Battling performance but a narrow defeat

WHITLEY BAY 1 SHILDON 2
Saturday 5th October
Despite taking an early lead and creating the majority of the chances, Whitley suffered another narrow defeat after Shildon scored twice in a four minute spell during the second half. It was an entertaining game that was a credit to the Northern League but that will come as little consolation to Whitley who will feel that they deserved to take at least a point from this game.
It was the visitors who had most of the possession in the early stages but the first real chance came in the ninth minute when Mark Robinson stung the hands of Shaun Newbrook with a 22 yard shot that the Shildon keeper pushed wide at the expense of a corner. Little more than two minutes later, Josh Macdonald burst through on the right but was brought down just inside the box. Referee Connor Scott had no hesitation in awarding a penalty and Brad Hird, playing against his former club, confidently despatched the spot kick to give Whitley a 12th minute lead.
Steadily growing in confidence, Whitley forced two corners in quick succession before Matthews got a shot on target for the visitors but Dan Lister saved comfortably.
Macdonald was troubling the Shildon defence with his pace and when he received the ball from Hird, he broke clear and his low shot was arrowing into the bottom corner until Newbrook dived full length and got his fingertips to the ball to push it wide.
There was no let up in the play with both sides looking to attack and putting in some strong challenges, at timed slightly over-zealous, and this resulted in three yellow cards being shown in the space of four minutes shortly before the interval.
While the visitors had shown plenty of endeavour, they had not posed a real threat in the first half and Whitley were deservedly ahead at the interval.
In an effort to force their way back into the game, Shildon made all three substitutions immediately after half time and they soon made an impact. Less than three minutes after the restart Danny Craggs drove in a free kick that rattled the post. Back came Whitley and Scott Lowery’s shot was deflected wide of goal.
The visitors were posing a much greater threat now and in the 55th minute, captain Aidan Heywood went down the right wing past Luke Salmon and crossed to the edge of the six yard box where Craggs directed a header just inside the far post to level the score.
Whitley fought back and James Martin, returning to the side following injury, weaved his way through from midfield and it took a last ditch tackle to deny him a clear shot on goal.
Four minutes after their equaliser, Shildon took the lead in what can best be described as fortuitous circumstances. A shot from out on the left was completely mis-hit and the ball was heading well wide of goal but it fell kindly for substitute Ben Trotter who volleyed it across Lister and into the net.
Whitley tried to get back on level terms but were dealt a blow when Connor Smith picked up a second yellow card and was sent off for a completely unnecessary handball offence. This left them with ten men for the final 14 minutes but undeterred, they pushed forward and substitute Adam Shanks had a goalbound shot pushed wide by Newbrook, who barely 60 seconds later tipped over a bouncing effort from Craig Spooner.
Macdonald then sprinted clear down the wing before sending in a teasing cross that was cleared just ahead of another sub James Proctor.
Chances continued until the final whistle but Whitley were unable to break through a strong Shildon defence in which keeper Newbrook made several outstanding saves.
WHITLEY BAY: Lister, Smith, Martin, Spooner, Anderson, Taylor, Lowery(Orrell 58mins), Macdonald, Hird(Shanks 68mins), Robinson, Salmon(Proctor 77mins)
Substitutes not used: Bramley, Stephenson
Cautions: Martin, Salmon, Sent off: Smith (2 cautions)
Referee: Connor Scott
Attendance: 342