NORTHERN LEAGUE CUP 2nd ROUND
WHITLEY BAY 2 NORTH SHIELDS 0
Tuesday 30th October
Whitley emerged victorious in the first local derby of the season against North Shields, much to the delight of their fans in the bumper midweek crowd of almost 400.
In an entertaining cup tie, the first half was played at a breathtaking pace and there were chances galore at both ends. Whitley capitalised on two of theirs, while Shields were unable to break down a well organised Bay rearguard. The visitors had the majority of possession in the second half but never really looked like getting back in the game.
Whitley made one change to the side that shared the points with Ashington at the weekend, Ben Richardson returning to the starting eleven with Dan Taggart dropping to the bench.
Both sides quickly showed their attacking intent, Shields going close in the third minute when Gary Day headed wide from McRoberts’ cross. Four minutes later Whitley twice had attempts blocked, firstly when Luke Salmon burst forward and his powerful effort was parried by keeper Greg Purvis. The ball then ran loose and Peter Glen-Ravenhill’s shot was only kept out by last ditch defending from former Bay Vase winner Gary Ormston.
The action continued unabated and in the 11th minute Day had another chance for the visitors but this time his well struck shot clipped the outside of the post. Ormston’s ball back into the goalmouth was well saved by Bannon before Craig McFarlane cleared the ball upfield.
Slick passing on the damp surface was adding to the entertainment and in the 14th minute, more good build up play ended with Salmon crossing for Glen-Ravenhill but the skipper’s shot was saved low down by Purvis.
Midway through the half, Donnison’s run down the right threatened danger but his ball through to Day was cut out by Ben Richardson at the expense of a corner, from which Ormston’s header was cleared almost off the line by McFarlane.
Back came Whitley and in the 25th minute they were awarded a free kick just outside the box when Coppen was penalised for handball, a decision which he fiercely contested. From a central position, Richardson curled the ball perfectly past the wall of defenders and just inside the right hand post to give Whitley the lead. It was his first goal for the club since joining from the Robins earlier in the season and he certainly enjoyed the moment. Eight minutes later Whitley went two up when Callum Anderson played the ball through to Glen-Ravenhill whose cross from the right beat the Shields defenders and Luke Salmon raced in at the back post to bundle the ball over the line. Coppen was cautioned for persistent niggling challenges and complaints to the referee, who did well to calm a potentially difficult situation.
Whitley retained their two goal advantage to the interval but the attacking attitude of both sides suggested that the game was far from won and that more goals could be expected.
Carr went close for Shields just after the restart then Glen-Ravenhill’s ambitious long range shot almost beat Purvis, the keeper diving but failing to hold onto the ball and grateful to be able to push it wide.
Four minutes later, Bobby Taylor’s ball into the Whitley box caused hesitation between Cooper and Bannon but the Bay keeper recovered to make a fine save from Carr’s header. Shields were enjoying a good spell of possession but were failing to seriously test Bannon and Whitley might have put the result beyond doubt just before the hour when Brannen weaved his way through the Shields defence but his final shot was well saved by Purvis.
Past the midpoint of the half, Whitley’s priority seemed to be to stifle the Shields attacking threat and break on the counter. With 20 minutes left, that policy nearly paid dividends when in a quick break downfield, Ryan Redford, who had come off the bench to replace Brannen saw his shot deflected by Donnison and fly just inches over the bar.
Shields continued to press forward but their attacks broke down approaching the final third as Whitley denied them time and space on the ball.
The pace of the game remained rapid but chances were fewer and as the Robins were obliged to throw men forward, they left gaps at the back. Ten minutes from time Whitley won a corner and Glen-Ravenhill’s ball across goal found Gavin Caines in space barely six yards out but he put his shot just the wrong side of the upright.
Shields were running out of ideas and Whitley saw out the remaining minutes without undue alarm and might even have extended their lead late on when the tireless Andrei Ardelean, who typified the spirit and determination in the Bay side drilled a shot into the side netting.
Any victory in a local derby is greatly celebrated and the ovation from the fans at the final whistle was well deserved. Every player had made an important contribution to this success, with captain Peter Glen-Ravenhill setting the example with a display of non-stop running and tackling against his former club.
The bragging rights are with Whitley at the moment, but they will have it all to do again on Saturday when the sides meet in a league fixture at the Daren Persson Stadium.
WHITLEY BAY: Bannon, McFarlane, Cooper(Walton 69mins), Anderson, Taylor, Caines, Brannen(R Redford 61mins), Richardson(Christensen 84mins), Ardelean, Glen-Ravenhill, Salmon
Substitutes not used: Ramsey, Taggart
Cautions: Cooper, Glen-Ravenhill
h2o Bathrooms Man of the match: Luke Salmon
Referee: John Mulligan
Attendance: 390
