Stunning finale sees Bay to victory

WHITLEY BAY 3   PENRITH 1
FA CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND REPLAY
Tuesday 22nd August
In one of the most dramatic cup ties seen at Hillheads in recent years, Whitley came from behind, scoring three times in the last ten minutes to beat Penrith 3-1 and secure their place in the First Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup, where they will be at home to Newcastle Benfield a week on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Tom Flynn along with Josh Nearney and Kyle Patton had all recovered from injury in time to make the starting eleven but it was still a severely depleted Bay squad that took to the field. However, as in the drawn game at Penrith on Saturday, team spirit and a never-say-die attitude shone through with every player giving their all and in the end they deservedly came out on top.
Whitley attacked from start, playing some neat and attractive one touch football, the first chance coming in the third minute when Scott Jasper brought a save from keeper Stuart Dixon. Six minutes later Penrith’s prolific striker Martyn Coleman got an attempt on target but Flynn made a comfortable save.
Whitley were looking much livelier than their visitors and quickly responded when Matty Cornish, in the starting line up for the first time, played the ball through to Kyle Patton whose cross into the goalmouth just eluded Jasper. Five minutes later, Jack Byerley sent a header crashing off the outside of the post following a left wing corner from Cornish. A delightful through ball from Kempster then played Patton through on goal but Dixon did extremely well to block the shot at the expense of a corner. Having failed to capitalise on their dominance, Whitley were stunned when totally against the run of play, the Cumbrians went ahead in the 31st minute. A long throw-in from veteran defender Will Paul flew into the goalmouth where it was not dealt with by the Bay defence and when the ball fell for Jonny Murray he volleyed home from close range. Whitley retaliated and forced three corners in quick succession but could not find a way through the tall Penrith back line. At the other end Coleman tried a long range shot but the ball whistled narrowly past the post. The respite for the visitors was short-lived as Michael Hall’s cross was met by Tom Potter whose volley brought another fine save from Dixon. Byerley then had a header blocked almost on the line as Whitley maintained their pressure. Approaching the interval, a collision between Kyle Patton and Dixon left the Penrith keeper requiring lengthy treatment. When play resumed there was still time for the lively Cornish to go close but his shot took a deflection and at the break, despite all Whitley’s endeavours, Penrith were one goal ahead.
In the second half the Cumbrians posed more of a threat while Whitley struggled to make an impact on the game. With the visitors pressing forward, Whitley were unable to maintain their attractive attacking play and for a while they were forced more on the defensive.
Coleman twice went close before substitute Crozier crashed a long range shot against the top of the bar. Davidson, another sub, had a header cleared off the line following a corner. However, backed by a vocal crowd of 358, Whitley battled back and might have levelled in the 69th minute with their first real attempt of the half but Patton headed inches wide from Potter’s cross.
With twenty minutes to go Whitley made a double substitution, bringing on Glen-Ravenhill and Reay. They were gradually pushing Penrith back again and the visitors seemed content to slow the game down and frustrate the home fans. Time was ebbing away and there were less than ten minutes to go when Cornish, who had never stopped running all game, curled a beautiful shot beyond Dixon into the corner of the net. It was his first goal for the club and it set up a grandstand finish.
Penrith battled back with Main volleying over from another long throw but four minutes after the equaliser, Whitley took the lead when Kempster’s ball into the goalmouth was poked across the line by Scott Jasper, leading to scenes of mass jubilation both on and off the pitch.
Penrith threw every man forward, including their keeper, in a desperate attempt to force extra time, but in doing so they left themselves exposed at the back and deep into stoppage time, substitute Liam Brooks who had only been on the pitch a matter of seconds and with almost his first touch of the ball, dispossessed a defender and played the ball through to Cornish who calmly slotted past Dixon to seal a memorable victory.
Every Bay player was a hero but in addition to Cornish with his two goals, Aiden Haley was particularly impressive while captain Alex Kempster’s relentless hard work earned him the man of the match award. With five players missing through injury and holidays, this performance shows the strength in depth of the Bay squad and it will leave the management team with some difficult choices when everyone becomes available for selection.
WHITLEY BAY: Flynn, Byerley, Hall(Reay 71mins), Haley, Nearney, Williams, Potter, Cornish, Jasper(Brooks 89mins), Kempster, K Patton(Glen-Ravenhill 71mins)
Substitutes not used: Harley, Cunningham, Summers, Moore
Referee: Derric Wade
Cautions: None
Attendance: 358

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