Whitley Bay 2 Jarrow Roofing 2
Tuesday 4th April
Two former Whitley Bay legends were at the centre of an action packed game at Hillheads on Tuesday evening. Paul Chow and Lee Kerr who between them scored more than 450 times for the Bay, including goals in all three FA Vase Final victories at Wembley, rolled back the years as both scored with spectacular long range shots for visitors Jarrow Roofing to ensure that the points were shared.
In contrast, a youthful Whitley side were indebted to two of their youngest players for their goals as a good size midweek crowd were treated to a thoroughly entertaining contest.
With just two minutes played, Thibault Charmey went close for Whitley with a header from Nicky Allen’s cross from the right but keeper Lewis Brass made a comfortable save. Five minutes later Tom Potter did well down the right, going past a defender before crossing from near the by-line to Liam Brooks whose excellent shot on the volley flew into the net to give Whitley the perfect start.
Brooks, who replaced Andy Robertson in the starting eleven, was causing all sorts of problems for the Roofing defence and might have completed a hat trick inside the first 20 minutes, with a shot on the turn bringing a fingertip save from the keeper before he latched onto a long ball and fired just inches wide of the post.
Roofing’s first attempt came midway through the half when Knight broke down the left and his cross was deflected high over the bar. Kerr then drove a low ball across the face of the Bay goal as the visitors came more into the game. The equaliser after 35 minutes came out of the blue with little apparent danger to the Whitley goal when Paul Chow found space on the right and left Tom Flynn helpless with a tremendous shot from 22 yards. Michael Mackay could have put Roofing in front four minutes later but wasted a glorious close range chance before Wilkinson quickly cleared the ball from danger.
Barely a minute before the interval, Lee Kerr collected the ball some 25 yards from goal and with no one closing him down struck a superb swerving shot that curled past Flynn to give Roofing a half time lead.
Brooks, who had suffered a rib injury in a collision with Brass early in the game, was replaced by Robertson after the interval as Whitley looked for a quick response. They were immediately into their stride and Chris McDonald’s fierce short from 20 yards was saved by Brass but he could not hold onto the ball and had to react quickly to hold onto the follow up shot from Kyle Patton. Charmey then beat the keeper with a shot that crashed off the post and this time Kyle Patton made no mistake with the rebound, drilling the ball into an empty net to put Whitley back on level terms just six minutes into the half.
Not long afterwards, Whitley might have gone ahead when McDonald’s long throw bounced over the Roofing defence and Robertson’s back post effort was only fractionally wide of the target.
Knight then saw a free kick crash off the base of the post as Roofing responded. There was barely time to catch breath before Kempster and Charmey combined to set up another chance for Whitley then Robertson was just off target after breaking through on goal.
Both sides were searching for the winner but the defences held firm and while Whitley created the better chances, Roofing always posed a threat and in the end two in-form sides had to settle for a draw, a result that extended Whitley’s unbeaten run to eight games.
Midfielder Thibault Charmey was named h20 Bathrooms man of the match.
WHITLEY BAY: Flynn, Allen, McDonald, Haley, Wilkinson, Anderson, Potter, Charmey, Brooks(Robertson 46mins), Kempster, K Patton(Glen-Ravenhill 86mins)
Substitutes not used: Lister, Byerley, Keltie
Cautions: None
Referee: Helen Conley
Attendance: 259
View match photos
Commenting on the game, manager Marc Nash said he felt his side had performed well and he gave particular praise to two of his younger players.
“The game was a full-blooded affair and the direct style of Jarrow led to an exciting end-to-end match. We started like a side full of confidence and it looked like we might run away with it after the first 20 minutes. Liam Brooks was exceptional and looked hungry to impress and he started and finished a great move for his goal. We were all disappointed for him when he took that knock to his ribs but he battled on until half time showing the kind of spirit running through the squad at the minute. Tom Potter was terrorising the left back as he looked back to his best. Then came the two sucker punches; we didn’t respond very well to Paul Chow’s equaliser and we went very flat but then Sparky has punished us further right on half time with another effort from range.
“I told the players at half time to stop feeling sorry for themselves and to refocus on recreating the spell we had early in the game. Our intensity had to be raised again and it was a challenge having not been in a losing position since Ryhope back in January. We knew Jarrow wouldn’t change their style and try to defend the game out so we were confident of creating chances in the second half and we did just that. It was a shame after Kyle’s goal only 5 minutes into the half that we couldn’t find a winner as I thought we produced a good performance and a couple of fantastic passing moves which their keeper has ended up making big saves. It’s now 8 unbeaten and the lads are extremely motivated to win the last 3 of the season.”
