Bay crash out of League Cup

BROOKS MILESON MEMORIAL LEAGUE CUP 2nd ROUND

BOLDON CA 2 WHITLEY BAY 1

Tuesday 14th January 2025

Report by Julian Tyley

Whitley are out of the League Cup after a very disappointing night at Second Division side Boldon CA.

The rapid thaw of frozen pitches made conditions difficult and this game was in doubt until little more than half an hour before kick off when the referee gave the tie the go ahead.

Whitley’s attacking options were reduced with the unavailability of Mackenzie Sharpe and Alfa Djalo but Jay Bates was still able to field a side that looked strong enough to overcome their lower ranked opponents.

As it turned out, Whitley’s first ever visit to The Villa was one they will wish to forget as they never really came to terms with the conditions while the hosts defended with determination especially in the second half.

Boldon made the best possible start, taking the lead inside the fourth minute with their first attempt on goal. Robbie Gateshill turned inside Joe Robson and Michael Scott before curling his shot beyond the reach of Dan Gladstone and off the far post and into the net.

Whitley responded by pushing the home side back in their own half and with 12 minutes on the clock, a left wing corner from Callum Larmouth was headed beyond the back post by Jake Forster.

Another corner three minutes later, this time on the right, brought the equaliser. Luke Parkinson’s ball to the back of the six yard box was headed clear but only as far as Larmouth whose looping header back across goal was played into the path of Robson who slotted the ball home from close range.

The expectation among most in the ground was that Whitley would now go on to assert their control and when Larmouth was tripped just outside the box midway through the half, there was a great chance to test keeper Oliver Walker but Parkinson’s free kick flew high over the bar.

Whitley continued to have the majority of possession but Boldon gradually came more into the game and capitalised on a mistake in the Bay defence to regain their lead after 34 minutes.

A free kick on the Boldon left some 25 yards from goal was spilled by Gladstone and Williams reacted quickest to slam the loose ball into the net.

Whitley might have drawn level again within two minutes but Paterson’s shot on target was headed clear by a defender.

Three minutes before the interval a low short from Larmouth took a slight deflection and flew inches past the left upright. Parkinson’s ambitious volley from the resulting corner cleared the bar and at the interval Boldon remained narrowly in front.

The second half was a largely dour affair as Boldon understandably defended in depth and took every opportunity to slow the game down, while Whitley failed to make the most of their possession as the conditions deteriorated, with passes going astray and few attempts on target.

As Whitley pushed more players forward, Boldon remained a threat on the break and Gladstone had to be alert to block a shot midway through the half. Then the Bay keeper could not hold a low shot and could only scoop the ball round the post.

Into the final ten minutes, Whitley forced a series of corners, with captain Michael Scott twice getting headers on target, the second producing a fine diving save from Walker with the keeper pushing the ball over the bar.

Brady then tried his luck with the long range effort from wide on the right but the ball was just too high and landed on the roof of the net.

Another quick breakaway saw a scramble in the Bay goalmouth before the late pressure on the home goal was resumed, but with Boldon defending resolutely with almost everyone behind the ball, Whitley’s efforts became more desperate and in stoppage time, a dubious offside decision brought frustration in the Bay ranks with Michael Scott sin binned in the final seconds.

WHITLEY BAY: Gladstone, Brady, Parkinson(Christie 60mins), Stewart, Scott, Robson, Paterson(Wilson 60mins), Kanda, Forster, Larmouth, Cockburn(Parker 62mins)

Sub not used: J Bates

Referee: Adam Kain

Attendance: 114

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