PENRITH 1 WHITLEY BAY 4
Wednesday 28th October
Whitley extended their winning run to four games, coming from behind to record a comprehensive victory at Penrith. Following their 5-0 demolition of Guisborough at the weekend, it came as no surprise to see an unchanged side named for this game against a Penrith team who had also scored five goals in their last game.
The hosts made a perfect start, scoring inside the third minute when Scott Lowery slipped just outside the Bay penalty area, conceding possession to debutant Luke Firth who ran clear on goal and gave Chris Bannon no chance with a shot into the top corner.
The goal settled any nerves among the Cumbrians and they looked the stronger side in the opening stages but Whitley gradually came into the game and with 13 minutes played, Jamie Dunn saw his long range effort saved with Matty Weirs firing over the bar moments later. Six minutes later Richard Coulson curled a shot from the left narrowly wide of the target before Lewis Orrell twice went close, firstly with a shot from 18 yards that flew just wide of the post then a minute later seizing on an error in the home defence only to see his shot blocked.
The pressure was mounting and Whitley deservedly equalised on the half hour following a tremendous surging run down the right wing by Craig McFarlane, who raced past two defenders and took the ball close to the by-line before cutting it back for Weirs to drill home.
Adam Shanks tried an audacious chip shot over the keeper five minutes later but could not get enough power on the ball and Penrith keeper Luke Miller made a comfortable save.
Nine minutes after their first goal, Whitley went in front with a similarly constructed effort. McFarlane again outpaced the home defence before cutting the ball back into the 18 yard box where the first attempt on goal was blocked but Coulson made no mistake from near the back post.
Two minutes later the Bay skipper once more showed the Cumbrians a clean pair of heels down the right wing and again took the ball to the by-line before lifting it into the six yard box where Shanks headed home to put Whitley in command.
Just before the interval, Penrith might have forced themselves back in the game when they broke through the Bay defence but Bannon did well to keep the ball out with his feet.
The anxieties of the opening few minutes were a distant memory when the half time whistle blew with Whitley now firmly in control.
The second half opened with the Bay still dominating proceedings, Taylor going close with a header while in the 53rd minute Lowery almost caught out Miller with a dipping shot from fully 25 yards but the keeper just managed to get his fingers to the ball and push it over the bar.
Play remained largely in the Penrith half and on the hour, Dunn’s dangerous ball into the box was only inches too high for Shanks. Two minutes later Whitley’s top scorer latched onto an accurate ball from McFarlane, broke through on goal but was unlucky to see his shot crash off the post with Miller beaten. However, he was not denied for long and in the 66th minute Shanks was played clear by Weirs and made no mistake, placing his shot beyond the reach of Miller for his second and Whitley’s fourth goal of the night.
A rare attack by the hosts was ended prematurely when a flag was raised for offside. With Whitley controlling midfield the Cumbrians were struggling to construct any meaningful attempts on goal and almost all the chances were coming at the other end. Shanks went close with 15 minutes to go but put the ball high over the bar when he should really have tested the keeper. Michael Colquhoun then replaced Orrell but almost immediately needed treatment after a clumsy mistimed challenge. Man of the match McFarlane might have got a goal himself in the 83rd minute but his well struck shot was saved by Miller, diving low to his right.
Whitley never eased up, creating several more chances in the closing stages. Two minutes from time Shanks so nearly completed his hat trick but his goalbound header was finger tipped over the bar by the over worked Miller, who moments later saved from Coulson.
Four consecutive wins and 19 goals scored in their last five games combine to make Whitley a joy to watch in their current form and the small contingent of Bay fans who made the long midweek trip to the game were fully rewarded for their efforts.
WHITLEY BAY: Bannon, McFarlane, Dunn, Lowery, Hamilton, Taylor, Orrell(Colquhoun 75mins), Robinson(Wilson 85mins) Shanks, M Weirs (J Weirs 67mins) Coulson
Subs not used: Lister, Brannen
Caution: Hamilton
Referee: Sam Ross
Attendance: 120
