FA VASE 2nd QUALIFYING ROUND
BILLINGHAM SYNTHONIA 2 WHITLEY BAY 2 (aet)
Saturday 23rd September
For the third time this season, Whitley face a cup replay at Hillheads after being held to a draw away from home. They defeated both Seaham and Penrith in FA Cup replays and they will be hoping for a similar outcome against Billingham Synthonia when the sides meet again on Tuesday.
With no injury concerns, manager Marc Nash had the almost unprecedented luxury of being able to name exactly the same squad that defeated Penrith in midweek for the trip to Teesside.
The game started quietly but with Whitley looking the better side. Chances were few and far between and 27 minutes had been played when Thibault Charmey’s ball through to Scott Jasper brought the first save of the afternoon from Synthonia’s Polish keeper Adrian Beblowski, Two minutes later Whitley took the lead when Tom Potter crossed to the back post where Jasper headed home his fifth goal of the season. Potter then went close twice in the space of three minutes, firstly forcing a fingertip save when his shot was pushed over the bar then after evading a tackle on the edge of the 18 yard box he turned and drove in a shot that Beblowski saved low down. Little had been seen of the home side as an attacking force in the first half but they looked more lively on the restart. Callum Hassan drilled a shot into the side netting in the 50th minute but Whitley responded with Josh Nearney making a good run from midfield forcing defender James Rowe to put the ball behind for a corner. Whitley created two more chances with Charmey and Kempster both going close but then with 62 minutes played, with a rare shot on goal, Synthonia drew level. The home side’s main threat, winger Jordan Jewson played the ball in from the right and Craig Hindmarch got in a shot that appeared to take a deflection and dipped just under the bar. The goal knocked Whitley out of their stride and gave Synners a boost. Jewson brought a save from Flynn and several defensive mistakes caused some anxious moments, most notably with just five minutes of the ninety remaining, when a headed back pass from Jack Walker fell short of Flynn and Salmon had a glorious chance to put the hosts in front but to Whitley’s relief he slid the ball past the post.
With neither side able to get a winner, the game went into extra time with Whitley bringing on Matty Cornish in place of Thibault Charmey. Just 45 seconds after the resumption Kempster burst through but Beblowski raced out to make a crucial save. Barely a minute before the end of the first period and reminiscent of his first goal against Penrith, Cornish cut in from the left and from just inside the penalty area curled in a shot that brought an excellent save. Play then switched quickly to the other end where Jewson came in from the right and slotted home at the near post, putting Synthonia ahead for the first time in the game right on the stroke of half time in extra time.
At the break, in what amounted to a last throw of the dice, Whitley made their final substitution bringing on Liam Brooks in place of Josh Nearney and the move paid almost immediate dividends when having been on the pitch for less than two minutes, the tall striker challenged Beblowski for a high ball played in from the right by Potter. Neither player made contact and the ball ran loose for Ross Wilkinson to lash home from six yards. The game was once again in the balance and it was Whitley who seemed the likelier side to snatch victory in the closing stages. Indeed they went close twice in the final four minutes, firstly when Walker played the ball into the box and Kempster’s spectacular overhead kick flew inches wide then in the final minute when Jasper headed agonisingly wide from Potter’s cross. In stoppage time Whitley had appeals for a penalty turned down when Patton tumbled in the six yard box.
WHITLEY BAY: Flynn, Nearney(Brooks 105mins), Walker, Haley, Wilkinson, Anderson, Potter, Charmey(Cornish 90mins), Jasper, Robertson(K Patton 67mins), Kempster Subs not used: Glen-Ravenhill, Hall
REFEREE: Matthew East
Caution: Nearney
Attendance: 125
