Reserves take the honours in seaside derby

Team Valley Carpets Challenge Cup Group 1

10 April 2021

Cullercoats 0-3 Whitley Bay Reserves

Match report (from memory!) by Peter Fox

On a cold but bright April afternoon, Whitley Bay Reserves consolidated their position at the top of Group 1 with a fine win over near neighbours Cullercoats.

Cullercoats’ Links Avenue ground is a public area so there was a decent smattering of fans watching as Bay looked to build on their 7-2 win at Gateshead Rutherford the previous week.

Bay had the chance to take a lead early in the game when they were awarded a penalty but Euan Potts was denied from the spot by the Cullercoats keeper diving low to his left hand side and saving the rather weak kick.

Just before the half hour Whitley were awarded another penalty and this time they were successful, just! Evan Howard took the kick and put to the opposite side, the keeper again guessed right and made the save but this time the ball went back to the Whitley striker and he buried the rebound.

If the opening goal had been a bit scrappy then there was no denying the quality of the second.  Jon Weirs got the ball on the right hand edge of the penalty box and bent a beautiful shot into the far corner to give Bay a two goal lead at the break.

After a quick half time turnaround Cullercoats came more into the game and the game got increasingly physical and the feeling was that if they could get the next goal, it really would be game on. However it was Bay who got the vital third in the final quarter of the game.

The ball was played in to the Cullercoats box from the right and Ryan Keltie got his header on target, and although the Cullercoats keeper clawed the ball out of the goal the linesman correctly adjudged the ball had crossed the line and the goal was given. Who needs VAR eh?

The game got a bit niggly towards the end and Cullercoats were reduced to ten men when their No. 7 was dismissed, presumably for dissent.

Whitley Starting XI : Elliott, Brennan, Baty, Laidler, Kelty, Dunn, Colquohon,  J. Weirs,  Howard, M.Weirs, Potts.