BISHOP AUCKLAND 1 WHITLEY BAY 2
Wednesday 16th September
A stoppage time goal from debutant Matty Weirs gave Whitley a well deserved victory in their first league game of the season.
Coming less than 24 hours after most of the squad ended a period of self isolation due to Covid-19 restrictions, this was always going to be a tough test of character and fitness and it was made more difficult by having to play the final stages of the game with just ten men.
There were two changes to the side that won the FA Cup tie at Garforth, with Chris Salmon making his return debut and Lewis Orrell back in the starting eleven, while on the bench was new signing Matty Weirs. With Craig McFarlane unavailable, Adam Shanks captained the side.
The first half was one of few clear cut chances but it was Whitley who looked the better side. An early curling shot from Hogan which went just beyond the far post was the best attempt by the hosts while two further attempts came to nothing, Salmon heading clear from a corner while a free kick in a dangerous looking position just outside the box was comfortably saved by Dan Lister. Whitley came more into the game as the half developed; just past the half hour Jamie Dunn making a surging run down the left and firing in a shot that Liversedge could only parry before holding on to Dunn’s second attempt from the rebound. Two minutes later, good build up play by Whitley almost brought the breakthrough but Richie Coulson’s shot was cleared off the line.
Six minutes before the break, a back pass deep inside the Bishop Auckland penalty area was picked up by Liversedge leading to an indirect free kick less than ten yards from goal. With every home player packing the goal line, Shanks played the ball short to Orrell whose shot flew over the bar.
Just before the interval, Dunn went close again for Whitley but in a quick counter attack, Bishops failed to capitalise on a slip in the Bay defence and the half ended goalless.
Four minutes into the second half, Bishop Auckland were awarded what appeared a soft penalty when a Bishops player went down under a challenge from Mark Robinson on the left edge of the box. Craig Hutchinson slotted home the penalty, firing straight down the middle, to give the home side the lead.
Their advantage lasted only six minutes as Whitley battled back and when Jon Weirs sent a right wing corner deep the back of the box, Coulson played the ball back to Dunn who side stepped a defender before rifling a shot beyond Liversedge into the top corner of the net.
Three minutes later, a long ball from Scott Lowery picked out Coulson whose left footed shot crashed off the post with Liversedge beaten.
Shortly after the hour mark, a melee broke out in centre field after a bad challenge by Bishops’ former Bay midfielder Callum Munro. When calm was restored, three players were cautioned, including Chris Salmon for his reaction to the foul.
With 18 minutes remaining, Whitley made a triple substitution, bringing on Thompson, Colquhoun and Matty Weirs, who replaced his brother Jon. Colquhoun was in the action shortly afterwards, almost capitalising at the end of a good Bay attack.
Whitley suffered a major blow 13 minutes from time when Salmon tugged back Brownless as the Bishops’ substitute was attempting to break away down the left. The inevitable second yellow card resulted, immediately followed by a red leaving Whitley a man short for the remainder of the game.
It began to look like Whitley would be really up against it as Bishops surged forward aiming to make the most of their man advantage. The home side enjoyed most of the possession but without seriously testing Dan Lister and it began to look as if Whitley would hold on for a point, but as it turned out, the spirit and determination in the Bay side was such that with the game entering stoppage time, they pushed forward in search of an unlikely winner. James Thompson did well to shrug off several challenges as he took the ball across the Bishops’ midfield before playing it to Craig Hennis, who found Lewis Orrell wide on the left. The youngster who played a key role in the side last season took the ball to the by-line before delivering a low cross which was turned in by Matty Weirs from barely a yard out, to spark celebrations among the Bay team and their fans. The final whistle was not long delayed and Whitley picked up three hard earned points to make it two victories out of two and get their delayed league season off to a winning start.
WHITLEY BAY: Lister, Salmon, Dunn, Hennis, Hamilton, Lowery, Robinson(Thompson 72mins), J Weirs,(M Weirs 72mins) Shanks(Colquhoun 72mins), Coulson, Orrell
Substitutes not used: Wilson, Bannon
Attendance: 245
Referee: Chris Keightley
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