NEWTON AYCLIFFE 1 WHITLEY BAY 0
Thursday 26th April
A goal inside the third minute was enough to give Aycliffe the points against a severely depleted Bay side at Moore Lane Park. Work commitments together with an ever growing injury list meant that Andy Gowens was down to the bare bones for Whitley’s third game in five days.
Aycliffe quickly capitalised on the absence of three of Bay’s central defenders when Craig Hutchinson was allowed space to race through and rifle the ball into the roof of the net just past the two minute mark. Chances from that point on were at a premium although Aycliffe looked comfortably the better side and the first real action for the home defence came in the 19th minute when Tom Potter’s free kick was gathered just under the bar by Jack McLaren. A quick break to the other end by winger Jordan Jewson then gave Trotter a chance but his attempt was off target.
On the half hour Whitley’s injury jinx struck again when Potter limped off with an achilles injury, 17 year old Cam Cunningham taking his place. The closest Whitley came in the first half was when Liam Brooks crossed from near the left by-line and McLaren just held on to the high ball under pressure from Callum Johnston. Five minutes later a 20 yard effort from Johnston went just past the post but Aycliffe were deservedly in front at half time.
After the interval the game opened up more with Whitley beginning to show more attacking intent. After Flynn had saved from Hutchinson, Whitley should have drawn level in the 63rd minute when Cunningham crossed from the left and Peter Glen-Ravenhill’s first time effort was parried by McLaren but with the goal at his mercy, the Bay skipper struck the rebound over the bar. Three minutes later Jewson raced through on goal for Aycliffe but Flynn pushed his shot wide. Back on the attack, Glen-Ravenhill played the ball wide to Josh Nearney whose shot from the right edge of the box curled inches past the far post. Centre back Rhys Groves needed attention after picking up a knock midway through the half but was struggling and was replaced by debutant Michael Butcher.
Aycliffe nearly put the game beyond Whitley with 13 minutes remaining but Chris Salmon did well to get back and head the ball off the line. Andy Gowens made his final substitution with eleven minutes remaining with another teenager Ryan Hucks replacing Aiden Haley.
In the closing stages, Whitley pushed more players forward and Aycliffe were coming under greater pressure than at any earlier stage of the game. David Hall made a surging run from midfield and was not far off target then he nearly levelled the score with four minutes remaining when McLaren fumbled his shot and conceded a corner. However, as in recent weeks, the cutting edge was missing and the hosts were happy to hold on for a narrow victory.
WHITLEY BAY: Flynn, Salmon, Nearney, Haley(Hucks 79mins), Groves(Butcher 69mins), Hall, Bell, Glen-Ravenhill, Brooks, Johnston, Potter(Cunningham 30mins)
Referee: Jonny Urwin
Cautions: None
Attendance: 74
