14/10/1968 Whitley Bay 4 Tow Law Town 4
Tow Law began this match in a sensational manner!
Within just over twenty minutes a large home crowd was stunned into silence by the direct go-ahead methods of the visitors. Brown picked up a poor Whitley clearance and scored. 0-1.
Then the referee awarded a penalty as Knox and Brown fell together. 0-2. Then within minutes Elliot had made it 0-3. At this stage O’Hara had to leave the field injured and Whitley were down to ten men, until Clark substituted. Wright attacked down the middle and was heavily pulled down in the penalty area. Knox banged the spot kick home. 1-3. Then with the last move of the first half, Gatens leapt forward and headed a fine goal. 2-3 at half-time.
The second hald opened with plenty of excitement. Goundry made a brilliant finger-tip save from Brown, and the ball swung to the other end where Wright blazed past an open goal.
Whitley’s pressure continued and a high centre found Gatens who headed into the back of the net. 3-3.
The crowd were roaring with excitement!
From a goalmouth scramble, Clark fired home from close range to take Whitley Bay into an incredible lead, 4-3. But Tow Law were not to be denied, and they in turn flung everything into attack.
The Bay’s fine defence was stretched to the limit. Full-back Ancrum dashed upfield and bustled Goundry over the line and it was a goal, despite the protests.
Just on the whistle, Knox pushed the ball past the keeper but it went wide of the Tow Law goal and the game ended 4-4.
COMMENT: “The best game seen at Hillheads for many seasons.” – Whitley Bay Guardian
Whitley Bay: Goundry, Chater, Knox, Walton, Smith, Beynon, O’Hara, Sloan, Wright, Storey, Gatens. Sub : Clark.
Tow Law: Warville, Ancrum, Leech, Raine, Cairns, Rosethorn, H.Hunt, Henderson, Brown, Nicholson, Elliot.