FA VASE 2nd ROUND
THORNABY 2 WHITLEY BAY 4 (after extra time)
Saturday 11th November
It has often been said that for all their FA Vase success over the years, Whitley rarely do things the easy way in this competition. So it was at Thornaby where Marc Nash’s side came within two minutes of being knocked out but fought back strongly in extra time to secure victory.
The Second Division side started well and looked much the better team in the first half hour. Whitley looked as if they were suffering a hangover from their midweek Northumberland Senior Cup disappointment and were barely able to get out of their own half in the opening stages. Thornaby were quicker to the ball and strong in the tackle but they were let down by weak finishing, and Tom Flynn, back in goal five weeks after suffering a hamstring injury, was not unduly troubled.
Eventually, a good Bay move saw Matty Cornish curl a shot just over the bar but with 19 minutes played, Thornaby’s Joe Scaife-Wheatley arrowed a shot towards the top corner but Flynn leapt to his right and collected the ball cleanly. Starting to get a foothold in the game, Whitley had two chances in the 24th minute, Roberston having an attempt deflected wide before Wilkinson’s glancing header was saved. Josh Nearney then had a cross palmed wide by keeper Oliver Simpson.
Whitley took the lead after 33 minutes when Cornish struck a low shot from the edge of the box and when it took a deflection, Andy Robertson drove the ball into the net. For the remainder of the half, there were few chances at either end and Whitley retained their narrow lead at the interval.
Thornaby began the second half as they had the first, pressing forward with determination and they were rewarded five minutes after the resumption when a ball into the goalmouth was not cleared and Joe Hillerby came in to slot home at the back post.
Whitley were struggling to put accurate passes together and were conceding possession in midfield. Cornish created a chance just past the hour mark but his 18 yard shot was pushed away by Simpson. Josh Nearney picked up an injury and was replaced by Kyle Patton and Whitley’s injury woes grew worse five minutes later when Alex Kempster was unable to continue. The game remained wide open and both sides pushed for the winner in the final ten minutes. Tom Potter flashed a low ball across the face of goal but no one was on hand to apply the finishing touch. Substitute Scott Jasper then played a neat ball through to Robertson who cut in from the right and struck a low shot against the base of the near post. Thornaby quickly pushed forward and forced two corners in rapid succession as Whitley struggled to clear their lines. The Bay goal was coming under greater pressure and with four minutes left on the clock, a shot from Matty Robinson flew past Flynn and into the net to send the home players wild with delight. It was looking bleak for Whitley and as the game entered stoppage time they were facing a shock exit from the competition.
However, it only needed one mistake from the hosts to turn the game around and that is exactly what happened. With two minutes of added time already played, Cornish cut in from the right and drilled a low shot at goal. Simpson spilled the ball and Ross Wilkinson pounced to crash the ball home from close range to spark celebrations from the relieved Bay fans. Having seen victory snatched from their grasp, Thornaby heads dropped and Whitley might have won the game in the final seconds when the lively Cornish fired the ball just wide.
As had happened just five days earlier, the game went to extra time but unlike in the midweek cup tie, it was Whitley who were boosted by the stoppage time equaliser and when the game resumed they appeared re-energised.
The pace of Patton and Cornish troubled the Teessiders more than at any previous stage of the game and Peter Glen-Ravenhill found more space in midfield. His cross five minutes into extra time was put behind by defender Jason Honeyman as the pressure began to build. Potter’s ball into the goalmouth threatened but Robertson could not get enough contact to direct it past Simpson. Patton had an attempt cleared almost off the line but then with four minutes of the period remaining, Robertson’s ball across the face of goal beat the home defence and was tapped home at the far post by Scott Jasper to put Whitley back in front.
Three minutes into the second period of extra time, an error by Simpson proved costly when the Thornaby keeper’s clearance went only as far as Potter who burst forward from midfield and crossed for Kyle Patton who got in ahead of his marker to slide the ball home from ten yards. With a two goal advantage, Whitley were now in control, their superior fitness proving decisive and a visibly tiring Thornaby side had little more to offer. Patton might have added a fifth goal in the closing stages but he was denied by Simpson.
The Second Division side had given a good account of themselves but in the end Whitley and their large contingent of travelling fans were able to celebrate a hard earned victory.
WHITLEY BAY: Flynn, Nearney(K Patton 65mins) Walker, Glen-Ravenhill, Summers, Wilkinson, Potter, Brooks(Haley 55mins), Robertson, Kempster(Jasper 70mins), Cornish
Substitutes not used; Lister, Charmey
Referee: Ian Johnston
Cautions: Summers, Potter, Patton
Attendance: 230
