NORTHUMBERLAND SENIOR CUP FIRST ROUND
NORTH SHIELDS 3 WHITLEY BAY 2 (after extra time)
Tuesday 7th November
This action packed cup tie against local rivals North Shields had just about everything; fast flowing football from both sides, chances galore at both ends, highly controversial decisions by the referee and a dramatic equaliser in the dying seconds of normal time that denied Whitley victory as the home side went on to snatch a winning goal in extra time.
The pattern of the game was set right from the kick off as Whitley went straight on the attack and Tom Potter forced a save from Sean McCafferty, one of five ex-Bay players in the Shields starting eleven. They continued on the offensive and in the second minute, Peter Glen-Ravenhill played the ball over the top for Liam Brooks who poked it over the bar.
Play then switched to the other end and Dan Lister made a good save from Ryan Carr. Moments later Ben Harmison fired wide when well placed then the former Ashington striker directed a header straight at the grateful Lister. Barely eight minutes had been played when yet another attempt went close, this time Matty Cornish firing just wide of the Shields goal from the edge of the box.
The first controversial incident of the game followed when referee David Pill awarded Shields a penalty after a shot from Lee Mason appeared to strike Josh Nearney on the arm at virtually point blank range. The official indicated there was a raised arm but it looked very harsh on the young Bay defender.* video evidence, see link below, later showed that the ball hit the chest of Noah Summers* Harmison sent Lister the wrong way with a well taken spot kick to give the Robins a13th minute lead. Both sides were intent on playing attacking football, breaking quickly from defence and setting up opportunities which kept defenders on their toes.
Whitley had a good chance in the 22nd minute when Potter broke clear but his shot failed to trouble McCafferty, flying high and wide. Four minutes later a Shields attack briefly threatened but Harmison was denied by Lister before Jack Walker made a goal line clearance. Just before the half hour, Lister made a tremendous save, pushing an effort from Dean Holmes over the bar.
Whitley equalised in the 33rd minute when some delightful one touch football between Potter and Nearney opened up space on the left of the Shields defence and when Nearney played the ball low into the goalmouth, Alex Kempster got the vital touch to force it into the net. One minute later, Potter’s cross was headed just wide by Brooks but as play continued to switch from end to end, Lister did well to push a deflected effort from Paul Robinson onto the bar.
Five minutes after drawing level, Whitley took the lead thanks to a mix up in the Shields defence. Nearney’s long ball into the 18 yard box did not appear to pose a threat but as McCafferty came off his line, defender Joe Robson attempted to clear the ball but could only slice it over his keeper and both players could only watch as it looped into the net.
Ahead at the interval, Whitley started strongly in the second half, looking to drive home their advantage and put the game beyond their hosts. Three corners followed in rapid succession but Shields defended solidly before breaking away and Lister denied Holmes from close range. With 52 minutes played, Matty Cornish struck a tremendous shot from the edge of the box and the ball appeared to be heading for the far corner of the net until McCafferty dived to push it round the post with an outstanding save.
Using their pace to good effect, Whitley were looking much the better side at this stage but they could not press home their advantage. On the hour Liam Brooks was replaced by Thibault Charmey while Scott Jasper came on shortly after for Andy Robertson. A free kick conceded just outside the penalty area posed a threat for the Bay defence but Robinson played it harmlessly into touch. Shortly afterwards, Whitley were left frustrated when the assistant who was close to the action signalled a corner only to have his decision overturned by the referee who deemed it should be a goal kick.
Whitley had a glorious chance to seal victory with 15 minutes remaining when the very impressive Cornish burst through on goal. Rather than taking on the shot himself with only McCafferty to beat, he opted to play the ball square to Jasper who drilled it wide of the target. If that was a big let off for Shields they were even more fortunate seven minutes later when Potter was tripped inside the box but appeals for a penalty were inexplicably waved away.
With time running out the home side were now exerting increasing pressure but Whitley were defending superbly with Nearney and Walker in particular winning some crucial tackles. Five minutes from time, two attempts were blocked then Harmison struck the bar before the ball was eventually cleared.
Four minutes of added time were signalled and in the third of these, a long range shot flew high over Lister’s bar. It looked as if that would be Shields’ last chance of taking the game to extra time but play was allowed to continue well over the allotted period and in a last ditch scramble, Dan Wilson rifled the ball home from close range to level the score. Before the game could be restarted, the referee blew the final whistle and so the tie went to extra time, something neither side wanted with important FA Vase games coming up at the weekend.
Although stunned by conceding the late equaliser, Whitley battled back into the game and might have regained the lead eight minutes into extra time. Cornish, whose close ball control had caused problems all night for the hosts, was brought down 20 yards from goal but Kempster’s free kick flew high over the bar. Jasper then had an attempt saved by McCafferty before a quick break upfield signalled danger for Whitley and after a good build up down the right, Ryan Carr drilled a low shot across Lister and into the far corner of the net to put North Shields back in front two minutes before the midway point of extra time. Bay substitute Chris Salmon could not get sufficient power on the ball as he struck a cross from Kempster at the keeper as Whitley pushed forward in search of an equaliser but both sets of players were now tiring. Wilson might have got a second with two minutes left and time was running out when Charmey attempted a spectacular volley from the edge of the box but the ball flew over the bar.
The final whistle signalled heartbreak for Whitley who had come within seconds of victory in normal time and they could count themselves extremely unfortunate to be going out of the competition. Despite missing several players through injury, there was not a weak link in the side and the entire team performed admirably. They will now have to put this disappointment behind them as they prepare for Saturday’s FA Vase game at Thornaby.
WHITLEY BAY: Lister, Nearney, Walker, Glen-Ravenhill, Summers, Wilkinson, Potter(Salmon 87mins), Cornish, Robertson(Jasper 70mins), Brooks(Charmey 61mins) Kempster
Substitutes not used: K Patton, Hall
Referee: David Pill
Cautions: Glen-Ravenhill, Kempster
Attendance: 434
