JARROW ROOFING 2 WHITLEY BAY 5
Tuesday 31st October
A rampant Bay side, despite missing six players through injury, still proved far too strong for Jarrow Roofing for whom this game turned into a Halloween horror show on South Tyneside.
After an early period of possession for the hosts, Whitley created the first chances of the game in rapid succession, with Scott Jasper and Noah Summers both going close. In the tenth minute, Liam Brooks set up the opening goal with a low cross from the left into the box where Jasper brushed off the challenge of a defender to poke the ball home from two yards. Three minutes later Brooks was again at the centre of the action when his shot crashed off the bar and into the path of Chris Salmon who drilled home the rebound to put Whitley two up with his first goal for the club. The pressure was relentless and in the 18th minute Whitley sliced open the Roofing defence, Brooks playing the ball to Alex Kempster, whose precise pass was met by Jasper, timing his run perfectly, to run clear and slot past keeper Dan Regan for the third goal in the space of just eight minutes. Four minutes later Josh Nearney was not far off target with a shot across the face of goal but then in a quick break to the other end, Roofing pulled a goal back with a spectacular shot into the top corner from David Palmer on the left edge of the 18 yard box.
It was a rare attack by the hosts and Whitley soon forced the home side back on the defensive. On the half hour, a great through ball set Salmon clear on goal and it took a fine blocking save from Regan to deny the youngster a second goal. Moments later Matty Cornish was just too high as Whitley peppered shots at the home goal.
They deservedly restored their three goal cushion in the 33rd minute when Jasper crossed from the right and Kempster found space inside the six yard box to slot home. Roofing were now looking a dejected side and two minutes later it could have been 5-1 but Brooks curled his shot from the left just outside the far post. In another attack, Brooks again went close, on this occasion with a first time effort that was only narrowly off target.
At the half time whistle Whitley received a rousing reception from their fans after a tremendous display of attacking football which had put the game beyond the hosts.
Perhaps inevitably it was a different story in the second half as a determined Roofing side adopted a more physical approach and chances were harder to come by. Thirteen minutes into the half the South Tynesiders felt aggrieved that a free kick had not been awarded in their favour and substitute Liam Anderson reacted badly, flying into a challenge with raised studs and could count himself fortunate to escape with a caution. On the hour, Palmer was not far off target with a cross shot from out on the left but Whitley responded and Summers set up a chance for Jasper who poked the ball narrowly wide. Salmon then saw a shot take a big deflection off a defender and loop high over the bar.
With 15 minutes remaining, Jasper might have completed his hat trick only to be thwarted once again but when play quickly switched to the other end, Gardiner found himself through on goal but Dan Lister pushed the ball wide, reacting well to a rare threat on his goal.
With both sides having brought players off the bench by the midway stage of the half, it was two of the Bay substitutes who combined for the fifth Whitley goal. Andy Robertson ghosted past two defenders out on the right touchline before cutting the ball back across the edge of the penalty area where 17 year old Kieran Brannen powered home an excellent shot through a crowd of players for his first goal in senior football. Two minutes later and clearly revelling in the situation, the youngster cut in from the left and so nearly set up a sixth goal, Jasper seeing his effort blocked by Regan. Into the last ten minutes, Kempster’s powerful shot brought a fine one handed save from Regan but with time running out, the Bay skipper was forced to limp off with a leg injury, a worrying sight given Whitley’s long injury list. With all three substitutions having been made, it left them to play out the last five minutes a man short.
Deep into stoppage time, Roofing pulled a goal back with a close range finish from Gardiner
but it was scant consolation for the hosts who on the night were second best in every department.
Playing attractive, incisive football, every Whitley player impressed, with strikers Scott Jasper and Liam Brooks a constant threat up front. Peter Glen-Ravenhill had an excellent game in midfield along with Alex Kempster while youngsters Chris Salmon and Matty Cornish used their pace to great effect. In midfield and defence, Whitley did well to nullify the threat of former club legend Lee Kerr, who controlled the midfield against his former club twice last season, but in this game was denied the space to create opportunities for the Roofing strikers.
WHITLEY BAY: Lister, Nearney, Walker, Glen-Ravenhill, Wilkinson, Summers(Hall 68mins), Cornish(Brannen 74mins, Brooks(Robertson 68mins), Jasper, Kempster, Salmon
Substitues not used: Cunningham, Moore
Cautions: None
Referee: Matthew East
Attendance:120
