Unlucky Bay start year with defeat

Newcastle Benfield 2 Whitley Bay 1

Ebac Northern League Division One Saturday 4th January 2020

By David Hall

Bay opened the new decade with a defeat in this clash with Newcastle Benfield, but can count themselves unlucky to come away with nothing to show for their efforts after having the majority of the possession over the 90 minutes.
Manager Nathan Haslam made just one change for the side that lost to North Shields on Boxing Day, keeper Andy Jennison coming in for his first game in Bay colours for more than four years following his recent transfer from Hebburn Town.
The home side kicked off with the strong wind at their backs, but for the opening exchanges it was the visitors who controlled the play.
However, that changed on 10 minutes when veteran striker Paul Brayson used all his experience to lob, possibly with the aid of the wind, Jennison from all of 40 yards to give Benfield the lead somewhat against the run of play.
Undaunted Bay continued to take the game to the home side with Michael Annang-Colquhoun being the main threat as he would cause the Benfield defence problems all game; and would have three possible penalty claims turned down during the 90 minutes.
However, despite their good possession football Whitley had hardly threatened and experienced keeper Grainger was able to deal comfortably within anything directed towards him.
And the visitors were made to pay for that in the 35th minute when Brayson again found the net, this time after the Bay defence were unable to clear the ball and the former Newcastle United trainee was on hand to stab the ball home from close range.
Bay did eventually get on the scoresheet just before the half time whistle when Marcus Giles was first to react to a poor pass from a home defender and his shot was past the keeper before he had change to move.
With the win at their backs Whitley started the second half on the front foot, but again despite their intricate play, they struggled to have a telling shot at goal.
On 52 minutes Mark Robinson did flash a shot past Grainger with the keeper rooted to the spot and 10 minutes later Scott Lowery rose highest following a Connor Smith free kick, but the skippers header went over the bar.
And just three minutes later Smith took another free kick, this time from the left, but with Grainger beaten, there was not enough dip on the shot and it just cleared the bar.
James Fairley replaced Coleby Shepherd in the 67th minute as Whitley continued to press for the deserved equaliser.
However, as they continued to push forward that left some gaps in midfield and the home side began to exert some pressure of their own and game more into the game, Whitley also added to their attacking options in the 78th minute when Jake Martindale replaced Marcus Giles.
However, just two minutes later the home side were reduced to 10 men when Reece Noble was given a straight red card for a vicious foul on Colquhoun; who had been the subject of some stiff challenges from the Benfield players all afternoon.
Colquhoun did initially carry on, but was replaced by Luke Salmon a couple of minutes later.
Whitley did have further opportunities, including another penalty shout late in the game, but the referee was again unmoved by the appeals and Bay ran out of time in their efforts to snatch what would have been a well deserved point.
Whitley Bay: Jennison, Smith, Olsen, Anderson, Lowery, Taylor, Orrell, Robinson, Colquhoun (Salmon 85 minutes), Shepherd (Fairley 67 minutes), Giles (Martindale 78 minutes).
Subs not used: Lister, Bexton