WHITLEY BAY 2 BISHOP AUCKLAND 1
Saturday 4th February
Whitley produced an excellent performance on Saturday to defeat in-form Bishop Auckland on a sunny afternoon at Hillheads.
The visitors came into the game sitting in fifth place and unbeaten in the league since Boxing Day but they could have no complaints over the outcome despite taking a first half lead.
The first chance of the game came after 12 minutes when Bishops’ prolific goalscorer Andrew Johnson headed wide from a free kick when he seemed certain the score. When Whitley settled into the game it was Andy Robertson who threatened, cutting in from the left before curling a shot wide of goal. Two minutes later Tom Flynn denied Johnson when the striker burst through on goal. The heavy pitch was cutting up and this led to the opening goal, when McDonald’s back pass bobbled badly on the surface and Flynn completely missed his kick, leaving Andre Bennett with the simple task of putting the loose ball into an unguarded net to give the visitors a 29th minute lead which on the balance of play they just about deserved.
Whitley responded in positive fashion and it took them just three minutes to regain parity. A shot from Callum Patton was blocked and rebounded around the six yard box, where Andy Robertson seized his chance and he slotted the ball home from close range. Twice in the closing stages of the half Whitley might have gone ahead, firstly when Callum Patton’s free kick drifted narrowly wide of the post and then when Thibault Charmey broke through on the left and crossed low into the box, Kempster’s first time effort was well blocked by the feet of keeper Scott Pocklington, to leave the sides level at the interval.
Five minutes after the restart, a pin point through ball from Tom Gilbey looked to have set Charmey clear on goal but Pocklington raced off his line to save his side. Just past the hour, a free kick from Callum Patton just cleared the bar, landing on the roof of the net. Some Bay fans saw the net ripple and were briefly cheering, thinking the ball had dropped under the bar. However, they had good reason to celebrate in the 67th minute when in a flowing move, Aiden Haley set up Kyle Patton down the right and when he cut the ball back across the face of goal, Alex Kempster was on hand to tap the ball home from barely two yards. Now in front for the first time, Whitley grew in confidence and very nearly doubled their lead two minutes later when Callum Patton’s free kick crashed off the bar with Pocklington well beaten.
Andy Robertson, who impressed as he continued his return to fitness following injury, was replaced by Liam Brooks for the final 20 minutes and the youngster certainly played his part, with his height causing problems for the Bishop’s defence. The visitors rarely threatened at the other end as a resilient Bay defence gave Johnson and his team mates barely a sight of goal. Five minutes from time Brooks had a chance to put the result beyond doubt when he was played through by Callum Patton but his shot went high over the bar. Kyle Patton then got behind the visitors’ defence and his cross from the right only just eluded Kempster. Right at the end Bishops forced a corner but there was to be no dramatic late twist and Whitley deservedly claimed the points and climbed two places to eighth in the table.
WHITLEY BAY:Flynn, Gilbey, McDonald, Haley, Anderson(Allen 90mins), Wilkinson, K Patton, C Patton, Robertson(Brooks 72mins), Charmey(Glen-Ravenhill 80mins), Kempster
Substitutes not used: Potter, Long
Caution: Charmey
Referee: Lucy Oliver
