WHITLEY BAY 3 NEWCASTLE BENFIELD 1
Tuesday 16th August
Whitley made it two league wins out of two with a well deserved victory over local rivals Newcastle Benfield.
Tom Potter replaced the unavailable Adam Shanks in the only change from the side that scored five goals against Ryhope CW at the weekend.
On a fine sunny evening, Whitley started well and in the third minute, Callum Patton tested the experienced Andrew Grainger with a shot that bounced off the keeper’s chest but was gathered at the second attempt.
The opening goal came after just ten minutes from a free kick near the left touchline, Patton floating the ball to the edge of the 18 yard box where Ross Wilkinson sent a glancing header over former Bay defender Steve Tobin and keeper Grainger, the ball dipping just under the bar.
There were half chances at both ends as Benfield battled their way back into the contest but they were let down by some poor finishing. Whitley took a firm grip on the game six minutes before the interval when a dreadfully misplaced pass handed possession to Kyle Fryatt deep inside the Benfield half. Rather than trying his luck with a shot on goal, he played the ball out on the right to Andy Robertson whose powerful shot left Grainger helpless as he doubled Whitley’s lead.
The visitors responded well and two minutes later they got a strong shot on target but Tom Flynn made a comfortable save and Whitley retained their two goal advantage at the interval.
In a lively opening to the second half, Patton had a shot pushed wide by Grainger while Benfield looked much more competitive and they got back in the game with 49th minutes on the clock. Scott McCarthy went past two players as he cut in from the right by-line and he beat Tom Flynn from a narrow angle.
Chris McDonald twice went close for Whitley, his second attempt taking a deflection which forced Grainger into an excellent low save to keep the ball out.
Five minutes after coming off the bench on his return from holiday, Alex Kempster flashed a header inches past the post from a McDonald free kick but in the 68th minute, Whitley made the game safe when Kyle Fryatt ghosted past several Benfield defenders and squared the ball for Robertson to slot home from close range.
McCarthy wasted a golden opportunity to keep Benfield’s hopes alive three minutes later but he could not get his shot on target when well placed.
Good defending by Wilkinson averted danger for Whitley before substitute Dillon Blake curled a shot just over the bar with six minutes remaining.
Both sides created further chances in the closing stages but Whitley deservedly held on to claim the points.
WHITLEY BAY: Flynn, Munro, McDonald, Wilkinson, Anderson, Gibson, Potter(Blake 80mins), Patton(Kempster 59mins), Robertson, Fryatt, Allen(Fowler 46mins)
Substitutes not used: Berry, Keltie
Referee: Jonathan Irwin
Cautions: None
Attendance: 267
