NEWCASTLE BENFIELD 4 WHITLEY BAY 0
Saturday 8th February 2025
Match report by Julian Tyley
Whitley’s winning run came to an end with a heavy defeat at Newcastle Benfield. The margin of victory was not so much a reflection of the difference between the sides but the result of defensive errors by Whitley and clinical finishing by the hosts.
In their previous three games, everything went right for Whitley but on this occasion their luck was out, with two shots hitting the bar and another ‘goal’ disallowed for an infringement.
Both sides came into the game in good form with a rapidly improving Benfield having kept consecutive clean sheets while Whitley had scored a remarkable 14 goals in their last three games.
On a damp and gloomy afternoon Benfield went ahead after just six minutes. Following a left wing corner, Cockburn’s shot was blocked and play switched very quickly with the ball played out to the left wing. Noah Millington, who spent a season at Whitley as a teenager raced beyond Josh Stewart, cut inside Michael Scott and drove a low shot inside the post beating the dive of Dan Gladstone.
Whitley might have drawn level in the 17th minute when Alfa Djalo crossed from the right and Kyle Cockburn’s first time effort from the left of the box clipped the top of the bar.
Three minutes later, Whitley’s afternoon got worse when Millington floated in a cross from wide on the left wing. Gladstone appeared to be deceived by the flight of the ball as it went over him and dipped just under the bar with Ames waiting to apply the finishing touch if it had been required.
Whitley fought back and after Djalo saw a shot saved, he was denied again when his downward header from a corner looped up, went over the keeper and just cleared the bar.
With 33 minutes played, Whitley thought they had pulled a goal back when Larmouth played a free kick deep into the six yard box and after a scramble in the goalmouth, Scott put the ball in the net. However the goal was disallowed after referee Tom Lishman consulted his assistant.
Whitley continued to press forward and another attempt by Cockburn was saved. They created further chances but failure to capitalise was punished three minutes before the interval when Millington turned provider with a cross from the left which Andre Bennett, with space in front of goal headed back across the face of goal and into the net leaving Gladstone wrong footed.
With a three goal deficit Whitley needed a quick response after the interval and while they had a large proportion of possession, they struggled to break down a strong and resolute Benfield defence.
On the hour, a shot from Larmouth crashed off the bar and while they made several substitutions, the changes failed to make a significant difference to the course of the game.
Just seconds after a shot from Joe Robson was narrowly off target and with ten minutes remaining, a simple move by Benfield brought them a fourth goal. A long goal kick was headed on from midfield and Kyle Fryatt cut between two defenders, rounded Gladstone and slotted the ball home from a tight angle.
Whitley never gave up trying to play neat passing football as the pitch inevitably cut up in the wet conditions and in stoppage time, Benfield keeper Tom Shanley pulled off an excellent fingertip save to deny Kanda a late consolation and ensure his side a third consecutive clean sheet.
Whitley need to put this disappointment behind them and move on as the busy fixture list continues with four more games scheduled this month.
WHITLEY BAY: Gladstone, Stewart, Brady, Forster(Parker 73mins), Scott, Robson, Djalo(Paterson 66mins), Kanda, Cockburn(Sharpe 46mins), Larmouth, Lowery(Parkinson 66mins)
Substitute not used: Wilson
Referee: Tom Lishman
Attendance: 251
