Stephenson takes the honours as Bay see off University challenge

TECHFLOW MARINE NORTHUMBERLAND SENIOR CUP 1ST ROUND
WHITLEY BAY 6 NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY 0
Tuesday 22nd October

Whitley scored six goals for the third consecutive game and in doing so extended their winning run to four matches with a comprehensive Northumberland Senior Cup victory over Newcastle University. Manager Nathan Haslam rested several first choice players and gave new signing, 18 year old defender Aaron Charters his first team debut but any prospects of an upset in this cup tie quickly receded when Whitley took the lead inside the third minute.
Josh Macdonald, nearing the end of his loan spell from FC Halifax Town, was the architect of the goal, racing clear down the right wing before crossing low into the box. Goalkeeper Alex Curran pushed the ball out but straight at Nathan Stephenson whose header from barely six yards flew back past the keeper and into the net.
Six minutes later Brad Hird was played through on goal but given his current rich vein of form, surprisingly failed to find the target, his shot going inches past the post.
The University side then began to make an impact on the game and in the 11th minute, captain Jake Dutton went close to snatching an equaliser but his shot went just the wrong side of the post. This chance lifted the visitors and they enjoyed a period of possession but without really threatening Dan Lister in the Bay goal.
A quick break in the 19th minute saw Whitley double their lead when Connor Smith cut in from the left and played the ball back across goal from the by-line and slack defending allowed Stephenson the chance to poke home his second goal of the evening.
Three minutes later Whitley should have scored a third goal when Macdonald went clear on goal right down the middle but put his shot wide with only Curran to beat. Another chance came just before the half hour but on this occasion Curran made a great save to keep out an effort from Hird.
Whitley’s top scorer was not to be denied for long though and in the 33rd minute, the Students’ defence was exposed once more and this time Hird made no mistake as he drilled the ball home to put Whitley three goals ahead. Comfortably in control, the chances continued to flow and three minutes before the interval Hird got his second of the game and his 11th in the last four games when Liam Doyle flicked the ball into his path and advancing to the left edge of the 18 yard box he produced a clinical finish to put Whitley 4-0 ahead at the interval.
The intensity of the game dropped in the second half but Whitley always looked capable off adding to their score. Callum Anderson’s powerful first time effort from the edge of the box was only parried by Curran in the 55th minute before Mark Robinson, less than two minutes after coming off the bench, got on the score sheet with a well struck shot from ten yards. The University side never gave up but rarely got into a goal scoring position whereas their defence struggled to cope when put under pressure. Man of the match Stephenson rounded off a fine display when he completed his first hat trick for the club in the 70th minute following good work by substitute James Proctor.
To the relief of the Students, there were no further goals though Proctor, having failed to capitalise when a shot rebounded into his path off the keeper, was unfortunate to see his 87th minute shot crash off the bar with Curran well beaten.
Whitley kept a welcome clean sheet after Lister made one fine save on an otherwise quiet evening for the Bay keeper.
They will certainly face tougher challenges in the coming league fixtures but avoided another potential banana skin with a victory that can only do good for the confidence especially of their strikers, having scored 23 goals in their last four games.
Whitley now progress to the Quarter Finals of the Senior Cup and a trip to Morpeth Town in the New Year.
WHITLEY BAY: Lister, Bexton, Charters, Anderson, Lowery, Taylor, Macdonald(Salmon 73mins), Doyle(Proctor 55mins), Hird(Robinson 63mins), Stephenson, Smith
Substitutes not used: Spooner, Orrell
Cautions: None
Referee: Charlie Ford
Attendance: 223