WHITLEY BAY 1 THORNABY 3
Tuesday 6th October
Saturday’s FA Cup defeat by Blyth Spartans was one where Whitley could hold their heads high after a stirring and courageous performance, but this was totally different. Although they started the game very strongly, the early promise faded and they ended up a well beaten side.
On a fine dry evening, in marked contrast to Saturday’s conditions, Whitley were quickly into their stride and putting pressure on Thornaby’s teenage keeper Josh Mazfari. The youngster was almost in trouble inside the first five minutes when Scott Jasper charged down his attempted clearance but the ball rebounded the wrong side of the post. In the 12th minute, Mazfari got his fingers to a fierce long range effort from Craig Hennis, pushing the ball just wide of goal. The resultant corner caused confusion in the Thornaby goalmouth with shots twice being cleared off the line and a cross from Dunn clipping the bar.
Whitley eventually got the goal their play deserved when in the 17th minute, Adam Shanks swivelled on the ball and fired in a powerful shot from 15 yards and although the keeper got his fingers to it, he could not keep out.
Thornaby were struggling to get a foothold in the game and Whitley might have extended their lead but a strong run down the right wing by Elliott Beddow saw the visitors win a 27th minute penalty when the cross into the box was handled by Jamie Dunn, and Dale Hopson sent Chris Bannon the wrong way from the penalty spot.
The equaliser gave the Teessiders a big lift and they looked much livelier from this point on. The game was now evenly balanced and being played at a rapid pace with both sides creating chances but there was no addition to the score at the interval.
Poor defending was to cost Whitley dear in the second half and the first major lapse in concentration came just 4 minutes after the resumption when Beddow was allowed to run clear on the left and clip the ball over the advancing Bannon to put his side in front.
A foul on Shanks just outside the box gave Whitley a chance to level the score but Dunn’s free kick was too high.
Thornaby’s strong running and physical approach was giving them the upper hand and it took a great save from Bannon just past the hour to keep Whitley in the game. Three minutes later, Whitley’s luck was out when Richie Coulson struck a powerful shot goalwards but the ball took a deflection and crashed off the bar. In an immediate counter attack, Thornaby broke upfield but Bannon was alert to the danger and raced off his line to clear the ball just ahead of an onrushing opponent. Craig Hennis cleared off the line for Whitley with 20 minutes to go as they came under growing pressure and the result was put beyond doubt seven minutes later when a throw in on the right was played straight to the unmarked Beddow, who saw his chance and struck a fine 20 yard shot that flew into the far corner of the net, beating the desperate dive of Bannon.
The discipline and flair that had been in evidence in recent games was missing from Whitley’s play and although they created two more chances, a cynically conceded free kick right on the edge of the Thornaby box ending up being drilled straight into the keeper’s arms and substitute James Thompson getting a header on target late, they never looked like getting back in the game.
Whitley will need to put this below par performance behind them and rediscover their earlier form when they face top of the table Hebburn Town on Saturday.
WHITLEY BAY: Bannon, Lowery, Dunn, Hennis, Hamilton, Gillesphey(McFarlane 75 mins), M Weirs, Robinson, Shanks,(Orrell 71mins) Jasper(Thompson 80 mins) Coulson
Substitutes not used: Colquhoun, Taylor
Cautions: None
Attendance:150
Referee: Graeme Hopper
