Honours even in eight goal thriller

BISHOP AUCKLAND 4 WHITLEY BAY 4
Saturday 7th December
This dramatic, action packed game provided great entertainment for the fans with Whitley twice battling back from two goals down to earn a draw despite playing almost all of the second half with ten men. Seven of the goals came in a frantic first 40 minutes as both sides looked to attack at every opportunity.
Whitley gave a debut to 17 year old Coleby Shepherd, signed in midweek on loan from Hartlepool United, while Jake Martindale, a teenager who had impressed in recent substitute appearances, was handed his full debut and in a brand new look attacking formation, another youngster Michael Colquhoun started only his second game.
Legendary FA Vase winning manager Ian Chandler, now in charge at Bishop Auckland, included four former Bay players in an experienced starting eleven.
With the strong wind at their backs, the home side were quickly into their stride taking the lead inside the third minute. The goal came when the ball was not cleared from the Whitley box and Waller fired the loose ball home from ten yards with Dan Lister appearing unsighted. Whitley’s response was positive and they drew level in the 11th minute when Mark Robinson crossed from the right and Martindale was left unmarked in front of goal and gleefully slotted home his first goal for the club.
Back came the home side and three minutes later they were denied when Lister made a good save but from the resultant right wing corner, the ball ricocheted around the six yard box and ex- Bay midfielder Callum Munro poked the ball through a crowded goalmouth to put his side back in front.
Bishops were getting on top and aided by the wind, they were attempting shots from distance in the hope of catching out the Bay defence. In the 23rd minute, they extended their lead and it was Thomas Bott, who was in the Whitley side that beat Bishops at Hillheads back in August, who fired a tremendous shot from outside the box and the ball flew into the top corner of the net giving Lister no chance.
It was beginning to look as if Whitley might be swamped by the tide of attacks from the Two Blues but they fought back well and in the 31st minute they reduced the arrears with an excellent goal from Lewis Orrell, who picked up the ball inside his own half, drove forward eluding several challenges before playing it wide to Connor Smith who crossed it back into the box where Orrell fired home from eight yards.
The strength of the wind was becoming more evident as the game progressed and when Bishop Auckland won a corner on the left in the 36th minute, Michael Hoganson’s flag kick was blown straight into the net with Lister helpless to keep it out.
Yet again Whitley responded well and within 90 seconds they had once again reduced the deficit to a single goal through a move rehearsed on the training ground. Connor Smith’s corner on the right was played to the edge of the box where Lewis Orrell struck it into the far corner of the net.
By this stage spectators could be forgiven if they were losing track of the score, such was the rate at which the goals were being scored so it came as something of a relief when half time arrived, giving time for everyone to catch breath.
With the wind at their backs in the second half, Whitley must have harboured hopes of turning the game around but they were dealt a blow just over a minute after the resumption when Luke Taylor was caught on the wrong side of Chris Winn and brought down the newly introduced substitute some 25 yards from goal. Denying the striker a clear goal scoring opportunity, Taylor was shown a red card, leaving Whitley to play out the remainder of the game with ten men.
Briefly they came under pressure and Johnson had the ball in the net but the flag was raised for offside. Shepherd, who was having a very impressive game for Whitley, placed a free kick narrowly wide of goal then just past the hour mark, Martindale saw his header pushed wide by keeper Liversedge. Remarkably, and in a move identical to Bishops’ fourth goal, Connor Smith curled in a right wing corner which deceived the keeper and flew into the net to bring the sides level at 4-4.
Despite being a man down, it was Whitley who now looked the side more likely to add to their score with every man battling away bravely, both in attack and defence and urged on by the sizeable following of travelling fans. Martindale, who had posed a real threat throughout, was replaced by the experienced Lee Kerr for the final 15 minutes and after Smith put in a shot that was just too high, Kerr’s free kick from 30 yards out was not far off target. Moments after making his debut from the bench, late substitute Ben Davison might have won the game for Whitley but could not quite get on the end of Shepherd’s teasing free kick. A late flurry of attacking from the home side was dealt with confidently by the Bay defence and the game ended with the points shared, but huge credit must go to Whitley, especially for their second half display when a man short.
WHITLEY BAY: Lister, Smith, Martin, Anderson, Taylor, Lowery, Orrell, Robinson, Martindale (Kerr 75mins), Shepherd(Proctor 90mins), Colquhoun(Davison 85mins)
Substitutes not used: Bexton, Hird
Referee: Stephen Dial
Attendance: 251