Depleted Bay suffer narrow defeat at Guisborough

GUISBOROUGH TOWN 2 WHITLEY BAY 1
Wednesday 18th October
The punishing fixture schedule, which has to some extent contributed to Whitley’s lengthening injury list, took its toll on a severely depleted Bay side in this midweek game at Guisborough. No fewer than eight first team regulars were missing from the squad which included two teenage debutants, while 17 year old goalkeeper Callum Harley was included in the starting eleven for the first time.
The opening stages of the game were fairly even and although Guisborough had the majority of possession, neither side could get a shot on target. Whitley went close after 13 minutes when a corner was played short and the ball into the box was punched away by home keeper Jordan Nixon to Jack Walker whose cross back into the goalmouth landed on the roof of the net. With 25 minutes played, Lewis Maloney blazed a shot high over the bar after good approach work by Guisborough. Walker then played Potter into a good central position but his 20 yard shot flew wide of goal. Debutant Chris Salmon, signed earlier in the week from Billingham Synthonia, was looking lively down the left flank and his persistence won Whitley a corner on the half hour from which Wilkinson’s header went over the bar.
Guisborough took the lead in the 36th minute when they broke away down the left and a ball played down the line reached Steven Roberts who raced into the box unchallenged before sliding his shot across Harley and into the far corner of the net.
Three minutes later it got worse for Whitley as they conceded a second goal, this time following play down the right, with defender Bradley Mills playing a neat one two before closing in on goal and firing past Harley into the opposite corner. With a two goal cushion, the hosts grew in confidence and comfortably retained their advantage at the interval.
The second half brought a much needed improvement in attacking play by Whitley. Nine minutes after the restart, club coach and 2009 Vase winner Chris Moore who was making his first appearance since last December, tested Nixon with a 20 yard shot that the keeper pushed away from danger. A good block by Harley from Goldsack’s shot after 63 minutes kept Whitley in the game and four minutes later Potter’s free kick in a promising position was pushed away as the Bay lacked a cutting edge in the box. Guisborough were being forced back on the defensive as Whitley continued to push forward and finally, in the 73rd minute, they got the goal they deserved. Moore played substitute Liam Brooks though on the right and when Nixon could only parry his shot, Alex Kempster was on hand to tap home the loose ball.
A free kick conceded not far outside the 18 yard box might have seen the Priorymen quickly regain their two goal lead but Maloney’s set piece crashed off the post and away from danger. Whitley’s second teenage debutant, 17 year old Kieran Brannen, who had come off the bench for the final 20 minutes quickly became involved, battling hard in midfield and supporting the push for an equaliser. Ross Wilkinson made an important headed clearance when the hosts broke away upfield but then play was held up while Kempster, who had worked tirelessly all evening, received treatment for an ankle injury but to Whitley’s relief the skipper was able to continue. A poor challenge on Salmon gave Whitley a last chance in stoppage time but Moore’s free kick just evaded Brooks in the six yard box.
WHITLEY BAY:Harley, Walker, Hall, Moore, Wilkinson, Summers, Potter, Glen-Ravenhill( Brannen 69mins), Robertson(Brooks 65mins), Kempster, Salmon
Substitutes not used: Cornish, Lister
Referee: Andrew Kitchen
Cautions: None
Attendance: 175

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