FA CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND
PENRITH 1 WHITLEY BAY 1
Saturday 19th August
An injury ravaged Bay side have a second opportunity to win this tie after Tom Potter’s goal eleven minutes from time earned them a replay after a closely contested game at Penrith.
The day started badly for Whitley when their team coach developed a mechanical fault on the A69. Fortunately, a supporters club bus was not far behind and the players transferred to this vehicle to ensure they arrived in good time while club officials and fans waited for a replacement coach to complete their journey to Cumbria.
Injuries and holiday commitments meant that Whitley were without six first team regulars but their replacements gave their all and a spirited final half hour could have seen them claim victory. A large contingent of Bay fans boosted the attendance and created a good cup tie atmosphere.
Whitley certainly started brightly and looked the better side without managing to capitalise on their possession. In the third minute, Peter Glen-Ravenhill set Alex Kempster away down the right and the acting Bay captain forced keeper Stuart Dixon into action, saving a low shot by his near post. On the quarter hour mark, Thibault Charmey floated a free kick from near the left touch line across the face of goal. It went beyond the reach of Kempster but Graham Williams got a foot the ball and some Bay fans in the main stand thought he had scored but unfortunately the ball had gone just the wrong side of the post.
Four minutes later and with their first real attempt on goal, Penrith took the lead when a ball was played through the Bay defence to Jonny Murray who advanced and drove past Tom Flynn into the far corner of the net.
Whitley continued to see plenty of the ball and the only other chance of note for the hosts came in the 34th minute when Murray’s 25 yard free kick was pushed wide by Flynn. Just before the interval Whitley forced a series of corners but were unable to capitalise and were a goal behind at half time.
Seven minutes after the resumption a free kick from Penrith’s Christopher Wraighte brought a save from Flynn but the keeper was injured and needed treatment. Play became rather niggly as players became frustrated by some of the decisions of the match officials, leading eventually to several cautions being issued. Just past the hour mark, Tom Potter was brought off the bench and his introduction added impetus to Whitley’s attacks. Matty Cornish was also brought on and the two substitutes began to unsettle the home defence.
However, it was Penrith who should have scored a second goal in the 69th minute following poor defending but Robbie Hebson somehow contrived to miss an open goal, scooping the ball over the bar from inside the six yard box when it seemed easier to score.
The game was opening up with more chances being created and Flynn had to push a close range header from Coleman away from danger. That was the last action for the Bay keeper who was unable to continue after suffering an arm injury, so 17 year old debutant keeper Callum Harley replaced him for the final 15 minutes.
Whitley went on the attack again and when Charmey crossed the ball from out on the right, it eluded the home defence and reached Kempster who played it back across goal where Potter gleefully slotted it into the net from three yards. It was a well deserved equaliser and set up a tense and exciting final ten minutes. Glen-Ravenhill attacked down the right and had a shot blocked and when play switched ends, Harley made a fine save to deny Coleman. The teenager pushed another attempt away to keep Whitley in the game before sub Matty Cornish saw a goalbound shot put behind by Penrith centre back Bowman. In the 90th minute, Potter’s low ball into the goalmouth was just beyond the reach of Kempster as he tried to poke it home and Dixon gratefully clutched the ball. Whitley were finishing the stronger which gives encouragement for the replay, despite the ever lengthening injury list.
WHITLEY BAY: Flynn(Harley 76mins), Byerley, Hall, Haley, Williams, Charmey, Glen-Ravenhill, Reay(Cornish 67mins), Jasper(Potter 61mins), Kempster, K Patton
Subs not used: Cunningham, Moore
Referee: Martin Ashworth
Cautions: Jasper, Williams
Attendance: 220
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