BILLINGHAM TOWN 0 WHITLEY BAY 2
Saturday 31st October
Whitley overcame both Billingham Town and the elements as they recorded their fifth consecutive win and moved up to seventh place in the table. Once again it was an unchanged side that took to the field on an afternoon when torrential rain on Teesside had given way to bright sunshine. Whitley chose to play with the advantage of the strong and blustery wind in the first half and playing with the confidence of a side in good form they immediately forced the home side back in their own half. A series of three corners in rapid succession put Town under pressure and it came as little surprise when Whitley took the lead in the tenth minute, Scott Lowery striking a powerful shot through the home defence after the ball was played in from the right.
With the backing of an excellent contingent of travelling fans, Whitley were passing the ball quickly and stretching the Billingham defence. Keeper Mark Wilkinson made a comfortable save from Richard Coulson after 25 minutes but six minutes later there was nothing the recent signing could do when Coulson fired an unstoppable 25 yard shot into the roof of the net to put Whitley two goals ahead and firmly in control of the game.
Matty Weirs fired just over the bar as Whitley sought to capitalise further with the conditions in their favour before Luke Taylor’s looping header from Robinson’s corner was held just under the bar.
Excellent approach work by Craig McFarlane set up a chance for Robinson but his attempt failed to find the target. It had been a dominant first 45 minutes by Whitley and they were fully deserving of their two goal interval lead.
The second half saw Billingham have a much greater amount of possession but they were unable to convert this into goal scoring opportunities as Whitley’s well organised defending kept them out and they were restricted to attempts from distance, Danny Earl’s long range effort drifting well wide of goal.
Play became rather scrappy as the wind forced passes to go astray and when Town won a free kick on the edge of the Whitley box, they were unable to capitalise with the ball being blocked before a follow up shot from Lavan flew over the bar.
Into the final quarter of the game, Whitley pressed forward with greater effect and Matty Weirs looked set to break clear on goal until he was held back on the edge of the box, but the resulting free kick came to nothing. Adam Shanks then tried to cut through the home defence and went to ground as he appeared to be held back but play was allowed to continue.
Substitute Kieran Brannen, who scored at Guisborough seven days earlier burst through down the middle late on but on this occasion he could not get a shot on goal.
The strength of the wind spoiled this game as a spectacle but Whitley were still very comfortable winners with the players coping well in the difficult conditions.
WHITLEY BAY: Bannon, McFarlane, Dunn, Lowery, Hamilton, Taylor, Orrell(Colquhoun 82mins), Robinson, Shanks(J Weirs 82mins), M Weirs(Brannen 88mins), Coulson
Subs not used: Wilson, Patience
Cautions: Orrell, Taylor, J Weirs
Referee: Christopher Armstrong
Attendance: 150
