Reserves share the points at Hillheads

Team Valley Carpets Challenge Cup

13 April 2021

Whitley Bay Reserves 1-1 Newcastle Chemfica

Whitley Bay dropped their first points in the Challenge Cup group stages as they were held to a draw in a closed doors game at Hillheads. In truth, a draw was a fair result after Chemfica took a first half lead but Whitley fought back to peg them back just after the interval

It leaves them a point clear at the head of the group, from Cullercoats in second after their near neighbours beat Gateshead Rutherford 5-3 on Wednesday night.

Whitley started off positively, the confidence from two opening wins showing, but although they had plenty of possession in the opening stages, they couldn’t make it count. This was typified when a good run by Matty Weirs from the left just eluded the onrushing Howard and Chemfica escaped. The visiting side looked to be denied a decent penalty shout when a Bay defender puta robust challenge on a Chemfica attacker, but they were not to be denied and took the lead just before the 20 minute mark when a long ball found Lutfer Karim, who rounded Bay keeper Elliot and despite being under pressure from a couple of Bay defenders coolly slotted the ball home.

Bay came close to an equaliser to an equaliser from a couple of corners which Chemfica keeper Dewar did well to deal with, tipping the ball over the bar, but the hosts went in at the interval trailing to that Karim strike.

They were back on terms two minutes after the interval when Matty Weirs floated a beautiful free kick in from the left and Jamie Dunn connected to give Dewar no chance.

And frankly that was it.

A fair result, but will Bay live to regret it?

Starting XI

Elliot, Bennan, Baty, Laidler, Keltie, Dunn, Smith, J. Weirs, Howard, M.Weirs, Potts