Bay second best at Ryhope

RYHOPE CW 3 WHITLEY BAY 1
Saturday 8th December

Whitley failed to capitalise on a good start and Ryhope deservedly ran out winners in this mid-table clash. Mick Mulhern made two changes to the side that drew at Newton Aycliffe seven days earlier, Ibby Hassan and Stephen Ramsey replacing injured duo Callum Anderson and Andrei Ardelean.
Whitley made much the better start and a good run down the right by Craig McFarlane caused problems in the home defence before another attempt from the opposite flank cleared the bar. Whitley took a deserved lead in the seventh minute when Peter Glen-Ravenhill played the ball through to Kieran Brannen, who cut inside two opponents before delivering a powerful 20 yard shot that crashed off the post beating the dive of Joe Atkinson in the Ryhope goal. The ball then rebounded into the net off the back of the keeper. It might have got even better for Whitley two minutes later when after bursting forward down the right, Glen-Ravenhill recovered from a challenge to cut the ball back where Lewis Suddick’s angled shot was gathered by Atkinson.
The ball had rarely been inside the Bay half during the opening stages but Ryhope gradually worked their way back into the game and in the 14th minute, recent signing Jack Devlin was played through on goal but Tom Flynn comfortably saved his shot.
The home side were now enjoying much more of the game but were guilty of poor finishing. Flynn did well to block an attempt by Weirs while Luke Taylor headed an effort from Michael Rae away from danger. Attacking wing back Nicholson was proving a threat with penetrating runs down the right flank and shortly before the half hour, his header from Trewick’s cross struck the bar. Rae then blazed a shot out of the ground when well placed. The warning signs were there for Whitley and it came as little surprise when Ryhope drew level in the 34th minute. The goal came from a right wing corner which was met by the unmarked Rae whose looping header flew into the top corner of the net. There were few chances at either end during the remainder of the half and at the interval the scores were level.
Ryhope came out strongly after the break and Ibby Hassan was penalised for a trip near the left corner flag. The free kick was played to the back of the box and with Whitley’s defenders failing to clear the ball, it was played to Rae whose low shot through a crowd of players appeared to leave Flynn unsighted as it flew into the net. Coming barely six minutes into the half, it gave Ryhope the perfect start. Whitley responded with Kieran Brannen making a good run from midfield but his final ball was just too far ahead of Suddick and the chance was gone.
Whitley’s chances of getting back in the game suffered a major blow just before the hour mark when they conceded another goal from a set piece. Jack Devlin’s well struck free kick from just outside the box deceived Tom Flynn and crept just inside the left hand post to put the hosts two goals ahead.
Ryhope were now in control and were content to sit back and see out the game, denying Whitley space or time on the ball. The policy proved effective as Whitley struggled to retain possession or put flowing moves together in their opponents’ half. Chances were at a premium, one good attempt coming from Luke Taylor who brought a fine save from Atkinson, who got his fingertips to push the young defender’s goalbound shot over the bar. Suddick seized on a misplaced pass but fired just too high. Substitute Kevin Carr tested Atkinson with a strong shot that the keeper could only parry, but there was no sustained pressure on the home goal. Into stoppage time, an error by Lay almost produced a goal when the Ryhope defender’s header back to Atkinson went over the keeper who did extremely well to dive back and palm the ball clear just as it was about to cross the line.
WHITLEY BAY: Flynn, McFarlane, Walton, Richardson (R Redford 80mins) Hassan, Taylor, Suddick, Glen-Ravenhill, Ramsey, Brannen(Carr 67mins) Salmon
Substitutes not used: Cooper, A Redford, Bannon
Cautions: None
Referee: Glen Hart
Attendance: 124

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