WHITLEY BAY 5 NEWCASTLE BENFIELD 3
Tuesday 25th November
Whitley scored four times in an amazing last 15 minutes to snatch a dramatic victory in a keenly contested and thoroughly entertaining local derby against Newcastle Benfield that lightened up a cold November evening.
With nine first team players unavailable, Leon Ryan brought several youngsters from the Reserves into the squad with defender Ryan Keltie making his debut, while teenage midfielder Dillon Blake was also in the starting line up for the first time this season.
Benfield, fresh from an impressive FA Vase victory over Ashington at the weekend, took an early lead when Dan Taylor squeezed the ball just inside the post with only seven minutes on the clock. Whitley fought back strongly and created a series of chances but determined defending by the visitors denied Peter Watling twice in the space of a few minutes. Lewis Scorgie failed to find the target with an effort for Benfield after 18 minutes and although the visitors did threaten, the tall Keltie along with Ryan and Reid, stifled most of the Benfield attacking moves. After Watling had again been denied, Paul Chow scooped the ball over the bar following good play from Robbie Bird. Chris McDonald, returning from injury, was looking lively and when he closed in from the left wing and cut the ball back, Blake’s first time effort flew just wide of goal. Whitley were creating plenty of chances and five minutes before the interval, when Benfield keeper Andrew Grainger raced off his line to attempt a clearance, Jonny Godsmark looked to have a great chance but his shot was cleared off the line. Whitley’s persistence finally paid off in the 43rd minute when Chow turned inside a defender and fired a low shot just inside the near post from 15 yards. It was his 14th goal of the season and took his total for the club to 265, now just 42 behind all-time leading scorer Billy Wright. Both sides had contributed to an entertaining first half and with the scores level at the break, there was still everything to play for.
Benfield went on the attack straight from the restart and within 40 seconds won a penalty when Blake was penalised for bringing down an opponent 15 yards from goal. Captain Paul Brayson comfortably converted the spot kick to put the visitors back in the driving seat. Once again Whitley battled back and might have equalised when McDonald’s ball into the box set up Bird but his side footed shot flew over the bar. Moments later another attempt from Watling was blocked by the determined Benfield rearguard. Midway through the half, Dillon Morse kept out a goalbound shot from Watling at the expense of a corner but then in the 69th minute, with Whitley pressing forward again, a counter attack put Dan Taylor clear on goal. He calmly slotted the ball past the oncoming Gladstone to put Benfield 3-1 ahead and seemingly put the game beyond the reach of Whitley.
Blake, who had looked impressive on his return to the first team, was replaced for the last 17 minutes by another teenager Tom Potter, who was far from overawed on his debut and looked a good prospect, attacking from midfield as Whitley attempted to get back in the game.
Fifteen minutes from time, Watling had a shot well saved by Grainger but when the ball ran loose, it was played back into the danger area and this time the Bay striker made no mistake, drilling it home from 15 yards. The goal gave Whitley renewed hope and within two minutes a dangerous cross from Godsmark only just eluded assistant manager Steve Foster, who had come off the bench ten minutes earlier.
With just five minutes left, an excellent ball from Leon Ryan found the impressive Jonny Godsmark on the Bay right and he raced into the box before powering a low shot past Grainger to level the score.
Benfield, seeing the chances of their first away win in the league slipping from their grasp, were under real pressure now as Whitley, scenting victory, poured forward in wave after wave of attacks. Two minutes from time, Watling mesmerised the Benfield defence and rounded off a superb solo effort by firing the ball past a despairing Grainger into the roof of the net to send the Bay fans into raptures.
To their credit, Benfield refused to lie down and as the game entered stoppage time they forced two corners, with Grainger coming up to support his side’s efforts to rescue a point. The second corner was cleared and quickly played upfield with all 22 players still in the Bay half. As players raced back, the ball took an enormous ricochet and rebounded towards the visitors’ goal. With Grainger out of position, Robbie Bird outsprinted the tiring Benfield rearguard, reached the ball near the by-line and cut it back before drilling it into the net to complete an incredible comeback with what turned out to be the final kick of the game.
This was in the end a well deserved victory and a triumph for Whitley’s youngsters whose exuberance and battling spirit was a joy to watch. The win was Whitley’s third in a week and it was one that thrilled the fans and left manager Leon Ryan delighted after one of the most stunning comebacks seen at Hillheads for many a year.
WHITLEY BAY: Gladstone, Keltie, McDonald, Blake((Potter 73mins), Ryan, Reid, Godsmark, Redford, Watling, Chow(Foster66mins), Bird
Substitutes not used: Harris, Redpath, Brennan
Caution: Blake
Referee: Rebecca Welch
