Bay battle back to earn draw at Shildon

SHILDON 2 WHITLEY BAY 2
Saturday 9th March
Nathan Haslam’s reign as Bay manager began in encouraging style as Whitley battled back from 2-0 down to claim a well deserved draw at Shildon.
On an afternoon of sunshine interspersed with blustery showers, the Railwaymen scored twice in the first half despite having a man sent off and looked to be on track for all three points which would have enhanced their chances of a top four finish. However, a revitalised Whitley responded well, and goals from Andrei Ardelean and Luke Salmon inside the first 15 minutes of the second half set up an exciting climax to the game in which both sides had chances to claim victory.
The new manager, who had met the players for the first time on Tuesday evening, gave a return debut to goalkeeper Dan Lister, signed from Whickham on Thursday, but was without injured defenders Craig McFarlane and Ben Christensen.
With the strong breeze at their backs Whitley started in lively fashion but fell behind after just seven minutes when the ball was played through on the Shildon left and Brad Hird slotted the ball just inside the near post. Two minutes later Luke Salmon’s header was kept out by keeper Shaun Newbrook after the ball had been crossed from the left wing.
In the 21st minute, Shildon were reduced to ten men when striker Zak Atkinson, attempting to reach a bouncing ball, caught Lewis Walton in the face with a very high boot. While it was a totally accidental injury and Atkinson immediately apologised to Walton, it amounted to dangerous play and referee David Carr who was well placed close to the incident had no alternative but to show a red card. Walton meanwhile required lengthy treatment to wounds on the face and despite briefly attempting to continue, was forced to leave the field for further treatment and was replaced by Jack Cooper.
Whitley were unable to capitalise on their one man advantage at this stage and went two goals behind in the 36th minute in somewhat unfortunate circumstances. A Shildon free kick wide on the right, some 25 yards from goal, was played across the box and when it was knocked back in, it took a deflection off a Shildon player, falling for Billy Greulich-Smith who drilled it home from ten yards.
Following recent heavy defeats, it was looking ominous for Whitley but they did not allow heads to drop and came within inches of reducing the arrears shortly before the interval. An excellent cross from Salmon out on the left curled beyond the Shildon defence and flew narrowly past the post with Olly Martin only just failing to get the vital touch that would have put the ball in the net.
Whitley came out flying after the interval and might have pulled a goal back in the 48th minute. Andrei Ardelean played the ball through to Peter Glen-Ravenhill who slipped just as he was going past the last defender. However he quickly picked himself up and managed to get a shot in but it was blocked by Newbrook. Sunshine had given way to a torrential downpour but undeterred by the conditions, Whitley continued to exert pressure and three minutes later, a flowing move involving Dan Wright and skipper Glen-Ravenhill saw the ball played through to Ardelean on the right edge of the box where he lashed a tremendous shot past Newbrook into the top corner of the net.
Whitley continued in the ascendency and a good attack down the Bay left played Salmon through on goal but his shot lacked power and the ball was scrambled away to safety. Barely two minutes later it was a different story when Salmon, again attacking down the left, burst through into the box and unleashed a shot across Newbrook into the far corner of the net to put Whitley back on level terms. With more than half an hour still to play, it was now anyone’s game and Whitley must have been hoping that their extra man would make the difference.
As it turned out, chances came and went at both ends and with the tricky playing surface taking its toll, both sides made substitutions, with Whitley bringing on fresh attacking options in Stephen Ramsey and Kieran Brannen. Aaron Duell’s volley flew narrowly wide of the Bay goal but Lister dealt well with high balls into the box and Callum Anderson made a vital clearance to deny the hosts a clear run on goal. At the other end, Brannen threatened with his pacey runs from midfield but both defences held firm and the sides had to settle for a share of the points.
WHITLEY BAY: Lister, Hassan, Walton(Cooper 25mins), R Redford, Anderson, Taylor, Martin, Wright, Ardelean(Ramsey 68mins), Glen-Ravenhill (Brannen 72mins) Salmon
Substitutes not used: Caines, Logan
Cautions: Hassan, Anderson
Referee: David Carr
Attendance: 286
*As a postscript, the biggest disappointment for many Bay fans came ahead of the game when they discovered that the legendary ‘Eric’s Chippy’ outside the Dean Street ground is no more. The quality and value of the fish and chips at this shop was more than a match for any other Northern League venue and it will be sadly missed!