WHITLEY BAY 0 WEST AUCKLAND TOWN 2
Saturday 18th August
Whitley paid the price for missed chances in a keenly contested game against a West Auckland side who are one the championship favourites.
It was a vastly improved performance from the debacle at Dunston on Tuesday but still not good enough to avoid a second defeat in five days, as two well taken goals from prolific striker Nathan Fisher proved decisive.
Whitley’s defence was strengthened by the return of Callum Anderson and debutant Ibby Hassan who produced a man of the match performance.
The game got underway at a rapid pace and in the fifth minute, a ball from Fisher out on the left flew across the face of the Bay goal and out of play. Whitley’s first attempt came three minutes later when Olly Martin ran clear down the right wing and cut in before driving a low shot wide of the target. When Peter Glen-Ravenhill played a corner short to Jack Foalle, his cross into the goalmouth was met by Hassan who headed over the bar.
The visitors were producing some good build up play in midfield but could not break down a determined and more disciplined Bay rearguard and the best chance of the game so far came Whitley’s way in the 19th minute. A ball played over the Auckland defence reached Glen-Ravenhill 12 yards from goal but the Bay skipper volleyed high over the bar. Five minutes later it was the turn of the visitors to go close, Adam Mitchell’s shot clipping the top of the bar after he had been played in by Purewal.
Whitley might have taken a 29th minute lead when a mistake by West defender Thomas Price gave Jack Foalle possession on the left edge of the box but he curled his shot inches past the far post. Another Bay attack five minutes before half time saw Luke Salmon make a foraging run from midfield but his shot was saved low down at the near post by keeper Shane Bland.
Shortly before the break, Foalle was clumsily tripped by Price who was cautioned for the offence. It looked as if the half would end goal-less but almost two minutes into stoppage time, Whitley conceded possession and they were punished as the ball rebounded into the path of Fisher who took the ball wide of Tom Flynn before slotting it home from close range.
Six minutes after the restart, Mitchell, who was proving a real threat for the County Durham side, burst through but shot narrowly wide when well placed. Martin then volleyed over the bar from Foalle’s cross as Whitley battled for an equaliser.
After a period when play was largely confined to midfield, Whitley stepped up the pace in the final quarter of the game and the West goal led a charmed life following a Glen-Ravenhill free kick when twice keeper Bland was forced to punch the ball clear under pressure from Bay sub Stephen Ramsey.
With eleven minutes remaining, Whitley were dealt a body blow when they failed to cut out a run by Auckland sub Arran Wearmouth down the visitors’ left wing and his through ball reached Fisher who ran clear before calmly slotting past Flynn to give his side a two goal cushion.
Still Whitley kept plugging away and with the game into stoppage time, they created two more chances. Salmon made a good run eluding challenges from defenders as he closed in on goal only to see Bland block his shot. Then Glen-Ravenhill crossed from the right to substitute Liam Anderson who swung a foot at the ball but failed to connect when barely four yards out.
WHITLEY BAY: Flynn, A Redford, Cooper, C Anderson(R Redford 70mins), Caines, Hassan, Martin, Glen-Ravenhill, Taggart(Ramsey 70mins), Foalle(L Anderson 84mins), Salmon. Subs not used: Ross, Walton
Cautions: Cooper, Hassan
Attendance: 307
Referee: Michael Burrows
