Deflected shots see Marske to victory

WHITLEY BAY 1 MARSKE UNITED 4
Saturday 7th April
Whitley gave a good account of themselves against title chasing Marske United but yet again their luck was out as two of the visitors’ goals came from big deflections, something that has been a feature of recent games. While Marske deserved their victory, the final scoreline was very harsh on Whitley who battled hard in difficult conditions.
Having been waterlogged just three days earlier, the Hillheads pitch was in remarkably good condition thanks to the hard work of ground staff and despite steady rain which started at lunchtime the pitch was certainly playable but the wet weather persisted throughout the afternoon forcing most fans to seek cover in the stands.
Whitley were without goalkeeper Tom Flynn and striker Scott Jasper who were unavailable, but Flynn’s deputy, 18 year old Callum Harley, had an excellent game and was named man of the match.
Marske created the first chance but Reece Kelly failed to test Harley, putting his shot high over the bar from 12 yards. Whitley responded with Chris Salmon attacking down the left before cutting in along the 18 yard line despite the close attention of two defenders. He then played the ball to Callum Johnston who drilled a low shot into the bottom corner of the net from the right edge of the box. It was a well worked goal coming with just eight minutes played and two minutes later it could have got even better but Peter Glen-Ravenhill’s speculative 25 yard shot flew wide of the target. Maintaining the initiative, Tom Potter then drove in a shot that skidded across the wet turf and slipped out of keeper Robert Dean’s grasp before skipper Adam Wheatley knocked the ball clear.
Slick passing from the visitors saw them draw level in the 14th minute, Andrew Stephenson firing into the roof of the net after being played in by Chay Liddle. More good play from the Seasiders culminated in Butterworth shooting just over the bar from around 18 yards. Roberts then brought a fine save from Harley, who pushed the ball round the post.
Whitley then broke upfield and Liam Brooks drove a low shot straight at Dean who gathered the ball safely.
The wet conditions were making life difficult for the keepers and in the 27th minute, former Bay midfielder James Fairley’s 20 yard effort was firstly parried then held at the second attempt by Harley. It was proving an open and entertaining game with chances continuing at both ends, Glen-Ravenhill heading just wide from Brooks’ cross while for the visitors, Wheatley’s header from a corner also went close. It remained 1-1 at the interval with everything still to play for after an evenly matched first half.
Early in the second period, Harley made a fine save, pushing a shot from Stephenson round the post, then moments later at the other end, Tom Potter forced Dean into a low save at the expense of a corner.
Perhaps the crucial moment of the game came in the 56th minute when Dean made a stunning save, taking the pace off David Hall’s shot by pushing it into the air and then falling backwards to catch the ball as it appeared to be heading for the net. When the ball was cleared, and play switched back into the Bay half, Marske seized on an error by Jack Walker, who up to this point had hardly put a foot wrong, but put Butterworth in possession deep inside the Bay half. He then played in Roberts who set up substitute Bulmer to slot the ball into the net to put Marske in front. With the rain coming down more heavily, Bay spirits seemed to drop temporarily and the visitors stepped up the pressure with some neat inter-passing and Bulmer went close to extending the lead but Harley got his fingers to a ball across the face of goal to divert it out for a throw in.
In the 68th minute the Seasiders did get a third but in fortuitous circumstances when a shot from Roberts took a deflection and left Harley helpless. Potter then got a free kick on target but Dean saved comfortably before the visitors were awarded a 74th minute penalty for what appeared to be a trip on Round just inside the left edge of the box. Roberts took the spot kick but Harley made a tremendous double save, diving to his right to push the ball away before leaping to save the rebound (pictured).
Whitley pushed forward again and Glen-Ravenhill brought another excellent save from Dean who dived full length to push his shot past the post. The resulting corner landed on the roof of the Marske net. Six minutes from time a poor tackle on Haley earned Wood a caution and the free kick some 20 yards from goal saw Dean make another good save, pushing the ball round the post as Whitley battled to the end.
They were dealt a cruel blow deep into stoppage time when Callum Anderson was penalised 25 yards from goal and Round’s free kick took a huge deflection, completely wrong footing Harley, with the ball flying into the net as the keeper dived the other way. It gave the final score a rather one-sided look, making Marske’s victory appear much more comfortable than had been the case.
WHITLEY BAY: Harley, Nearney, Walker, Hall(Campbell 79mins), Anderson, Haley, Potter, Glen-Ravenhill, Brooks(Cunningham 86mins), Johnston(Bell 68mins), Salmon
Subs not used: Summers, Groves
Referee: Lindsey Robinson
Caution: Anderson
Attendance: 220

Match photos