Dunston UTS 0 Whitley Bay 1
Saturday 25th March
A tremendous battling display by ten man Whitley earned them a memorable victory at Dunston and extended their unbeaten run to six games.
This game was a story of three goalkeepers. Dunston’s Jack Norton produced a man of the match display that kept his side in the game, while Bay had Tom Flynn sent off shortly before half time for a foul outside the box and without another recognised keeper in their side, midfielder Callum Patton took over in goal and assisted by a well disciplined defence, kept the home side at bay.
In glorious spring sunshine, Whitley started well and in the sixth minute they produced a fine flowing move, Chris McDonald playing the ball through to Peter Glen-Ravenhill who linked up with Alex Kempster before Andy Robertson fired a shot wide of the target from ten yards. In Dunston’s first threat on goal, Steven Richardson broke away down the left but Nicky Allen averted the danger.
Midway through the half, Glen-Ravenhill, whose confidence looked to have been boosted following impressive displays in recent games for the reserves, broke away down the left wing and set up Robertson whose powerful shot was well saved by Norton, with the ball rebounding away for a corner. With 26 minutes played, a first time effort by Dunston’s Michael Pearson flew over the bar but 60 seconds later Norton produced his best save of the game, somehow getting a hand to a fierce shot from McDonald that seemed destined for the top corner.
In the 33rd minute, Thibault Charmey broke through the Dunston defence and Norton raced off his line to block the shot but Alex Kempster latched onto the loose ball and drove it into an empty net to give Whitley a well deserved lead.
Just over a minute later Callum Patton’s powerfully struck shot from 20 yards was only kept out by another stunning save from Norton.
The course of the game changed four minutes before the interval when the Bay defence failed to cut out a long ball played forward by the home side leaving Richardson with a clear run on goal. Tom Flynn raced out in an attempt to win the ball but clipped the Dunston striker outside the box, thereby denying a clear goalscoring opportunity and leaving referee John Mulligan with little option but to show a red card. With no recognised keeper on the bench Callum Patton took the goalkeeper’s jersey and after comfortably defending the ensuing free kick, Whitley safely saw out the remainder of the half, leaving them time to regroup ahead of a testing second 45 minutes.
The reshuffle resulted in Aiden Haley replacing Tom Potter in midfield as Whitley awaited the anticipated onslaught from Dunston. Ten minutes had elapsed before Patton was tested and after the stand-in keeper had parried an attempt on goal, Ross Wilkinson made an important goal line clearance.
Whitley were proving dangerous on the break and after Glen-Ravenhill had won the ball near the half way line, he combined with Kempster to set up a chance for Robertson whose effort was blocked by Norton.
Midway through the half, Liam Thear went close for Dunston with a shot that clipped the top of the bar but then played switched to the other end where Kempster went close, but was denied by yet another top class save from Norton.
The ten men of Whitley were holding their own thanks to well disciplined defending which gradually drained the confidence out of the home side who struggled to put any sort of pressure on Patton who comfortably saved a long range shot with 15 minutes remaining.
With the hosts pushing forward, they left gaps at the back and with seven minutes to go, Glen-Ravenhill broke through for Whitley but his shot was deflected wide of goal. The hosts then forced three corners in quick succession as they desperately searched for a late equaliser but the Bay rearguard held firm with Wilkinson and McDonald particularly impressive. Whitley were always a threat on the break and substitute Liam Brooks twice went close to putting the game beyond Dunston’s reach, his second attempt deep into five minutes of stoppage time going beyond the far post when fellow sub Kyle Patton was better placed to capitalise.
There could be no denying that this was a thoroughly deserved win with every member of the side contributing to the victory which gave Whitley only their second ever league double over Dunston and consolidated eighth place in the Northern League table.
WHITLEY BAY: Flynn, Gilbey, McDonald, Charmey, Wilkinson, Allen, Potter(Haley 46mins), C Patton, Robertson(Brooks 74mins), Kempster, Glen-Ravenhill(K Patton 86mins)
Substitutes not used: Byerley, Moore
Sent off: Flynn, Caution: Charmey
Referee: John Mulligan
Attendance: 273
Marc Nash was full of praise for the team spirit and way his side performed especially after having keeper Tom Flynn sent off shortly before half time.
“What a great performance from the lads! They have shown everyone what can be achieved with a group of players that are together and working hard for the badge they are wearing. I can’t praise them enough in terms of bottle, organisation, work rate and determination. All those qualities were needed and they delivered with flying colours and I’m so proud of their attitudes to get that result.
“I felt although we worked their keeper first half, who pulled off three incredible saves, we were a little sloppy sometimes and Dunston could have punished us on another day. We looked very dangerous on the counter and that’s where the goal came from but only after another save from the keeper, but thankfully Alex Kempster was on hand to finish the rebound. Thomas Flynn’ red card near half time was unfortunate on his part as the defence let him down by allowing one ball to put Richardson in the clear and he’s been forced into bringing down the striker. Fate maybe played its part now as Jack Byerley was only seconds from going in goal from the bench until Callum Patton grabbed the gloves. That gave us a few minutes to get through until half time before we reorganised. We made a bold decision at the break to change from a back four to a back three. Even though down to 10 men we felt our three could handle their front 2 which would give us the chance to pack the midfield and be solid. Dunston just couldn’t handle our disciplined approach we worked so hard to limit their chances whilst protecting Callum in goal. In truth, we were still very dangerous and should easily have scored again but failed to do so but in the end no-one could deny those players a famous victory, they’ve done everyone proud.”
