WHITLEY BAY 3 DUNSTON UTS 2
Saturday 5th January
Whitley started the new year in tremendous style, producing an outstanding performance as they inflicted only the second defeat of the season on championship chasing Dunston.
The visitors came into the game with by far the best defensive record in the league, having conceded just 13 goals in 18 games, but Bay manager Mick Mulhern got his tactics spot on as he watched his side make a dream start, scoring twice in the first six minutes.
Attacking from the first whistle, they unsettled the visitors with Ibby Hassan’s cross into the goalmouth just eluding Andrei Ardelean as the striker tried to get his head on the ball. In the fourth minute, Lewis Walton took the ball down the left flank before crossing into the box where Olly Martin’s delicate lob from 12 yards looped over keeper Karl Dryden and dipped just under the bar. The early goal delighted the Bay fans but it got even better two minutes later. Continuing to put Dunston under pressure, Luke Taylor played the ball across the box to just beyond the far post, where Luke Salmon drilled it hard and low across the goalmouth. Almost impossible to defend, the ball struck Dunston captain Dan Halliday and flew into the net to give Whitley a two goal lead.
Before the visitors could muster an attack of their own, Whitley almost got a third but Martin’s powerful shot was just too high and Dryden was relieved to see it clear the bar.
Whitley were playing with real energy throughout the team, players battling for every ball and with the action at this stage largely in the Dunston half but in the 20th minute, the visitors got an attempt on target, Jordan Nellis driving the ball straight at Tom Flynn. Back came Whitley and two minutes later, Salmon’s teasing cross was headed behind for a corner.
A poor challenge on Ardelean, just as he was breaking through on goal earned central defender Capewell the first caution of the game. The game was now becoming more evenly contested and in the 35th minute, Dunston pulled a goal back when Flynn blocked a shot following a free kick, but the ball fell for former Bay striker Liam Brooks who lashed it across Flynn and into the far corner of the net. The goal gave Dunston a real boost and they were now posing the greater threat with some neat passing moves, and might have levelled four minutes later but Michael Pearson fired over the bar. Flynn and his defence were being kept busy and the keeper made a good block to ensure Whitley remained in front at the interval.
Despite an excellent first half performance, the game was far from won and Whitley knew they would have to maintain their work rate throughout the second 45 minutes if they were to stand any chance of victory. They began the second half as they had the first and a great shot from Ardelean flew inches over the Dunston bar just 14 seconds after the resumption.
Both sides were playing some good attacking football but Dunston began to gain the upper hand and drew level in the 62nd minute when Brooks played Fitzpatrick through on goal and the striker slotted past Flynn to set up a dramatic final half hour. Ben Christensen headed wide from a Luke Salmon corner while at the other end, one shot rebounded off the post while another skimmed the bar and there was also a goal line clearance as the visitors poured forward.
The decisive moment of the game arrived in the 72nd minute as Whitley broke down the right and Craig McFarlane drove the ball into the box. The ball was played out but straight back to McFarlane whose second cross reached Olly Martin who turned past a defender and fired a low shot beyond Dryden into the far corner of the net.
Back in front, Whitley had to work hard to retain their lead but showed greater discipline than in recent games, defending solidly while Andrei Ardelean worked tirelessly up front to keep the Dunston defence on their toes. It was a tense final period of the game and it was only in the last ten minutes that Whitley made use of their three substitutes, effectively breaking up the momentum that Dunston were trying to build.
Deep into six minutes of stoppage time, as Dunston pushed everyone forward in search of an equaliser, Lewis Suddick one of the Bay substitutes, might have put the result beyond doubt when he broke clear and was only denied by a great save from Dryden.
The final whistle brought scenes of jubilation on and off the pitch after a dramatic and thoroughly entertaining game of high quality Northern League football. It was the best Bay performance since knocking Whitby out of the FA Cup and it ended a winless run that had seen them slip worryingly down the table. It also helped to erase the memory of the record defeat suffered when the sides met at Dunston back in August.
WHITLEY BAY: Flynn, McFarlane, Walton, Christensen, Hassan, Taylor(Caines 90mins), Martin(Carr 90+2mins), R Redford, Ardelean, Glen-Ravenhill, Salmon(Suddick 82mins)
Substitutes not used: Brannen, Anderson
Caution: Christensen
Referee: Chris Ellis
Attendance: 296
h20 Bathrooms man of the match: Andrei Ardelean
