WHITLEY BAY 2 PENRITH 0
Tuesday 19th September
Two goals inside the opening ten minutes proved decisive as Whitley recorded their third consecutive victory and continued their climb up the Northern League table.
This was the third time Whitley had met Penrith this season but the two sides bore little resemblance to those involved in last month’s FA Cup encounters, with five changes to the Bay eleven and six different faces in the Cumbrians’ team.
For the first time this season Marc Nash had no injury concerns and was able to field a virtually full strength side, with captain Callum Anderson returning after almost six weeks out with a groin injury and striker Andy Robertson back in the starting line up for the first time since April. Defender Jack Walker, signed only 24 hours earlier, was also in the side, making his return debut after five years away from Hillheads. Penrith on the other hand were without last season’s top scorer Martyn Coleman, whose transfer to Shildon was completed just before kick off.
The game started at a blistering pace with Whitley taking the lead after just 83 seconds when Tom Potter crossed from the right to Alex Kempster on the opposite flank and his ball back into the goalmouth was headed home by Thibault Charmey.
Six minutes later Kempster received a precision pass from Walker and made a tremendous run down the left, skipping past the challenge of a defender before taking the ball beyond keeper Cameron Copland. He then played it into the six yard box where Robertson slotted it home from close range to put Whitley two up and leaving the Cumbrians mesmerised.
After this early onslaught, the game gradually settled down but Whitley were still looking dangerous and Josh Nearney brought a low save from Copland before the visitors threatened for the first time when Shaun Gardner drove the ball just over the bar. Whitley had penalty claims waved away when Scott Jasper went down in the box but with Penrith gradually coming more into the game, half time arrived with no further addition to the score.
To their credit, the Cumbrians battled hard to get back in the game in the second half but with Wilkinson and Anderson back together at the heart of the defence, Whitley looked a more solid unit, Wilkinson winning balls in the air while Anderson won virtually every tackle and Walker was looking comfortable at left back. On the hour mark, Penrith’s Dean Crozier set up a chance for team mate Brandon Robertson whose shot went narrowly over the bar but three minutes later Charmey, hardworking in midfield for Whitley, made a tremendous surging run towards the visitors’ box before desperate defending forced the ball behind for a corner. Kempster twice tested Copland, firstly following good work by Nearney only for the keeper to block his shot while at the other end, Wraighte was denied by Flynn’s diving save as Penrith battled to find a way back into the game. Twelve minutes from time Kempster was played clear on goal by a pinpoint through ball but Copland raced out and just got a touch on the ball and when Kempster played it back across goal, sub Kyle Patton failed to find the target. Patton was back in the action minutes later, setting up a chance for Potter whose effort on goal was comfortably saved.
Six minutes from time, substitute Liam Brooks saw his goalbound header brilliantly pushed wide by Copland then two minutes later the former Alnwick striker was again denied, this time by the woodwork when he cut in from the left and his shot crashed off the bar with Copland beaten.
An excellent midweek crowd in excess of 300, easily the biggest in the region, witnessed an entertaining contest, only Whitley’s second home league game of the season.
WHITLEY BAY: Flynn, Nearney, Walker, Haley(Cornish 57mins), Wilkinson, Anderson, Potter, Charmey, Jasper(Brooks 76mins), Robertson(K Patton 61mins), Kempster. Subs not used: Glen-Ravenhill, Hall
Referee: James Westgate
Cautions: Anderson, Cornish
Attendance:303
h2o Bathrooms Man of the match: Callum Anderson
