Knight hat trick ends Bay’s League Cup hopes

MITRE BROOKS MILESON MEMORIAL LEAGUE CUP SEMI FINAL
NEWCASTLE BENFIELD 3 WHITLEY BAY 2
Wednesday 27th March
Whitley’s hopes of winning the Northern League Cup – the one trophy that has eluded them in recent years – ended with a disappointing semi final defeat at local rivals Newcastle Benfield. Their play never reached the levels of Saturday’s impressive performance against Consett and after a fairly even first half, Benfield took control after the interval with Dennis Knight’s hat trick earning the hosts a well deserved place in the final, where they will meet West Auckland, who also recorded a 3-2 victory in their semi final at Stockton.
With goalkeeper Dan Lister cup-tied, 26 year old Chris Elliott was brought in from Spennymoor Town, while both Callum Anderson and Peter Glen-Ravenhill, who started Saturday’s game on the bench, returned to the starting line-up.
Whitley’s first opportunity came in the fourth minute after a cross from Luke Salmon resulted in Andrei Ardelean’s shot being blocked. Moments later, Ryan Redford volleyed wide after a corner was not cleared.
The home side seized an early advantage when in the ninth minute, a cross from the Benfield left found striker Dennis Knight in space on the right and from just outside the box he struck a fierce shot that swerved past Elliott and into the net to give the hosts the lead. Whether the keeper could have done better was debatable but it was without doubt a tremendous strike. Whitley responded well and drew level just four minutes later. Luke Salmon was posing a threat down the Bay left and when he crossed into the box, Olly Martin’s shot took a deflection off Benfield captain Mark Turnbull and flew into the net.
The game was being played at a rapid pace with both sides looking dangerous going forward while defences looked less assured.
In the 25th minute, Whitley might have gone in front when Olly Martin latched onto an excellent through ball and holding off a challenge from defender Rhys Evans, lobbed the advancing keeper Nimmins but the ball rolled agonisingly just inches wide of goal.
While there was an abundance of endeavour, there were few real chances at either end until a mistake allowed the home side to regain their lead. Young defender Luke Taylor has earned numerous plaudits in recent games but he was at fault in the 38th minute when he hesitated over making a challenge and allowed Knight to take the ball to the by-line and cut in before getting a shot from a tight angle which took a sizeable deflection past Elliott.
In a flurry of activity shortly before the interval, a cross from Glen-Ravenhill was put behind under pressure from Stephen Ramsey before Ryan Redford fired off target and at the other end, James Martin brought a near post save from Elliott.
Soon after the restart, Craig McFarlane’s low cross just eluded Salmon at the back post but with chances becoming increasingly limited, Nathan Haslam made all three available substitutions in an effort to get Whitley back in the game.
Play was becoming rather scrappy but Benfield were managing the game effectively, giving Whitley little time on the ball and they virtually sealed their place in the final with 12 minutes to go when an excellent ball in from the right by veteran striker Paul Brayson found Knight who quickly controlled it before curling a great shot beyond Elliott into the top corner of the net to complete a match winning hat trick.
Substitute Kieran Brannen showed plenty of energy in the closing stages but could not cut through a strong and physical home defence that held firm until the 88th minute when a weak clearance was seized on by Craig McFarlane, who in his 350th game for the club, played the ball back into the box and Andrei Ardelean drilled it home from 15 yards.
The late goal caused a few anxious moments for the home side and in the third minute of stoppage time, some of the Bay fans thought Ardelean had snatched a dramatic equaliser when they saw the net ripple but unfortunately for Whitley and their large contingent of supporters, the shot had clipped the outside of the post and rebounded off the side netting.
WHITLEY BAY: Elliott, McFarlane, Walton, R Redford(Christensen 64mins), Anderson, Taylor, Martin(J Wright 69mins), Glen-Ravenhill, Ardelean, Ramsey(Brannen 56mins), Salmon
Substitutes not used: Hassan, Cooper
Cautions: None
Referee: Jonny Urwin
Attendance: 351