EMIRATES FA CUP 1st QUALIFYING ROUND
WHITLEY BAY 0 NEWCASTLE BENFIELD 2
Saturday 2nd September
Whitley were knocked out of the FA Cup after a disappointing performance against Newcastle Benfield. In the month since the season started, Whitley have been unable to field a full strength side due to a series of injuries to key players. The youngsters who have been brought into the side have done an excellent job but this game against a strong, physical and experienced Newcastle Benfield side proved to be a bridge too far.
From a Whitley point of view the game got off to the worst possible start as with just two minutes played, Benfield’s veteran striker Paul Brayson got in behind the home defence and from outside the right edge of the penalty area chipped the ball superbly over the advancing Tom Flynn and into the far corner of the net.
Whitley looked off the pace at times, dwelling on the ball and not showing the accurate one touch football that has been a feature of their early season games. They forced two corners in quick succession but as with free kicks in attacking positions, the tall Benfield defenders won most of the balls into the box. Just past the half hour Brayson had an opportunity to get a second goal but Tom Flynn made a vital save, pushing the ball away from the prolific striker before Josh Nearney cleared the danger.
Four minutes before the interval, Kyle Patton broke down the left but under pressure from a Benfield defender put his shot wide of goal. In first half stoppage time, Benfield dealt a severe blow to Bay hopes when they doubled their lead. A mistake by Aiden Haley played Brayson onside and through on goal. Flynn came off his line to block the shot, but Brayson squared the ball to substitute Scott McCarthy who slotted it home past the dive of Flynn.
Two minutes after the restart, with Whitley showing more intent, Graham Williams headed inches off target from a corner by Matty Cornish. It was their first real attempt on goal and hopes rose with the introduction of Liam Brooks to add height up front for Whitley.
On the hour, visiting keeper Andrew Grainger was forced into his first real save, diving to push wide a fierce shot from Nearney. Two minutes later, Brooks volleyed wide but at the other end Flynn saved well from McCarthy before the same player struck the outside of the post following good work from Campbell.
Scott Jasper was brought off the bench and almost immediately had Whitley’s best chance of the game when played clear by Brooks but he took too long on the ball allowing Grainger time to race out and smother his shot.
In marked contrast to the Penrith replay, the final ten minutes failed to produce a dramatic comeback as Whitley produced very little threat and Benfield comfortably saw out the game, much to the disappointment of the majority of the crowd of over 600, easily the region’s biggest attendance of the day.
WHITLEY BAY: Flynn, Nearney, Hall, Haley, Williams, Reay, Potter(Jasper 74mins), Glen-Ravenhill (Brooks 58mins), Kempster, Cornish, K Patton(C Patton 74mins)
Substitutes not used: Harley, Cunningham, Field, Moore
Referee: Darren Whatling (Driffield)
Caution: Kempster
Attendance: 608
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