FA VASE 2nd QUALIFYING ROUND
WHICKHAM 2 WHITLEY BAY 1 (after extra time)
Saturday 15th September
Whitley’s recent good form deserted them as they suffered an early exit from this season’s FA Vase, beaten by an unfortunate own goal in extra time at Whickham. Making their first ever visit to The Glebe ground, they failed to come to terms with a difficult sloping playing surface and were a pale shadow of the side that only seven days earlier had created one of the upsets of the FA Cup in beating Whitby Town at Hillheads.
This game brought together two former Vase winners, Whickham having been the first north east side to lift the trophy back in 1981 and despite having been promoted this season to the Northern League First Division they came into the game as clear underdogs.
Whitley created the first chance in the sixth minute but Peter Glen-Ravenhill’s shot was comfortably saved by keeper Joe Clayton, when a pass to Jack Foalle might have proved a better option. Whickham responded quickly with Andrew Bulford, a former Vase winner with Dunston driving a shot across goal and beyond the far post. The game developed into a midfield struggle and it was midway through the half before Tom Flynn raced out his goal to beat Bulford to a long ball played out of defence by Whickham. With 25 minutes played, Foalle clipped a 20 yard effort just over the bar. Whickham captain Ross Peareth was cautioned for a poor challenge on Luke Salmon before Foalle had a great opportunity to give Whitley a 35th minute lead, but hesitated when clear on goal allowing Clayton time to block his attempt. Whitley were getting on top and after he raced down the right wing, a cross from Craig McFarlane was put behind for a corner. Jack Cooper then put in a tricky cross from the left but Foalle could not make a proper connection and the ball flew past the far post. The pressure finally paid off in the 41st minute when Olly Martin raced away along the left wing before cutting in and playing the ball across goal where Foalle drilled it home from eight yards. Three minutes later the lead might have been doubled when Salmon played a corner up the slope and Dan Taggart’s header flew inches over the bar. Whitley looked to be ending the half well on top but deep into added time, Whickham got an equaliser out of nothing. Dale Burrell seized on a loose ball in the Bay half and advanced to the edge of the box before unleashing a tremendous shot that flew into the top corner of the net leaving Flynn helpless.
The second half developed in to a largely scrappy affair with neither side creating much and passes frequently going astray. A cross from out on the right by Foalle was taken by Clayton just ahead of Taggart while substitute Mole was only just off target at the other end. Whickham’s new signing Matty Pattison brought a fine save from Flynn late on before Glen-Ravenhill’s ball from high on the right drifted agonisingly just inches past the far post with Clayton beaten.
In extra time, Foalle twice had chances, firstly putting a shot high over the bar then seeing an attempt deflected behind for a corner. Two minutes before the end of the first period came what proved to be the decisive goal. Mole crossed up the slope from the Whickham left into the Bay goalmouth, the ball hit defender Luke Taylor and crept into the net at the near post.
Inevitably the game became stretched with Whitley pushing forward desperately looking for an equaliser while Whickham threatened on the counter and it needed two great blocks by Flynn to stop the hosts from getting a third goal.
Five minutes from time, Jack Cooper was injured by a bad challenge that went unpunished and when play was eventually stopped to allow treatment, he had to be helped from the field unable to continue. In the closing stages, Salmon burst through from midfield but was eventually crowded out by a determined home defence who saw their side to victory, leaving Whitley and their large number of fans bitterly disappointed.
WHITLEY BAY: Flynn, McFarlane, Cooper(Gillesphey 117mins), Richardson, Taylor, Anderson, Glen-Ravenhill, Salmon, Taggart(Ramsey 78mins) Foalle, Martin(Walton 84mins)
Subs not used: Ross, A Redford
Caution: Gillesphey
Attendance: 215
Referee: Lewis Sandoe
