FA VASE 2nd QUALIFYING ROUND
WHITLEY BAY 4 SOUTH SHIELDS 3
Saturday 4th October 2014
Whitley are safely through to the First Round Proper of the FA Vase but as has been the case so often in this competition over the years, they did not make it easy for themselves and had to be content with a single goal margin of victory over South Shields.
Three times they allowed the plucky Mariners back into the game after looking comfortably in control but despite a few anxious moments, deservedly ran out winners of an entertaining cup tie.
The visitors, managed by two former Bay players Jon King and Lee Bell, have made a good start to the season and despite the absence of several regulars through suspension, began in confident style, with Paul Kane firing just wide of goal in the third minute.
However, it was Whitley who took an early lead when with just six minutes played, Craig McFarlane cut in from the right and when his shot was blocked, the ball rebounded into the path of Robbie Bird who lashed it into the net from eight yards, giving keeper Steven Hubery no chance. Two minutes later an effort from Paul Chow was deflected wide and from Robinson’s corner, Michael Laws headed wide.
Whitley were well on top but their lead lasted only four minutes. With the visitors under pressure, there appeared no danger to Whitley when the ball was cleared as far as the centre circle but just inside the Shields half, Craig Smith mis-controlled the ball and allowed Lee Maitland to whip it off his toes and release Kane on the left with a clear run on goal. He closed in on Dan Gladstone before beating the advancing Bay keeper with a low shot into the far corner to level the score.
Whitley responded with Bird latching onto a ball from Paul Robinson then ghosting past an opponent before testing Hubery with a shot that the keeper pushed wide.
The Mariners gradually came more into the game and following a short corner the ball was driven low across goal and behind for a goal kick. Gladstone then saved from Molloy. On the half hour, McFarlane’s cross from the right reached Chris McDonald, whose shot was blocked by the Shields defence.
Three minutes later Whitley regained the lead when Bird seized on the loose ball with a clinical close range finish after Robinson’s shot had been blocked. Further pressure saw shots from Robinson and Chow kept out by Hubery but after 38 minutes, Whitley went two up when Brad Brooking burst forward down the right and crossed the ball to the back post where Paul Chow extended his record breaking Vase goals tally with a header beyond the reach of Hubery.
Whitley were now well on top and might have put the game beyond the Mariners with a minute of the half remaining but Bird clipped the ball over the bar after being set clear by Robinson.
3-1 ahead at the interval, it appeared plain sailing for Whitley in the second half but five minutes after the restart another defensive error handed Shields a lifeline. The unfortunate Smith once again failed to control the ball, this time in a defensive position where a first time clearance would probably have been a better option than attempting to dribble the ball away from goal. In an attempt to retrieve possession, he brought down Adam Sharp and conceded a penalty, which Kane comfortably converted, sending Gladstone the wrong way from the spot.
As with the first Shields goal, Whitley were quick to retaliate and just 60 seconds later, the lively Bird was unlucky not to complete his hat trick when his shot from McFarlane’s cross struck the post. Two minutes later, Bird cut in from the left and with defenders backing off he took the ball across the face of goal before dragging his shot wide of the target.
Ten minutes into the half, Whitley had a lucky escape when Sharp blazed over with the goal at his mercy after a defensive slip let in Talbot.
Just ninety seconds later, the visitors were made to pay for their miss when Whitley re-established a two goal lead. A good advantage played by referee Michael Gillespie saw Chris McDonald race down the centre of the field and to the delight of the Bay fans, the ball was released to Paul Robinson who drilled a powerful shot past Hubery from 15 yards for his first goal since returning to Hillheads two weeks ago.
Once again, the game looked to be won but Whitley flattered to deceive as for the third time, a defensive error kept the Mariners’ hopes afloat. Substitute David Conroy played the ball forward to Kane whose 30 yard shot looked more speculative than threatening and although it swerved as it approached Gladstone, the Bay keeper should have made the save but rooted to the spot he allowed it to fly past him and into the net. However, all credit is due to Kane who took his chance well and his hat-trick had certainly kept his side in the tie.
With a quarter of the game remaining, there was still everything to play for but Whitley always looked the likelier side to add to their score. An excellent move cut open the Shields defence when a ball in from the right was headed across goal by Bird to Chow whose reverse header flew inches past the post. A minute later and another Chow effort was narrowly off target. Three minutes later Chow yet again went close, this time with a header from McFarlane’s cross.
With 18 minutes left, Bird deservedly received a rousing reception as he left the field to be replaced by Chris Reid, who continued his rehabilitation following injury with an assured performance in defence.
Maitland fired over the bar for the Mariners as they battled for an equaliser that would have sent the tie into extra time but it was Whitley who went nearest in the closing stages of the game when McDonald played the ball through to man of the match Robinson who was only denied a second goal by an excellent point blank save from Hubery. Into stoppage time, Robinson’s dangerous ball across the six yard box just eluded both Chow and substitute Stephen Buzzeo but it was not long before Whitley could celebrate victory and look forward to the draw for the next round.
WHITLEY BAY: Gladstone, Brooking, McDonald, Ellison(Buzzeo 50mins), Laws, Smith, McFarlane, Anderson, Robinson, Chow, Bird(Reid 72mins)
Substitutes not used: Ryan, Redford, Godsmark
Referee: Michael Gillespie
Caution: McFarlane
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