WEST AUCKLAND TOWN 5 WHITLEY BAY 0
Saturday 28th April
On their final Saturday outing of the season, Whitley ended up well beaten by a strong and experienced West Auckland side who now look sure to finish in third place. The congested end of season fixture list meant that this was Whitley’s fourth game in eight days, and they were missing eight players including an entire back four, with Tom Potter and Josh Nearney the latest to join the long injury list.
Promising teenager Regan Paterson was included in the starting eleven for the first time while Andy Gowens only had two substitutes available.
West Auckland had the first chance when Mitchell went close but almost immediately he had to be replaced after suffering an injury. Whitley were working hard Paterson earned a corner after good work up the slope on the right wing. On the opposite flank, Peter Glen-Ravenhill almost created an opening but his cross was gathered by the keeper.
After an evenly balanced opening period, West Auckland took the lead in the 20th minute when Doninger got up above the Bay defence and headed home Anthony Bell’s free kick. Two minutes later Doninger floated a cross narrowly past the far post before Paterson raced away up the slope but his cross was too deep and drifted behind. In the 32nd minute, Tom Flynn pushed a strong shot from Bell over the bar. Auckland doubled their lead from the corner with Parker drilling home the ball after Flynn had punched away Fisher’s shot.
One minute before the interval, a defensive mistake almost cost Whitley a third goal by Flynn came to the rescue, saving from Fisher as the prolific striker closed in on goal.
The opening stages of the second half ended the game as a contest when Auckland capitalised on defensive frailties to score twice in the first six minutes. Barely two minutes after the restart, Whitley failed to clear their lines and when Cobain crossed from the left, Purewal slotted home in front of goal. Three minutes later it got even worse when the hosts added a fourth. Gaps in the Bay defence allowed Fisher to cross into the box and Doninger gave Flynn no chance from six yards.
It looked a matter of damage limitation from this point on for Whitley and midway through the half they forced two corners in quick succession as the home defence were briefly put under pressure. With 20 minutes to go, Jack Walker struck a shot narrowly past the post but both sides were visibly tiring and the game was being played more in midfield with fewer attempts on goal. James Proctor, another teenager from the Reserves, came off the bench to add fresh legs for the final quarter of the game and showed considerable promise. Eight minutes from time, the hosts got a fifth goal when Bell side footed the ball into the bottom corner of the net from ten yards.
To their credit, Whitley kept battling away and five minutes from time might have claimed a deserved consolation goal. Substitute Cam Cunningham did well down the left and when he crossed into the box, Michael Bell’s well struck volley crashed off the post with keeper Shane Bland beaten.
WHITLEY BAY: Flynn, Salmon, Walker, Haley, Groves, Hall, Bell, Glen-Ravenhill, Brooks (Proctor 72mins), Jasper, Paterson(Cunningham 67mins)
Referee: Terry Fletcher
Cautions: None
Attendance: 173
