Bay hit Benfield for six as hedgehog invades the pitch!

NEWCASTLE BENFIELD 1 WHITLEY BAY 6
Wednesday 5th September

For the third game in a row Whitley scored six goals and this stunning victory at local rivals Newcastle Benfield was the most impressive of them all, providing rich entertainment for the fans.
Andy Gowens made no fewer than eight changes from the side that won at Esh Winning on Saturday, rotating his squad and giving starting places to two new signings. Former North Shields midfielder Ben Richardson made his debut while there was a return debut for triple FA Vase winning defender Craig McFarlane.
Whitley almost took an early lead when a deflected clearance ended with Benfield defender Craig Scott nearly putting the ball in his own net and relieved to see it rebound off the post with keeper Cameron Armstrong beaten.
Looking much the better side, Whitley deservedly went ahead in the tenth minute when Luke Salmon’s diving header from Jack Foalle’s corner flew past the despairing keeper from eight yards. Four minutes later it was Olly Martin’s turn to win a header, following a deep cross to the back of the six yard box. Climbing above defender Rhys Evans, the youngster sent the ball looping high over the watching defenders and dipping just under the bar into the far corner of the net. Two goals ahead, Whitley were playing with growing confidence and their one touch football was causing problems for the home side. Foalle was not far off target in the 17th minute and then Dan Taggart saw a shot blocked after Foalle had provided the opportunity.
Benfield then created two chances, with Knight striking the post with a fierce shot before Paul Brayson broke clear on goal but the prolific striker was thwarted by Tom Flynn as the Bay keeper advanced off his line. Failure to capitalise on these chances proved costly for the hosts when in the 37th minute, Olly Martin showed great determination and skill to cut in from the left wing holding off several challenges before playing the ball through to Foalle on the edge of the box. Whitley’s leading scorer drilled a low shot past Armstrong for his tenth of the season to put Whitley in control with a three goal lead. Two minutes later Taggart nearly added a fourth from Foalle’s cross as Whitley ended the half in dominant style, with Ben Richardson particularly influential in midfield and attacking full backs Craig McFarlane and Lewis Walton pressurising the Benfield rearguard. Another to impress on a night when there were no weak links in the Whitley side was Kevin Carr, having probably his best game in Bay colours.
No doubt reacting to what had been said in the dressing room at the interval, the Lions looked a much more determined and positive side in the second half and Whitley were forced onto the defensive. Disciplined defending was proving effective but there was nothing Whitley could do when Josh Scott, almost immediately after replacing Brayson, struck a thunderbolt from the edge of the box and the ball flew into the top corner leaving Flynn helpless. The goal sparked an immediate reply from Whitley with Taggart played in by Foalle but unable to get his shot on target. The home side, boosted by their goal, battled away in the hope of getting back into the game and Flynn had to make a fine save from Pearson with just under 20 minutes left.
Having withstood the onslaught, Whitley made the game safe 12 minutes from time thanks to the impressive Martin who played a quickly taken left wing corner to captain for the night Ibby Hassan. The skipper’s return pass found Martin just outside the corner of the penalty area and he unleashed a tremendous shot that flew like a bullet into the top of the net, the fifth top quality goal of the night.
There was no way back into the game now for the home side but there was still plenty of entertainment for the fans. Three minutes from time McFarlane nearly marked his return with a goal but after bursting through on the right, his shot was deflected behind for a corner. Less than 60 seconds later, Taggart made it 5-1 after Foalle had played him clear of a disjointed looking home defence. Then, in one of the more bizarre incidents to be seen at a football ground, play was held up when a hedgehog made its way onto the pitch. Jack Foalle rescued the prickly intruder, taking it the safety of the terraces, before returning to round off an excellent night as he ran through the Benfield defence to score his second and Whitley’s sixth goal of the night in the final minute of the game and in doing so set a new club record, as this was the first time that Whitley Bay have scored six goals in three consecutive games.
WHITLEY BAY: Flynn, McFarlane, Walton, Richardson, Taylor, Hassan, Carr, Salmon(R Redford 78mins), Taggart, Foalle, Martin(Brannen 83mins) Subs not used: Caines, Ross, A Redford
Cautions: Foalle, McFarlane
Attendance: 246
Referee: Craig Dean
A delighted Andy Gowens enthused over his team’s performance and the entertainment they provided for the fans. “It looked really good and we played really well. We opened them up at times with pace and that’s what we’ve been trying to get them to do. I was pleased with the new lads, they did well. We scored some great goals and a lot of them were one touch stuff as well. We said at half time that they (Benfield) would have a spell and we’d have to weather that spell, and I thought we did until they got their goal, but then we got our fourth and it was all us after that.”