Stoppage time equaliser denies Bay victory

WHITLEY BAY 1 STOCKTON TOWN 1
Saturday 9th November
Ahead of this game, most Bay fans would have happily settled for a draw but at the final whistle, many felt disappointed that they had not come away with a victory. Craig McFarlane’s 76th minute goal came after sustained Stockton pressure and gave hope of an unexpected win but a stoppage time equaliser ensured that the points were shared.
Stockton came to Hillheads as one of the favourites for promotion and with an impressive record of just one league defeat and having conceded a mere seven goals, while Whitley’s hopes were dealt a blow during the warm-up when Craig Spooner pulled up with a groin injury and had to be replaced in the starting eleven.
Despite torrential rain during the week, the pitch was perfectly playable and the game got under way in bright sunshine. Unfortunately the opening twenty minutes lacked the brightness of the weather as neither side got a chance on target with play largely confined to midfield.
Eventually the game came to life with Stockton exerting pressure on the Bay goal as they created a series of openings. The first came after 25 minutes when Jamie Owens set up Max Craggs, whose shot was saved by Lister who then kept out the rebound. Barely 60 seconds later Craggs again went close and Owens saw his close range effort cleared off the line by Luke Taylor. Just before the half hour, a powerful shot from Kevin Hayes was deflected over the bar with Callum Anderson making the vital intervention. A free kick was then drilled over the bar as the visitors, aided by some contentious decisions, searched for the breakthrough but they were being thwarted by a disciplined Bay defence who occasionally rode their luck.
For the third consecutive game, there was no score at the interval but Stockton were very much in the ascendency.
The early stages of the second half saw few clear cut chances but it was the visitors who were looking the likelier side to break the deadlock. Craggs headed over the bar in the 55th minute after a foul that saw Tom Bexton cautioned. The Stockton striker then blazed a free kick high over the top as a degree of frustration showed in the Anchors’ play.
Whitley slowly came more into the game, McFarlane working tirelessly and Hird attempting to put pressure on the visitors’ defence. The inevitably heavy conditions were beginning to sap the energy of the players and with 20 minutes remaining, Hird made way for Michael Colquhoun, just back at Hillheads after a loan spell at Bedlington. The youngster seemed to make a difference with fresh legs livening up Whitley’s attacking efforts. Up to this point they had failed to get in a meaningful shot to test keeper Callum Roberts but then in the 76th minute, Connor Smith played the ball in from the right, Stockton defenders failed to clear it as Colquhoun unsettled them and the ball fell for McFarlane who lashed it home from ten yards, stunning the Teessiders and their large following of fans. Two minutes later Whitley should really have made the game safe when teenage substitute Jake Martindale, just moments after coming off the bench for his debut, was played through on goal by some careless defending. With only Roberts to beat he advanced but hesitated slightly and slotted the ball inches past the post.
With time now running out, Stockton pushed forward with renewed determination and a ball in from the left clipped the base of the post before being put behind. In the 88th minute, and now finding more space as the visitors left gaps at the back, Whitley had another opportunity to seal victory when Colquhoun burst clear on the left edge of the box but his shot flew agonisingly past the far post.
Two minutes into added time, a foul by Taylor on the left some 25 yards from goal gave Mulligan the chance to float a free kick into the box and the ever dangerous Owens sent a glancing header beyond Lister for a dramatic late equaliser. Undoubtedly Stockton deserved to take something from the game but to concede at such a late stage was bitterly disappointing for Whitley and the majority of the 398 fans.
WHITLEY BAY: Lister, Bexton, Martin, Anderson, Lowery, Taylor, Smith, Proctor(Martindale 75mins), Hird(Colquhoun 70mins), Orrell, McFarlane
Substitutes not used: Stephenson, Bramley,
Cautions: Bexton, Martindale
Referee: Steven Lawson
Attendance: 398

h2o Bathrooms Man of the match: Luke Taylor