WHITLEY BAY 3 RYHOPE CW 1
Tuesday 21st August
Whitley maintained their excellent record against Ryhope CW with a well deserved victory in an entertaining game at Hillheads. All the goals came in the first half but chances continued after the interval with Ryhope missing a penalty in the closing stages.
Among several changes from the side that started against West Auckland on Saturday, Stephen Ramsey and Karl Ross were both given their full debuts while in the opposition ranks were three former Bay players, all of whom made notable contributions.
Having won the toss, Ryhope elected to play towards the allotment end, with Tom Flynn in the Bay goal facing a low sun for the opening 15 minutes. However the visitors failed to take advantage and it was Whitley who created the first chance when Peter Glen-Ravenhill forced a save from Jonny Ball with six minutes played. A header from Jack Foalle flew just over the bar on the quarter hour while four minutes later Ryhope’s Michael Rae drove an attempt over the top. The deadlock was broken in the 23rd minute when Foalle found space around 20 yards from goal and gave ball no chance, smashing a powerful shot past the former Bay keeper. The lead did not last long though as barely two minutes later, Whitley were penalised for a foul just outside the box. Skidmore’s free kick crashed off the bar, looped up and after Home-Jackson got the first touch, Tom Bott, who had a short spell at Hillheads in the 2013/14 season, headed home from close range.
On the half hour Whitley nearly regained the lead following a well-flighted free kick from Glen-Ravenhill, but despite timing his run well, Foalle could only direct his header over the bar. Ex-Bay winger Robbie Bird then produced a darting run into the box but put his shot narrowly wide of the near post.
Two goals in as many minutes put Whitley firmly in control as the game approached half time. Attacking with pace down the right, they created confusion in the Ryhope defence. Foalle’s cross from the edge of the box left Ball bamboozled as both he and defender Corey Nicholson failed to make contact, leaving Luke Salmon unmarked at the back post and he calmly slotted the ball into the net. The cheers had barely died down when defender Gavin Caines played a superb ball fully 50 yards across field to Glen-Ravenhill who took a touch before delivering a perfect cross into the path of the onrushing Foalle whose powerful finish bulged the net before keeper Ball or his defenders could react.
Leading 3-1 at the interval, there were thoughts among the home fans that there could be a repeat of last season’s second half avalanche when Whitley put five goals past the Ryhope defence, but it did not work out that way. The visitors proved much more resilient and while Whitley created further goalscoring opportunities, Ryhope never gave up and went close on several occasions.
Foalle, in what was an impressive man of the match performance, might have completed a hat trick just five minutes after the half time break, holding off several physical challenges before cutting into the box and firing just over the bar. Ball then denied Glen-Ravenhill before Tom Flynn was called into action at the other end, keeping out an effort from Matty Weirs. A curling shot from Josh Home-Jackson crashed of the Whitley bar as Ryhope sought to reduce the arrears but then with just ten minutes remaining, a push on the same player inside the box earned Ryhope a penalty and the chance to set up a tense finale. However, Weirs failed to capitalise, striking the base of the post with his shot and the ball rebounded across goal and away from danger.
After an impressive performance when he held the ball up well and caused problems for the Ryhope defence, Ramsey was replaced in the closing stages and left the field to warm applause. Whitley had late chances to put the result beyond doubt but the nearest they came was in stoppage time when a shot from substitute Kevin Carr was pushed wide.
This was a morale boosting victory which should put players and fans alike in good heart ahead of Saturday’s important FA Cup tie.
WHITLEY BAY: Flynn, A Redford, Cooper, R Redford, Caines, Hassan, Glen-Ravenhill, Ross, Ramsey(Carr 78mins), Foalle(Martin 89mins), Salmon(Walton 80mins)
Subs not used: L Anderson, Brannen
Cautions: None
Referee: David Pill
Attendance: 248
