WHITLEY BAY 2 NORTH SHIELDS 1
Saturday 19th April 2025
Match report by Julian Tyley
Whitley completed their season in the most dramatic style possible, with a 90th minute winner against local rivals North Shields in front of more than 1,000 fans at Hillheads.
The North Tyneside derby is the most eagerly awaited fixture for both sides and it attracted by far the biggest Northern League crowd of the season, creating a tremendous atmosphere in the ground.
Ahead of kick off there was a presentation to goalkeeper Dan Gladstone who was playing his 100th game for the club.
With Mackenzie Sharpe still suspended, Jay Bates made two changes to the side beaten at Penrith the previous week, Graham Williams and Kyle Cockburn returning to the starting line up with Regan Paterson and Alfa Djalo dropping to the bench.
When the game got underway, Whitley were soon into their stride forcing the Robins onto the back foot. The first chance came the sixth minute, when Jake Forster’s ball inside the 18 yard box found Lucas Lowery clear on goal but Shields goalkeeper Alex Curran, who had an outstanding game for the visitors, stuck out a foot to deflect the ball beyond the far post with Cockburn only able to poke it into the side netting.
Six minutes later, Cockburn drove a 20 yard shot just too high and with Whitley continuing in the ascendency, Lowery was twice close to breaking clear but on both occasions was caught narrowly offside.
Pace down both wings was troubling Shields and when Cockburn was played through just past the quarter hour, Curran pushed his shot wide. Whitley looked hungrier for the ball and were stronger in challenges, consistently winning the midfield battles.
The visitors were forced into two changes in the opening half hour with both Darren Lough and Dean Holmes picking up injuries.
A mistake in defence by Coppen allowed Cockburn to break clear into the box but his shot across the face of the Shields goal went just beyond the far post.
Bay went close shortly before the interval when Forster’s header from a free kick was only just off target but the assistant’s flag was raised for offside.
Little had been seen of Shields in attack with the Bay defence holding strong. A shot from former Bay striker Lewis Suddick was off target but deep into added time, Gladstone made his first save of the afternoon leaping to fingertip an effort from Coppen over the bar following a free kick not far outside the 18 yard box.
Although the game remained goal less at the interval, Whitley had been comfortably on top throughout the first half.
Shields began the second half in much more positive fashion and for the first time in the game began to pose a threat on the Bay goal. A free kick 20 yards out on the right was twice blocked by determined Whitley defending and the visitors were having a greater share of possession than previously.
Neither goalkeeper was being seriously troubled and while Shields won a number of corners, they were unable to capitalise as Scott and Williams effectively marshalled the Bay defence. A vital interception by Robbie Christie pushed the ball away from McCamley and into Gladstone’s hands as the winger tried to break clear, but the deadlock was finally broken with 13 minutes left when Nick Cassidy’s perfectly executed 25 yard free kick flew beyond the reach of Gladstone into the top corner of the net to put North Shields ahead.
Whitley’s response showed the true character of the side as rather than allowing their heads to drop, they redoubled their efforts and it was not long before they forced two corners in quick succession. Lowery’s second flag kick, from the left was floated into the box with immediate appeals for handball. The assistant referee signalled a penalty and after a brief consultation, referee Liam Batie awarded the spot kick. The decision was fiercely disputed by the Shields players with Euan Anderson shown a red card. Heated protests to the assistant continued and this led to Suddick being sin-binned. In the meantime, another Shields player was scuffing up the penalty spot, an offence that went unnoticed amid the other incidents.
When calm was restored after a lengthy delay, Callum Larmouth shrugged off the pressure of the moment and confidently struck the penalty powerfully into the top corner of the net, giving Curran no chance.
Back on level terms and urged on by their increasingly vociferous fans, Whitley pressed forward and won a free kick on the left when McCamley made a rash challenge on substitute Regan Paterson, a foul that earned the Shields winger a yellow card.
Larmouth played the ball deep into the six yard box where it was headed back into the goalmouth by Forster where Djalo, another Bay substitute lashed a first time effort at goal only to be denied by another excellent block from Curran. However, the keeper could only push the ball out as far as Scott whose header reached Kanda who gleefully headed home from close range.
The crowd, the vast majority of whom were Bay fans, erupted with delight while the players celebrated joyfully on the pitch.
The game was now entering a lengthy period of stoppage time, so it was not yet won and there was still time for a final twist. Shields pushed forward and won a free kick in an attacking position but it came to nothing, while in a quick break upfield, two of Bay’s late substitutes, Luke Parkinson who was making his final appearance and teenager Thomas Wilson combined to set up an opportunity for Paterson who must have thought he had sealed victory with a third goal only to be denied by a superb block by Curran with his feet.
The final whistle was not long delayed as Whitley claimed a narrow but well deserved victory over their local rivals which left the sides level on points at the end of the season though Shields edged 8th place with a marginally better goal difference.
That was of little concern to the Bay fans who were able to celebrate blue and white bragging rights after one of the most exciting climaxes to a season for many years.
WHITLEY BAY: Gladstone, Brady(Djalo 77mins) Christie, Stewart, Scott, Williams, Cockburn (Paterson 61mins) Kanda, Forster(Parkinson 90+5mins), Larmouth, Lowery(Wilson 90mins)
Substitute not used: Parker
Caution: Stewart
Referee: Liam Batie
Attendance: 1029
Bay Fencing & Landscaping man of the match : Callum Larmouth
Match photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcqweb/albums/72177720325198527/
