Whitley Bay 1 Morpeth Town 2
Saturday 21st January
Morpeth edged this hard fought game thanks to a goal twelve minutes from time. Ross Wilkinson’s first half header gave Whitley the lead but the visitors quickly levelled the score and while both sides created further chances, top class goalkeeping especially by Bay’s man of the match Tom Flynn, kept the game in the balance until the closing stages.
The first chance came with seven minutes played when Liam Henderson broke through for Morpeth but Tom Flynn raced off his line to block the ball which was then cleared by Chris McDonald. Three minutes later good work down the right by Tom Gilbey set up a chance for Peter Glen-Ravenhill, who replaced the injured Kyle Patton in the starting eleven, but the recent signing from North Shields could not get a clean strike on the ball and his shot was blocked.
Midway through the half, Tom Potter’s dangerous cross from the left was gathered by keeper Karl Dryden just inches ahead of the onrushing Thibault Charmey.
There was little to choose between the sides at this stage but it was Whitley who made the breakthrough in the 31st minute. Potter played a right wing corner short to Charmey, who returned it back down the line to Potter and his low ball across the edge of the six yard box reached Wilkinson who stooped to head firmly past Dryden. Two minutes later, Glen-Ravenhill fired narrowly wide for Whitley but Morpeth retaliated and drew level in the 36th minute when Fry capitalised on a slip by McDonald and crossed for Mark Davison to head home. Morpeth then had a good spell leading up to half time with Keith Graydon’s long range effort taking a slight deflection as it flew past the upright.
Morpeth midfielder Ben Sayer brought a fine save from Flynn nine minutes into the second half and shortly after, Sean Taylor also tested the Bay keeper. The offside flag denied both sides on several occasions but a ball over the Morpeth defence in the 66th minute almost set Charmey clear but Sayer did well to put the ball behind for a corner. Shortly afterwards, Callum Patton was tripped 25 yards from goal but Whitley were unable to capitalise from the free kick. Morpeth continued to have the better chances but throughout the team, Whitley were working hard to contain them.
Flynn made a great save to deny Henderson when the visiting striker was played clear on goal and looked odds-on to score. Graydon then went close before Flynn kept out an effort from Taylor. The visitors were getting on top and shortly after Henderson was thwarted by Flynn, Morpeth grabbed the decisive goal although it resulted from errors by both sides. A misplaced header by Henderson from a cross into the box saw the ball run loose. It was not properly cleared and fell for Taylor who smashed the ball into the net from twelve yards.
Whitley battled to get back into the game and substitute Liam Brooks fired not far wide before Morpeth sub Michael Chilton almost sealed victory with a powerful volley that Flynn pushed clear. There was still time for Whitley to go close and with the game into stoppage time, Chris McDonald almost rescued a point with a curling shot that Dryden did extremely well to fingertip round the post.
WHITLEY BAY: Flynn, Gilbey, McDonald, Haley, Anderson, Wilkinson, Potter(Robertson 75mins), Patton(Brooks 81mins), Glen-Ravenhill, Kempster, Charmey
Substitutes not used: Allen, McCarthy, Keltie
h2o Bathrooms man of the match: Tom Flynn
Referee: Mark Ryan
Caution: Anderson
Attendance: 387
Match photos here
Reflecting on the game, Marc Nash commented “I felt we needed a big response after midweek and the players certainly gave everything but we came up just short against a very strong Morpeth squad. It was our last match against the top four and we were determined to do well but fell the wrong side of the result. Some crucial things are just not going our way and it’s tough enough anyway without our two main goal scorers but we could have been 2-0 up and then all of a sudden the pitch has killed us when Tom Potter’s pass has bobbled and made Chrissy (McDonald) completely miss the ball giving them a free run and cross for the equaliser. The second half opened right up and it was anyone’s game but we lacked the killer instinct in truth. Morpeth did push on in the last 15 and scored in that period but we came back at them late on and you could see their relief on the final whistle. We more than proved we can match anyone on the day but we are still way off competing with the likes of Morpeth in terms of squad depth and spending power so it’s very much still a working progress.”
