MARSKE UNITED 2 WHITLEY BAY 3
Saturday 6th September 2024
Report by Julian Tyley
Whitley emerged victorious after a five goal thriller at Marske which provided great entertainment for the bumper crowd.
The home side have quickly settled back into the Northern League this season and came into the game on a five match winning streak which climaxed in an impressive win to end the 100% record of League leaders Boro Rangers in midweek.
Whitley were unbeaten in their last three games but were missing Regan Paterson who suffered torn ligaments in the Easington game on Tuesday and faces around ten weeks on the sidelines. Also missing was Matty Griggs, recalled by his parent club Morpeth. However, in came new signing Michael Baxter, signed from Ryton & Crawcrook on Thursday, while Mikel Thompson returned after completing his suspension.
Looking to build on their recent improved form, Whitley began on the front foot and within the first sixty seconds, Callum Larmouth sent a shot from the edge of the box only narrowly beyond the far post.
Jake Forster was also playing up front and was soon proving to be handful for the Marske defenders.
Despite posing the greater threat, Whitley went behind in the 16th minute when a harmless looking cross from out on the right was met by Euan McBride whose shot from around 12 yards caught Gladstone by surprise and crept inside the post.
Stung by this goal, Whitley responded positively and when Thompson received the ball from Larmouth just outside the Marske box, he skilfully weaved his way past several yellow shirts and from close to the by-line cut the ball back across goal to the edge of the box where the unmarked George Brady struck a first time shot into the net for a well deserved equaliser.
Whitley were in the ascendency and twice in the space of three minutes, Forster threatened to add a second goal but after being caught narrowly offside with his first attempt, he was only denied a shot on goal by a last ditch tackle.
When the hosts broke downfield, Gladstone punched clear but the ball fell straight to a Marske player who fired just wide of the post.
Just before the half hour, a right wing corner from Baxter was met by Kanda at the back of the box and his header flew just inches over the bar.
Moments later another attempt from Larmouth was deflected behind by a defender. Keeping up the pressure, a ball knocked across goal by Larmouth was headed behind by Robson.
Whitley were giving the home side little time on the ball but with half time approaching, the scores were still level. But in the 44th minute, that all changed when Larmouth again was involved, playing the ball forward to Forster who flicked it forward for Baxter who burst between two defenders, advanced to the right of the box before unleashing a shot that flew past keeper Cowey and into the net. It was an excellently worked goal and perfectly finished by the debutant and it left Whitley a goal ahead at the interval. It was no more than they deserved and indeed there could have been few complaints if the lead had been greater.
After the break, Whitley continued in the same fashion and Baxter went close in the 50th minute with a shot that crashed into the side netting when defenders had been expecting a cross.
Marske gradually came more into the game and two minutes later it took a good block from Gladstone to keep them out. However, the hosts drew level with 54 minutes played when a long ball over the top cleared Michael Scott and Kyran Clark seized his chance firing a shot over Gladstone, who could not quite get his fingers to the ball.
Three minutes later another attempt from the home side was just too high as the vociferous home fans urged their side on.
Whitley fought back and with 64 minutes on the clock, Baxter had the ball in the net again but the assistant’s flag was raised for offside.
The game was now a more even contest with both sides pushing for a third goal. Gladstone made two saves, pushing a powerful effort wide with 15 minutes remaining while at the other end Larmouth was denied. It made for an exciting climax but with only a minute of normal time remaining, a misplaced back pass by the home side went wide of the keeper and behind for a corner on the Bay left.
Whitley pushed men forward and when the impressive Baxter played the ball into the box, defender Luke Drummond, under pressure from Kanda and Robson, headed past his own keeper to put Whitley back in front.
With the game now into stoppage time, there was little opportunity for Marske to respond and Whitley were soon able to celebrate a hard fought victory with their travelling band of fans. While the winning goal came very late in the game, it was a success that was well deserved after Jay Bates’ men had been much the better side in the first half and had held their own in a more evenly contested second period.
The win takes Whitley’s unbeaten run to four games and while they are now building momentum, the tough games continue with another away fixture against an in-form side when they travel to West Auckland on Tuesday.
WHITLEY BAY: Gladstone, Brady, Christie, Forster, Robson, Scott(Donaghey 84mins), Baxter(Storr 90mins), Kanda, Larmouth, Thompson(Wilson 74mins), Stewart
Substitute not used: Parkinson
Caution: Larmouth
Referee: Lewis Hardy
Attendance: 468
