BORO RANGERS 4 WHITLEY BAY 2
Wednesday 31st July
Report by Julian Tyley
Defensive mistakes proved costly for Whitley and prolific striker Stuart Rose capitalised to score all four of his side’s goals on a warm evening in Middlesbrough. As a result, Boro Rangers made it two wins out of two but it was a disappointing outcome for Jay Bates and his side following their victory on the opening day of the season.
Not surprisingly, it was an unchanged Bay side that took to the 3G playing surface but new signing Matty Griggs was named among the substitutes.
The game had been underway for barely five minutes when Whitley lost possession on the right wing in their own half. Rangers seized on the opportunity presented to them and when the ball was crossed from the near the corner flag, it reached Rose, unmarked in front of goal and he comfortably slotted the ball beyond Gladstone to put the hosts in front.
Whitley responded with Thompson sending a shot over the bar before play reverted to the other end where a header was placed straight at the grateful Gladstone.
With 14 minutes played, Whitley won a corner on their left and when Paterson swung the ball towards the back of the Rangers box, Kanda headed it back into the goalmouth where Kyle Cockburn reacted quickly to poke the ball home from four yards and draw Whitley level.
There was little to choose between the sides for the next 15 minutes but then two goals in quick succession put the Teessiders firmly in control. Just past the half hour Whitley were penalised for a foul inside the box and Rose gave Gladstone no chance with the resulting penalty, beating the dive of the Bay keeper with a shot into the corner of the net.
Four minutes later Rose completed his hat trick when left in space on the edge of the box as the Bay defence failed to cut out a through ball.
When Whitley won a free kick just outside the Rangers box, they had a chance to apply pressure on the home goal but Brady fired the ball too high to trouble the keeper.
Right on the stroke of half time, Whitley battled their way back into the game when Thompson played the ball into the goalmouth from the right of the box and Jos Storr slotted it home to make it 3-2 and keep the game alive.
Whitley began the second half brightly and Storr went close to grabbing a equaliser but his header from Joe Robson’s cross flew wide of the target.
Hopes of a comeback were quickly dashed however, when Rose struck a superb shot from outside the box and the ball arrowed into the top corner of the net before Gladstone could react. It was a stunning fourth goal for the talented striker and effectively ended the game as a contest.
Griggs came off the bench for his debut, while Wilson and Parkinson were also introduced for the final half hour.
Whitley kept plugging away, and with 20 minutes left, Storr crossed from out on the right and Forster made a diving attempt to head the ball home for what would have been a spectacular goal, but he could not quite make contact and the ball flew across goal and out of play.
The flow of the game was disrupted by the referee’s whistle for a succession of minor fouls and cautions for the home side. The stoppages all contributed to Rangers being able to control the game, limiting the chances of Whitley building any momentum.
The stronger side on the night deservedly emerged victorious and with a virtually unchanged squad from last season look well placed to test any side especially on their home ground.
WHITLEY BAY: Gladstone, Brady, Christie (Parkinson 63mins), Forster, Robson, Stewart, Paterson(Griggs 57mins), Kanda, Storr, Thompson, Cockburn(Wilson 63mins)
Substitutes not used: Scott, Donaghey
Caution: Forster
Referee: David Mitchell
Attendance: 125
