NORTH SHIELDS 1 WHITLEY BAY 2
Saturday 19th September
Whitley Bay rounded off a memorable week with a narrow but well deserved victory in the eagerly awaited North Tyneside derby at North Shields on Saturday.
The dramatic FA Cup triumph over Matlock just four days earlier, which went to extra time and penalties, took its toll on the Bay side, with captain Michael Laws and Richard Flynn both missing through injury while several players named in the starting line up were carrying knocks. In addition, top scorer Adam Shanks was unavailable and was replaced by Liam Hudson, signed 24 hours earlier from Bedlington Terriers.
Former Bay captain and triple Vase winner David Coulson was in the Shields side but two other ex-Whitley players Gary Ormston and David Pounder were surprisingly left out of the home squad.
On a glorious sunny afternoon, Whitley were quickly on the attack, Alex Kempster’s through ball finding Hudson 10 yards from goal. The Bay debutant turned on the ball and drove in a low shot but Robins’ keeper Chris Bannon saved with ease. Shields then gained the upper hand, forcing Whitley back in defence and with five minutes on the clock, Ben Richardson’s free kick was well saved by Andy Jennison. The hosts looked threatening as they attacked with pace down both wings and on the quarter hour, Dan Wilson found enough space near the left by-line to cross into the goal mouth but Whitley were alert to the danger and the ball was cleared.
Having soaked up a period of sustained pressure, Whitley broke away down the left and when the ball was played into touch, Chris McDonald’s long throw into the goalmouth was fumbled by Bannon under pressure from Hudson. The ball ran loose to Alex Kempster who slotted it home from six yards to give Whitley a 23rd minute lead and stun the home fans. The goal seemed to unsettle the home side and when Whitley broke down the right wing five minutes later, Michael McKeown was cautioned for a clumsy challenge on Sam Norris.
Whitley doubled their lead after 31 minutes, capitalising on slack defending when Kempster was given the freedom of the midfield. Racing forward unchallenged he slid a precision pass into the path of Norris who had a clear run on goal and from 18 yards coolly slotted the ball beyond Bannon into the corner of the net to the delight of the large Bay following in the 800 strong crowd.
The Robins responded with Dean Holmes closing in on goal only to be denied by a finger tip save from Jennison, with Chris Reid making a crucial clearance when the ball ran loose. Richardson then fired high and wide when well placed before Reid again came to Whitley’s rescue clearing almost off the line. Parker, who moments earlier been cautioned, directed a close range header straight into the arms of Jennison before Holmes also incurred the wrath of referee Shane Sugden and was booked.
Despite all the Shields possession, they could not break down a resilient defence and Whitley led 2-0 at the interval.
Callum Anderson, who was one of Bay’s ‘walking wounded’ from Tuesday night, was unable to continue after half time and was replaced by Robbie Williamson. Meanwhile, North Shields brought on their talismanic striker Gareth Bainbridge, who had been out of the side for the past month through injury.
Needing an early goal to get back in the game, Shields went straight on the attack and were awarded a free kick just a yard from the right corner flag. Richardson played the ball across the six yard box and when Jennison failed to collect, Coulson tapped home from close range to put the game back in the melting pot. Four minutes later, with the hosts revitalised, Wilson cut in from the left but his shot was safely held by Jennison. A counter attack by Whitley nearly brought reward but after bursting through from the halfway line, Williamson’s shot from 20 yards was well saved by Bannon.
As in the first half, North Shields were having the greater share of possession but rarely threatened to break through a Bay defence that was superbly marshalled by acting captain Chris Reid. Just past the mid point of the half, Bainbridge had a chance to grab the equaliser after a right wing corner was played back into the goalmouth but his header flew over the bar.
Fourteen minutes from time, Hudson, who had made a good impression on his debut, sent in a teasing cross from the right but with Kempster poised to head home, a crucial header from Parker kept Shields in the game.
With nine minutes left, home fans thought their side had drawn level when substitute Ryan Carr had the ball in the net following a corner but an offside flag was raised and their celebrations were cut short. Jennison then made a great save from Richardson’s free kick while two minutes later, in another counter attack, Bay sub Aris Guerin saw his angled shot blocked by Bannon. With time running out, Shields became more desperate in their attempts to rescue a point and Whitley comfortably held out to claim the points and the derby day bragging rights over their closest rivals.
It was another outstanding team performance that earned Whitley their victory, with every single member of the side playing their part. 21 year old Josh Day, playing alongside Reid in central defence had one of his best games yet while Steve Gibson and Chris McDonald were also in excellent form in defence.
Assistant Manager Paul Johnson was delighted with how Whitley’s depleted squad followed the game plan and earned their victory. “It was a good win from the squad that we had available after Tuesday night. Everyone’s pulled together and we’ve had subs come off the bench and into the side. It was a big game for Liam, a new player and in a derby, it was a big ask, a must win game for Whitley Bay.”
“With the week we’ve had that was a real tough game with the squad in the state we were, fitness wise, so yes, we’re very pleased. The plan worked, we said we’d hit them on breaks and we managed to do that so it was good, very pleasing. They’re technically very good, so we had to be really secure. We had to be in a position that we could defend what they did. We knew our strengths, where we can hurt teams and it was just a case of finding the right times and it happened twice.”
Sam Norris, who scored for the second consecutive game, came in for praise. “It was a great finish, calm finish from Sam, he’s coming to life. His confidence is growing with the two goals so I’m pleased for him.”
As for the goal conceded so soon after half time he said “We were a bit slack after that set piece, we switched off but then we got it back together, we had to because it could have got a bit shaky. They got a real lift from the goal, they started passing it around, they changed their shape and we had to deal with the change.”
“There’s that belief amongst each other now. It’s a case of everybody believes in everybody else, there’s no weak links in the team now.”
“It’s a week to recover now and see that we’re ready for next Saturday.”
WHITLEY BAY: Jennison, Gibson, McDonald, Anderson(Williamson 45mins), Day, Reid, Norris (Guerin 75mins), Richardson, Hudson, Hughes, Kempster
Substitutes not used: Lumsden, Young, Gladstone
Cautions: Kempster, McDonald
Referee: Shane Sugden
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