Brooks Mileson Memorial League Cup 2nd Round
Whitley Bay 5  Bedlington Terriers 1
Tuesday 15th November
 Within hours of their appointment, Whitley Bay’s new management team were celebrating an emphatic League Cup victory over local rivals Bedlington Terriers. Marc Nash was confirmed as permanent manager at lunchtime and by the end of the day he along with assistant Anthony Woodhouse and coach Chris Moore had masterminded Whitley’s first cup tie success of the season, impressively seeing off the challenge of the resurgent Terriers, now managed by former Bay boss Paddy Atkinson.
Alex Kempster was making his 150th appearance for the club, at just 21 one of the youngest players to reach this landmark, and he was handed the captaincy for the game. Leading by example, he created two early chances, his low shot after just 90 seconds forcing a save from keeper Jak Wells while two minutes later he raced in on goal and saw his attempt blocked. Andy Robertson was twice caught offside as the Terriers were pushing defenders forward, playing a high back line but Whitley were posing the greater threat and it took a timely tackle by Chris Armstrong to deny Robertson a shot on goal. When the visitors pushed forward, a rasping 30 yard drive from Adam Harvey flew just past the post with Tom Flynn at full stretch. Back at the other end, Tom Potter tested Wells with a long range effort and within a minute Kempster went round a defender and cut in but his shot was placed too close to the keeper who got down to make a comfortable save. Callum Patton then curled a free kick inches over the bar but just when it appeared that the half would end goal less, Whitley grabbed the lead in the 45th minute. Callum Munro crossed the perfect ball from out on the right and Robertson came in at the back post to plant a header firmly into the corner of the net.
Bedlington started the second half positively and enjoyed their best spell of the game. Jack Foalle, briefly a Bay player under Paddy Atkinson last season, got a shot on target with Flynn pushing the ball round the post. Kyle Oliver’s right wing corner then found Paul Wardle unmarked inside the box and the big defender headed home with ease to level the score with 56 minutes played.
The Second Division side may have thought they could now push on and cause an upset but instead they were faced with a stunning response from Whitley who scored three times in an eight minute burst. Callum Patton set the standard with a superb volley from just eight yards, connecting perfectly with a cross from Tom Potter to send the ball rocketing past Wells into the roof of the net. Barely two minutes later, Chris McDonald’s free kick from out on the left flew behind the Terriers defence and Kempster came in with a bullet header to make it 3-1. The tiring visitors defence was now in disarray and six minutes later when McDonald crashed home a terrific 30 yard shot, the game was won.
Potter went close to getting his name of the scoresheet but his shot ricocheted off Armstrong and went behind for a corner. In the final 15 minutes Whitley took the opportunity to give game time to youngsters from the Reserves David Hall and Jack Cooper, and after another teenager Kyle Patton had been foiled by the busy Terriers keeper, it was Cooper on his first team debut who rounded off proceedings in perfect style with an outstanding shot from all of 25 yards, the ball swerving viciously and leaving Wells helpless as it flew into the net with just one minute left on the clock.
All of Whitley’s five goals had been top quality strikes and the fans gave their players and new management team a great ovation as they left the field at the final whistle.
WHITLEY BAY: Flynn, Munro, McDonald, Allen(Hall 79mins), Anderson, Keltie, Potter(K Patton 75mins), C Patton, Robertson, Kempster, Fryatt(Cooper 76mins)
Substitutes not used: Haley, Wilkinson
Referee: Lindsey Robinson
Cautions: None
Attendance: 176
New manager Marc Nash was a happy man after the game and later reflected on what had been a memorable day.  “The game was set-up to be an intriguing tie with a new management team facing an old manager on his first return. Bedlington were in form having made a flying start under Paddy and Keith so we felt a bit of pressure having already been knocked out of two major cups to lower opposition. In all honesty it could not have gone any better. Bedlington put men behind the ball and frustrated us but we remained disciplined and patient and got the breakthrough following a fantastic cross and finish right on half time. Bedlington were a threat at set pieces and punished some slack marking to draw level. But from then onwards I think the fans were treated to some great attacking play and some great goals. We are thankful to have such quality young players to call upon as it gave us a chance to rest Ross and Aiden ahead of Saturday as our squad is thread-bare, its something we have to utilise.  We can’t get carried away but we enjoyed the occasion nonetheless.”
