Howard hat trick seals cup final victory for Reserves

Team Valley Carpets Challenge Cup Final

 Saturday 15 May 2021

 at Wheatridge Park, Seaton Delaval

 WHITLEY BAY RESERVES     4        BURRADON & NEW FORDLEY     1

A hat trick from Evan Howard was the highlight of a well deserved Challenge Cup Final victory for Whitley’s Reserves and while the young striker was the obvious choice for man of the match, this was a game when every member of the side played their part in an excellent team performance.

After an even opening period, Whitley took the lead in the 10^th minute from a left wing corner when Howard powered the ball into the net from close range. Six minutes later Burradon & New Fordley equalised when they were awarded a free kick not far outside the Bay 18 yard box. Scott Pocklington’s shot took a huge deflection off the defensive wall, completely wrong footing Bay keeper Callum Elliott and flying into the near corner of the net.

Whitley might have retaken the lead after 25 minutes but Michael Colquhoun’s finish from Jamie Dunn’s cross flew over the bar. Gavin Hattrick’s side were posing the great threat attacking down both flanks and they were having to withstand some physical challenges which saw two Burradon & New Fordley players cautioned.

Three minutes before the interval, Whitley went back in front after a great ball was played forward and Colquhoun slipped it into the path of Howard who fired it low past Shanley into the corner of the net.

Deservedly ahead at the interval, Whitley started the second half strongly and might have increased their lead within two minutes when Matty Weirs crossed into the box but Howard’s header crashed off the bar. Four minutes later the tall striker did find the target when the opposition were appealing in vain for a penalty and the ball was quickly cleared downfield.  Howard latched onto the ball and took it wide on the right before slotting it across the keeper and into the far corner of the net to complete his hat trick and put Whitley 3-1 ahead.

Whitley looked firmly in control of the game but were forced back in their own half as Burradon & New Fordley searched in desperation for a way back into the game. At the interval, they had replaced one former Whitley striker Ian Lee with another, Liam Hudson, but Bay captain Ryan Keltie was allowing him no space and goalkeeper Elliott was rarely put under pressure. An attempt from McRoberts was comfortably dealt with at the near post before Bay went down the other end and substitute Cameron Gascoigne curled a great shot from the left onto the bar just moments after coming off the bench.

The 19 year old was not to be denied and with just ten minutes remaining, he sealed the victory as he went past the keeper and slotted the ball home despite the desperate attempts of defenders to keep it out.

Hudson had a chance to reduce the arrears but put the ball over the bar and Whitley comfortably saw out the remaining minutes, making a series of substitutions to give as many of the squad as possible a taste of the action.

Whitley Bay: Elliott, Potts, Fenton, Laidler, Keltie (c) Coulson, Colquhoun, J Weirs, Howard, M Weirs, Dunn.  Subs: Gascoigne, Smith, Aspey, Reardon, Taylor