WEST AUCKLAND TOWN 5 WHITLEY BAY 1
Saturday 26th October
Whitley’s winning run came to an end at West Auckland but the final score tells only part of the story. The big talking point of the game came in the 14th minute when a downward header from Bay’s Scott Lowery crossed the line by at least a foot before being scooped back into play by West Auckland keeper Mark Bell. Players of both sides, along with spectators behind the goal were expecting a goal to be awarded and were amazed when play was allowed to continue. The incident came at a stage when Whitley were in the ascendency, having recovered from poor start and had pulled the score back to 1-1. Had the goal been given, as clearly it should, Whitley would have been ahead and in control of the game. However, it was not to be and the afternoon ended in disappointment for Whitley and their fans.
Playing down the slope in the first half, West Auckland started much the better, dominating possession and pegging Whitley back in their own half. Inside the fifth minute, a free kick conceded near the left corner flag was whipped into the Bay 18 yard box where Amar Purewal was allowed to head home unchallenged, giving Dan Lister no chance.
The goal stung Whitley into action and four minutes later Craig Spooner fired over the bar from Josh Macdonald’s right wing corner.
Now pushing forward with determination, Whitley won a free kick out on the left some 25 yards from goal and when Spooner played the ball into the six yard box, Scott Lowery poked it beyond Bell and just inside the near post to level the score.
Three minutes later came the controversial incident and the ‘goal’ that was not given. Undeterred, Whitley kept up the pressure and Brad Hird brought a fine save from Bell.
In the 22nd minute, Macdonald, making his final appearance for Whitley before returning to parent club FC Halifax Town, brought a spectacular save from bell, who managed to palm clear his goalbound shot, with Luke Salmon putting the loose ball into the side netting.
The hosts fought back and won a series of free kicks in dangerous positions not far outside the Bay penalty area. In the 27th minute, one such free kick was to prove costly for Whitley when the ball was floated in from the right and once again Purewal to the ball in front of the Bay defence and planted his header just inside the near post, beating Lister’s despairing dive.
A second crucial moment of the game arrived three minutes before half time when Salmon tried to get to the ball ahead of the oncoming keeper but caught him with a high boot and was promptly sent off, leaving Whitley with a daunting task in the second half.
Turning to experience, Nathan Haslam brought Callum Anderson off the bench for what was a landmark 343rd appearance, taking him into tenth place on the club’s all-time appearance list.
Ten man Whitley were up against it but kept plugging away, Hird being the perfect example with non-stop running and chasing down opponents as he aimed to continue his recent goal scoring exploits.
In the 59th minute, the home side extended their lead and effectively ended Bay hopes of rescuing the game when defender Liam Hegarty raced away up the wing and cut in before driving a shot across Lister into the far corner of the net.
Hird almost reduced the arrears six minutes later when he turned in the box and his low shot was on target but Bell got a hand to the ball to push it wide.
Given the very wet weather of recent days, the pitch had played well but the strength sapping conditions were inevitably taking their toll and using their extra man effectively, West Auckland wrapped up the game with two goals in the final ten minutes from substitute Rees Greenwood. The final score was somewhat harsh on Whitley but a strong and experienced home side who have lost just once in their last 12 games, eventually proved worthy winners.
WHITLEY BAY: Lister, Bexton(Anderson 46mins), Martin(McFarlane 72mins) Spooner, Taylor, Lowery, Macdonald, Orrell, Hird, Robinson(Proctor 61mins), Salmon
Substitutes not used: Stephenson, Smith
Sent off: Salmon
Caution: Bexton
Referee: Jamie Cann
Attendance: 240
