Crushing defeat for Whitley at Seaham

SEAHAM RED STAR 5 WHITLEY BAY 0
Saturday 22nd December

Whitley suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Seaham Red Star in their final game before Christmas. A head injury to Luke Salmon after just three minutes resulted in a lengthy delay and on the restart, Seaham raced away upfield and took the lead. From that point on the home side never looked back and when Adam Redford received a second yellow card it only compounded Whitley’s woes as they conceded two late goals.
Salmon needed hospital treatment following a clash of heads near the left touchline deep inside the Seaham half, and before Whitley could reorganise, Seaham took the lead when a long throw was played in for Gardiner to slot home.
Just past the quarter hour, Kieran Brannen set off on a tremendous run from deep inside his own half, evading several challenges as he burst through into the Seaham penalty area but he hesitated when clear on goal and Chris Bannon, transferred from Whitley in midweek, came off his line to block the shot.
Three minutes later, a ball in from the Seaham right crashed off the Whitley bar and the rebound was headed back towards goal where Adam Redford was penalised for hand ball. He was cautioned then Dan Wilson drilled the resultant penalty low into the corner of the net to put Seaham two goals ahead.
Kevin Carr forced Bannon into a good diving save to push his shot just beyond the post, then at the other end Robinson brought a fine fingertip save from Tom Flynn. Lewis Suddick fired a long range effort wide and Brannen put a first time effort narrowly off target as Whitley tried to get back into the game. During the six minutes of added time at the end of the half, substitute Lewis Walton made a good run from midfield but saw his shot comfortably saved and at the break Seaham, through disciplined and determined defending, retained their two goal advantage.
The next goal was going to be crucial and it came for Seaham just three minutes after the resumption when Myers headed home unmarked from a right wing corner. Three goals ahead, Red Star were now cruising to victory but the game was being disrupted by a series of yellow cards shown to both sides for what seemed largely innocuous challenges.
A foul just inches outside the penalty area gave Whitley the opportunity to reduce the arrears after 68 minutes and substitute Olly Martin, back after a period working away from the area, drove a low shot through the home defence but Bannon made an excellent low save near his left hand post. Sixteen minutes from time, Redford was shown a second yellow card and was sent off, leaving Whitley to play out the remainder of the game with ten men. Three minutes later, Seaham exploited the situation, bursting through down the right with Wilson applying the finish for the fourth goal.
Eight minutes from time Whitley’s miserable afternoon was completed when Robinson struck a spectacular 30 yard shot over Flynn, with the ball dipping just under the bar.
There was still time for the tally of yellow cards to increase to eight, a staggering total in a game largely devoid of bad challenges or misconduct from either side.
WHITLEY BAY: Flynn, A Redford, Cooper, Carr, Taylor, Caines, Suddick, Glen-Ravenhill, Ardelean, Brannen(Martin 58mins), Salmon(Walton 8mins),
Substitutes not used: Hassan, R Redford,Christensen
Sent off: A Redford Cautions: Cooper, Caines, Glen-Ravenhill
Referee: Shane Sugden
Attendance: 118