WHITLEY BAY 1 WEST AUCKLAND TOWN 3
Saturday 14th September
Whitley’s inconsistent home form continued with a disappointing display against a rapidly improving West Auckland side. With Craig McFarlane unavailable, Lee Kerr wore the captain’s armband while Adam Shanks returned to the side in the only change from the starting eleven that performed so well at Hebburn in midweek.
The visitors started the stronger but in the 12th minute Whitley might have taken the lead when a corner resulted in a scramble in the Auckland goalmouth with the ball eventually cleared off the line by Daniel Mitton.
It was a rare Bay attack and the pace of the visitors was causing problems down their right wing and they deservedly went ahead in the 22nd minute when David Dowson drove a low shot across goal and into the far corner of the net. Two minutes later it took last ditch defending by Whitley to clear the ball off the line twice in rapid succession as the visitors looked to press home their advantage. In the 35th minute they did double their lead when Dowson again found the net, this time with a close range finish following a right wing cross that was not cut out. Whitley fought back and a deflected shot flew inches wide. Two corners that followed failed to produce a clear chance for Whitley but just before the interval, good approach work created an opportunity for Craig Spooner but he fired narrowly wide.
A third goal seven minutes after half time effectively sealed victory for West Auckland after the Bay defence had been cut open by Mitchell’s cross from the right leaving Callum Guy with an easy finish.
Adam Shanks was replaced by Lewis Orrell shortly before the hour with Mark Robinson playing a more attacking role. While the County Durham side may have felt content to sit back and retain their lead, Whitley gradually came more into the game as an attacking force but came up against a strong Auckland defence who quickly closed them down and gave few opportunities on goal. Connor Smith made a good run from the right wing, cutting in across the edge of the 18 yard box looking for an opening but his attempt on goal was cut out by former Bay keeper Tom Flynn.
In the 71st minute, a ball over the top reached Spooner on the edge of the box and he burst clear on goal but Flynn blocked his shot. However Spooner seized on the rebound and drove it firmly into the net to give Whitley a glimmer of hope. Almost immediately, they had a chance to reduce the deficit further when Kerr was given a gilt-edged opportunity but quick reactions from a defender blocked the attempt. For the first time in the game Whitley were putting pressure on the visitors but the closest they came was with five minutes remaining when Robinson’s powerful header from Orrell’s cross crashed off the bar with Flynn beaten.
WHITLEY BAY: Hubery, Bexton, Salmon, Kerr, Anderson, Graham, Lowery, Spooner Shanks(Orrell ) Robinson, Smith
Substitutes not used: Stephenson, Lister, Hird, Taylor
Cautions: Anderson, Lowery
Referee: Lewis Sandoe
Attendance: 341
