Points shared in close contest

WHITLEY BAY 1 ASHINGTON 1
Saturday 27th October

Whitley shared the points with their Northumbrian rivals Ashington in a closely contested game on a bitterly cold and windy afternoon. Despite the conditions, this contest attracted by far the biggest Northern League crowd of the day, boosted by a group of Colliers fans who walked the 16 miles from Woodhorn Lane to Hillheads to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK.
In the Bay line up there were recalls for defenders Jack Cooper and Luke Taylor while Kieran Brannen made his first start of the season having impressed in recent substitute appearances.
Whitley made a number of promising moves in the early stages, with balls being played through the Ashington defence but with slightly too much pace to allow the strikers to capitalise. In the ninth minute, Brannen’s pass ran just ahead of Peter Glen-Ravenhill, while two minutes later his well directed ball was gathered by keeper Conor Grant just inches ahead of Dan Taggart. Cooper then crossed for Taggart whose first touch was slightly too strong and allowed Grant the chance to grab the ball. Passes from both sides were going astray as players struggled to adapt to the blustery conditions.
Ashington were playing their part and they very nearly took a 24th minute lead when Zak Atkinson took advantage of a misplaced pass and his shot from the right side of the box crashed off the base of the post with Bannon beaten. Former Bay midfielder Chris Youldon then threatened down the Colliers’ left wing, exchanging passes before driving in a low shot that Bannon saved comfortably. McAndrew’s cross from the right looked to be caught in the wind and almost crept under the bar but Craig McFarlane was on hand to head clear, before Atkinson’s cross eluded everyone as it flew across goal and out of play.
The deadlock was finally broken six minutes before half time and it followed a misunderstanding in the Ashington defence when the ball was not properly cleared and from the edge of the box Kieran Brannen’s powerful shot took a slight deflection and left Grant helpless as it flew into the net. Whitley were not really troubled in the remaining minutes of the half and at the break they retained their 1-0 lead.
A second goal could have put the game beyond the visitors and in first few minutes after the interval that is just what Whitley threatened to do. A back pass put Grant under pressure and he was relieved to poke the ball wide of the advancing Taggart. Glen-Ravenhill’s free kick was taken by the keeper just as Taggart was again closing in. At the other end, an attempt by Youldon was parried by Bannon before Whitley responded and Brannen was brought down barely two feet outside the box as he burst through from midfield.
The Colliers survived the resultant free kick and just past the hour mark they drew level when Whitley conceded possession in midfield, substitute Sam Norris crossed from the right and the unmarked Zak Atkinson slotted the ball home.
The visitors had a moment of fortune four minutes later when Luke Salmon, playing against his former side, cut in from the left and when Taggart met the ball, it ricocheted off Grant and the Bay striker before rolling agonisingly just inches wide of the post.
That was an isolated moment of danger for the Colliers who were stepping up the pressure following their equaliser, enjoying a greater share of possession. Player manager Steve Bowey volleyed wide from distance after 66 minutes but the Bay defence, with Taylor looking impressive, held firm and Bannon was not seriously troubled.
It briefly looked as if Whitley might snatch a late victory when Brannen’s cross was drilled home by substitute Stephen Ramsey but the assistant’s flag had already been raised for offside. Deep into stoppage time, a poor challenge by Luke Taylor saw him sent off, a disappointing end an otherwise fine performance by the 18 year old defender. In the melee that followed, a punch appeared to be thrown but this incident was not spotted by the officials and went unpunished.
WHITLEY BAY: Bannon, McFarlane, Cooper, Anderson, Taylor, Caines, Glen-Ravenhill, Salmon, Taggart(Ramsey 77mins), Ardelean(Martin 63mins), Brannen
Substitutes not used: Walton, Christensen, R Redford
Referee: Martin Conroy
Cautions: None
Attendance: 341
h2o Bathrooms man of the match: Kieran Brannen