FA CUP EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND REPLAY
WHITLEY BAY 0 BRIDLINGTON TOWN 1
Tuesday 19th August
Whitley crashed out of the FA Cup in extremely cruel and controversial circumstances on Tuesday evening. With just a minute of normal time remaining, and the game still goal less, extra time was looking inevitable but then Robbie Bird fired a great shot across Bridlington keeper Adam Nicholson and it appeared to go just inside the far post and hit the wheel on the side of the goal. The ball rebounded back into play and while Whitley players and fans started to celebrate what they thought was a goal, the game was allowed to continue and in a quick break upfield, Town striker Ombeni Rohanduka poked the ball home for what turned out to be the winner.
The restart was delayed while Sunderland referee James Simpson consulted his assistant at the other end to decide whether Bird’s shot had indeed crossed the goal line. There was clearly doubt in the minds of both officials but after a lengthy discussion they allowed the Bridlington goal to stand, to the amazement and dismay of the Whitley players and their fans.
During the five minutes of stoppage time, substitute Jonny Godsmark went close and Steve Foster headed against the bar as the Bay did everything they could to rescue the game but it was to no avail.
Earlier, Whitley’s injury woes continued as Callum Anderson was forced to leave the field after just 20 minutes with ligament damage that looks likely to keep him sidelined for several weeks. This was just the latest in an unprecedented series of injuries that has decimated the first team squad and forced assistant manager Steve Foster to name himself in the starting line up and five members of the reserve team among the substitutes. Missing from the side were defenders Craig McFarlane and Craig Smith, who both picked up injuries in the game at Bridlington on Saturday, leaving Whitley without ten first team squad members.
Reeson and Smith threatened for the visitors during the early exchanges but in Whitley’s first chance of the game Buzzeo volleyed wide with from 25 yards. Alex Kempster, back in the starting eleven, made a good run down the left wing and his cross into the box was headed behind for a corner after eight minutes. A minute later, Paul Chow went close when his header took a deflection before looping up into the arms of a relieved keeper Adam Nicholson.
The injury to Anderson forced a reshuffle and saw ex-Ashington winger Jonny Godsmark, who last season signed for Whitley’s reserves, make his first team debut. His performance was one of the positives on what proved to be an extremely frustrating night for Steve Foster’s men.
Two minutes after the substitution, Whitley were penalised just outside the 18 yard box following a foul by Buzzeo and impressive Town defender Chris Jenkinson saw his free kick held low down by Mark Cook.
At the other end Kempster almost broke clear but as in the first tie, Bridlington were defending strongly and chances on goal were few and far between. A cross from Godsmark was deflected behind for a corner just as Chow was waiting to pounce and from the ensuing flag kick Chow’s shot was blocked. Town skipper Tom Fleming then sent an effort wide and with the interval approaching, Chris McDonald’s long throw almost gave Godsmark a chance.
It had been a half of endeavour by both sides but with very few attempts on target and the pattern continued after the break.
Godsmark, was proving to be Whitley’s main threat with balls into the box from the wing but it was Alex Kempster’s 64th minute corner that provided the first real excitement of the game when Foster’s header crashed off the post with Nicholson stranded.
Birch was fortunate to escape a booking after a bad challenge on Foster but not long after Bay’s Michael Laws was cautioned after a trip on Fleming as he raced towards goal.
Whitley were guilty of misplaced passes as moves quickly broke down and possession was lost and it was the visitors who were gaining the upper hand as the game went into the final quarter. Cook had to be alert to push a stinging shot from Whittingham over the bar, a rare attempt on target, and with 12 minutes to go, after Liam Harris had made a well timed tackle to dispossess Whittingham, Bridlington substitute Wray clipped the top of the bar with a shot from the right. A foul on Chris McDonald then earned Nicholls a booking.
With five minutes remaining, Kempster’s cross saw Godsmark fire inches wide of the post as Chow was sent sprawling in the box. Chances were now being created as the game really came to life in the closing stages and moments after being booked, Robbie Bird produced the shot across Nicholson that sparked all the controversy as to whether it had crossed the line before rebounding back into play.
With the game being allowed to continue, Cook got his fingers to Duka’s shot at the other end but could not prevent the ball from trickling over the line.
A battling display deserved a better outcome and Whitley’s sense of injustice was only heightened when several of the Bridlington players later admitted that they also thought Bird’s shot had indeed crossed the line.
Over both games, there was little to choose between the sides but it is Bridlington who collected the prize money and will take on Northallerton in the next round. Whitley meanwhile must try to put this disappointment behind them and focus on league action before beginning their FA Vase campaign at the start of October.
WHITLEY BAY: Cook, Brooking, McDonald, Buzzeo(Potter 90mins), Foster, Laws, Harris, Anderson(Godsmark 20mins), Bird, Chow, Kempster
Subs not used: Lopez, Gladstone, Byerley, Johnson, Blake
Referee: James Simpson
Cautions: Laws, Bird
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