SUNDERLAND RCA 3 WHITLEY BAY 2
Tuesday 2nd October
Whitley can consider themselves unlucky not to have earned a share of the spoils from a keenly contested game that swung first one way then the other on a blustery night at Ryhope.
Among six changes to the starting line up, new signing Chris Bannon made his debut in goal while Callum Anderson and Ibby Hassan were both back in the side.
Playing down the slope in the first half, RCA took the lead after just six minutes. Michael Charlton broke forward and from the edge of the box drilled in a shot that was well blocked by Bannon but the ball fell kindly for Dominic Moan to head home.
Responding positively, Whitley pushed forward and were back on level terms in the 12th minute after RCA lost possession some 25 yards from goal with Craig McFarlane and Jack Foalle quick to capitalise. It was Foalle who made the most of the opportunity, racing to the edge of the box before firing past keeper Tsapalos. The goal equalled a remarkable club record for the Bay striker, who has now scored in each the last eight games he has played.
Seven minutes later Ross Preston poked the ball wide for RCA following a free kick then at the top end, Olly Martin drove the ball across goal and just wide of the far post.
Peter Glen-Ravenhill almost set up a second Bay goal in the 24th minute but Tsapalos got to the ball just in time, palming it clear of the onrushing Foalle before grabbing it at the second attempt. Despite playing up the slope and into the stiff wind, Whitley were getting on top and when Kevin Carr put a dangerous cross into the box, the ball was put behind by the home defence. The resultant corner was pushed away by Tsapalos but only as far as Callum Anderson whose perfectly struck volley from ten yards flew through a crowded goalmouth and into the net. In contrast to the prolific Foalle, this was only Anderson’s fifth goal in more than 300 appearances but it gave Whitley a well deserved lead. Martin then brought a good save from the keeper as Whitley sought to press home their advantage. An excellent ball in from the right by McFarlane was met by Foalle but as he closed in on goal he was brought down barely six yards from goal. It looked the most blatant of penalties but quite inexplicably, referee Graeme Hopper ignored the appeals and gave a corner instead. From the flag kick, the ball was only half cleared and from the edge of the box, Glen-Ravenhill struck his shot narrowly wide of the near post.
Five minutes later, McFarlane, who was playing in a more advanced position than in previous games, tried a speculative half volley from wide on the right. It was perfectly flighted and would have been a spectacular goal but Tsapalos clutched the ball just under the bar.
Whitley looked to be comfortably in control but in first half stoppage time, they conceded an equaliser when Nathan O’Neill was allowed space after receiving a crossfield pass on the left edge of the box and slotted the ball into the bottom left corner of the net.
The goal changed the course of the game with RCA starting the second period brightly and when Whitley only half cleared the ball rather than playing it downfield, Dylan Elliott produced a moment of magic as he volleyed a tremendous shot from all of 25 yards and the ball curled away from Bannon and into the top right corner of the net. It was a goal worthy of winning any game but there were still 40 minutes remaining and everything to play for. Elliott went close again just three minutes later but this time Bannon made an excellent low save, diving full length to push his free kick round the post.
Foalle headed over from Luke Salmon’s corner but the better chances were coming at the other end where RCA were looking to put the game beyond Whitley, Moan and Davis both going close.
Whitley almost grabbed a 73rd minute equaliser when McFarlane sent in a tremendous shot that was curling into the far corner until Tsapalos got his fingertips to the ball and pushed it away. Foalle then had an attempt blocked before sub Ben Richardson saw his free kick fly just over the bar. McFarlane then made a good run down the right before crossing to Richardson whose shot flew inches wide. In another Bay attack, the ball ricocheted around the box as a series of shots were blocked by brave defending.
A bizarre incident caused a prolonged delay when the ball was kicked out of the ground and it took several minutes before a replacement was provided. The home side were now happy to run down the clock while a number of niggling fouls went unpunished. Seven minutes into a prolonged period of additional time, the game boiled over and the referee finally took action, showing Richardson a red card apparently for retaliation but failing to take any action against the RCA player who sparked the incident.
It was a sour ending to a game in which both sides had periods of superiority but where a draw would have been the fairest outcome.
WHITLEY BAY: Bannon, A Redford(Brannen 81mins), Salmon, Anderson, Caines(Ramsey 83mins), Hassan, McFarlane, Glen-Ravenhill, Martin, Foalle, Carr(Richarsdon 65mins)
Subs not used: Gillesphey, Walton
Cautions: Carr, Caines, Richardson
Referee: Graeme Hopper
Attendance: 136
