EASINGTON COLLIERY 0 WHITLEY BAY 1
Saturday 21st December 2024
Report by Julian Tyley
In their final away game of the year, Whitley battled to a narrow victory in near gale force conditions at Easington on what was their first visit to Welfare Park in 20 years.
While the strength of the wind ensured that the game was not a classic, it was a valuable three points that sent Whitley and their fans into the Christmas period in good spirits.
Playing with the wind at their backs in the first half, Whitley would have been looking to capitalise and they went close in the ninth minute when good build up play saw Larmouth send Alfa Djalo clear but his shot went narrowly wide when he should at least have hit the target.
Two minutes later Lucas Lowery went even closer when his shot from the edge of the box crashed off the bar with keeper Keaton Marrs beaten.
At the other end Kenney produced a good attempt but Gladstone was equal to it, pushing the ball wide.
Whitley responded with Lowery sending a free kick from 25 yards out on the right just wide of the far post following a foul on Sharpe.
Both sides were having difficulty controlling passes in the conditions but Whitley eventually made the breakthrough when Brady took a throw in on the left to Forster whose through ball found Lowery just inside the box and his shot across the keeper went into the far corner of the net.
Shortly before the interval, a long kick by Gladstone was carried almost the length of the pitch in the wind and cleared the Easington defence. Sharpe raced forward into the box to try and get a foot to the ball but in doing so collided with the onrushing Marrs who reacted angrily and was immediately shown a red card with referee David Mitchell appearing to award a penalty to Whitley. However, after a lengthy delay which included discussion with his assistant he reversed the decision and eventually awarded Easington a goal kick. With no substitute keeper in their squad, defender Dane Eltringham took over in goal, with the half time whistle following moments later.
Even with their opponents down to ten men, a slender one goal lead did not look enough for Whitley as they played into the wind after the interval.
However, within five minutes, Finlay Parker who had replaced Lowery got a shot on target but it lacked power and was easily saved.
A well struck long range shot by Dylan Elliott was pushed over the bar by Gladstone as Easington battled back. A header from the resulting corner was well blocked as Whitley came under pressure from the ten men.
The next real chance came for Whitley with just under 20 minutes remaining as Djalo was played through but with only Eltringham to beat, his shot hit the bar and he then agonisingly headed the rebound over the top.
Easington’s attempts repeatedly foundered on a determined Bay defence while Whitley began to find more space when they broke forward but were unable to really test the stand-in keeper.
Jake Forster sent a header from a corner narrowly beyond the far post before Djalo tried his luck once more but his shot from inside the left side of the box curled just inches past the far post at a stage when a second Bay goal would surely have settled the contest.
With time running out, Easington won a free kick not far outside the Whitley box but their cause was not helped when they had Taylor sent to the sin bin for comments made to the referee, who had been frustrating both sides with a series of bookings.
Whitley comfortably saw out the remaining minutes of the game to secure a well-deserved but hard earned victory and record their third consecutive clean sheet. Unfortunately frustrations spilled over after the final whistle with Lowery red carded as players returned to the dressing rooms.
WHITLEY BAY: Gladstone, Stewart, Brady(Parkinson 68mins), Forster, Scott, Robson, Djalo, Kanda, Sharpe(Cockburn 70mins), Larmouth, Lowery(Parker 46mins)
Substitutes not used: Crawford, Wilson
Referee: David Mitchell
Cautions: Stewart, Sharpe, Forster, Gladstone Sent off: Lowery
Attendance: 94
