Hat-trick for Hird in comfortable cup win

MITRE BROOKS MILESON NORTHERN LEAGUE CUP GROUP H
DURHAM CITY 1 WHITLEY BAY 5
Tuesday 8th October

Whitley recorded a comfortable victory over Second Division basement side Durham City in their latest League Cup group fixture but it was only in the second half that they really took control of the game. On a difficult playing surface, they created numerous chances but squandered many of them with some wayward finishing.
Starting brightly, the first opportunity came in the sixth minute but Luke Taylor headed over the bar from Josh Macdonald’s corner. Nathan Stephenson then had a shot pushed wide by keeper Richardson.
Maintaining the pressure, Whitley had the ball in the Durham net twice in the space of three minutes but Hird and Macdonald both saw their efforts ruled out. With 27 minutes played, Macdonald had a shot saved but two minutes later they finally broke the deadlock when James Martin’s cross from the left was headed home by Hird from barely two yards out.
A rare Durham attack saw Junior Masandi break through but his shot failed to trouble Dan Lister in the Bay goal.
It was virtually all Whitley with another Taylor header clearing the bar before Hird’s angled strike from the left was cleared off the line by Thomas Robson. Craig Spooner then had a powerful shot blocked. Martin, Robinson and Stephenson all had attempts which flew over the bar so despite all their pressure, Whitley led by just the single goal at the interval.
Two minutes into the second half, a teasing cross from Nathan Stephenson flew across the face of the Durham goal with no Bay player able to apply the finishing touch. Three minutes later Whitley were awarded a penalty for handball and Hird confidently scored his second spot kick in successive games to double the lead.
It looked as if this goal might end Durham’s resistance but six minutes later a lapse in concentration allowed the hosts back into the game. When City won a corner on the right,
the Bay defenders gave space in the box to Callum Banki who was allowed to head home unchallenged.
Just past the hour mark, City keeper Richardson, limped off injured and was replaced by Dean Brooks, who had featured in their previous five games. The replacement had only been on the pitch four minutes when Josh Macdonald evaded several challenges as he burst through the Durham defence and clear on goal. His shot beat the dive of the keeper, who appeared slow to react and the ball nestled in the back of the net with Whitley’s two goal advantage restored.
Finally making their superiority count, a fourth goal came in the 73rd minute, Brad Hird completing his first hat trick in Bay colours with a shot on the turn from eight yards out that flew past the helpless keeper.
To add to their woes, Durham were reduced to ten men when Callum Reay was sent off for dangerous play. Whitley had strong claims for a penalty when Macdonald was brought down in the box but play was allowed to continue. A minute later Luke Taylor made it 5-1 with a shot from the edge of the box that took a deflection and wrong footed the keeper.
The action was coming thick and fast and just moments later substitute James Proctor appeared to have made it six for Whitley after breaking through from the left but somewhat mysteriously the goal was ruled offside. Lewis Orrell was then only inches off target with a shot from the edge of the box that whistled past the post with the keeper rooted to the spot.
Despite delays for six substitutions, only 30 seconds of additional time was played but that had no effect on the outcome of the game as Whitley all but ensured their progression to the knockout stage of the competition.
WHITLEY BAY; Lister, Bramley, Martin, Spooner(Emmerson 75mins), Anderson, Taylor, Orrell, Stephenson(Doyle 72mins), Hird, Robinson(Proctor 65mins), Macdonald
Substitutes not used: Smith, Salmon
Cautions: None
Referee: Helen Conley
Attendance:100