 20 yard shot that crashed off the base of the post with Knight well beaten. Whitley were enjoying their best spell of the game and two minutes later, Kempster played Davis clear in the inside left channel but he was unable to capitalise and his shot was saved by Knight at the expense of a corner. Minutes later Davis burst through the home defence but was again thwarted by Knight who fisted the ball away from goal.
There was little to choose between the sides at the interval but the hosts retained their one goal advantage.
Playing up the slope in the second half, Whitley struggled to create an impact and just before the hour mark, Adam Shanks, surprisingly omitted from the starting eleven, was brought on in an attempt to add extra fire power in attack. The hosts were looking the livelier, battling hard for every ball, but neither side was posing any real threat and the game was becoming scrappy on the bobbly surface, with passes frequently going astray. With only one goal separating the sides Whitley were still in with a chance of taking something from the game until the closing stages but then in the 84th minute, after a quick break down the slope, a defensive mistake left Burnicle a clear run and he added to his impressive scoring record with his side’s third and decisive goal. Whitley kept plugging away and after Callum Patton’s first time effort had flown just wide, substitute Stuart Bramley reduced the arrears with virtually the last kick of the game, firing home first time from a right wing cross.
WHITLEY BAY: Flynn, McFarlane, McDonald, Anderson, Haley(Shanks 59mins), Gibson, Munro(Bramley 69mins), Fowler, Patton, Davis(Day 80mins), Kempster
Substitutes not used: Gladstone, Prosser
Referee: Graeme Hopper
Cautions: None
Attendance: 128
