WHITLEY BAY 1 GUISBOROUGH TOWN 1
Saturday 8th March 2025
Match report by Harry Salkeld
After a disappointing derby day at North Shields, the Bay were back at Hillheads Park looking to make it two home wins in a row. Four changes were made to the side which played against Shields: Christie, Djalo, Thompson and Parker all made returns to the starting eleven.
The game started with Djalo being on the receiving end of a bad tackle as he was fouled by Callum Martin. Surprisingly, Martin came out of the encounter worse as he was replaced by Jacob Johnson due to injury. Whilst this change was happening, Djalo received medical attention in the form of the ‘magic spray’.
Mikel Thompson was proving a threat to the Guisborough defence as he was winning many free kicks with his dazzling footwork. In the 23rd minute, the Bay won a penalty as Mackenzie Sharpe was clearly tripped within the penalty area. The Bay’s number nine also stepped up to take the penalty and he was successful as his effort went a little to the right of the middle as the keeper dived to the left.
However, the opposition grew quickly into the game after falling behind and their pressure paid dividends very quickly. In the 32nd minute, a ball was fizzed into the six-yard box where Max Craggs was waiting, unmarked. The ball fell to Craggs who perfectly placed the ball into the bottom right corner.
Goal scorer, Craggs, had another attempt not long after in the form of a free kick which went over the bar. Paterson was the only player to have a shot in the remaining five or so minutes of the half as both sides went into the changing rooms with all to play for in the second half.
Unfortunately, the second half would ultimately prove to not be as entertaining as the first, but both teams would still have very good chances. The first chance of the second half came when Forster had a headed attempt fly over the bar after he got on the end of a Christie cross.
The game continued to be fiercely contested by both sides in the middle of the park, but chances were few and far between until the dying embers. Whitley made changes, bringing on Shane Donaghey and Thomas Wilson as they searched for a much-needed winner.
Both sides had their best chance of the game in the last few minutes, the first of which fell to Guisborough as Cole Kiernan spun the Bay defence inside out before smashing an effort off the crossbar, which look destined to be a goal. The Bay then had the chance to take all three points in the 95th minute after a clear penalty claim was brushed away from the referee. The ball then fell to Parker for a first-time volley, which he sent into the car park despite having no pressure around him.
The full-time whistle was blown, and it was a hard-fought point to add to the Bay’s tally for the season so far. I think most can agree that a draw was probably a fair result but if any side was going to snatch something it would have probably been Whitley due to the beautiful one touch passes and flicks to open space. Unfortunately, the Bay were unable to replicate this level of intuitive play in and around the opposition penalty area as passages of play repeatedly broke down due to misplaced passing. The scoreline could have looked very different but for this.
Thank you to everyone who came and supported the lads and HOWAY THE BAY!!!
WHITLEY BAY: Gladstone, Brady, Christie, Forster, Williams, Kanda, Djalo (Wilson 78mins), Parker, Sharpe, Thompson, Paterson (Donaghey 74mins)
Referee: Evan Culling
Assistant Referees: Emma Hunt and Kenny Beer
Attendance: 423
