WHITLEY BAY 1 PENRITH 0
Saturday 13th December 2025
Match report by Harry Salkeld
After a number of postponements, the Bay were set to play their first game in three weeks. Our opponents for the day, Penrith, came into this encounter in high-scoring form, having scored eleven goals in their last three matches. To counter this attacking threat, a strong back line was chosen by Jay Bates to start the match, with Mauro Asikaogu between the sticks.
The game started with a huge chance for the Bay as Kieren Aplin squared a ball across the six-yard box, towards Jake Forster who completely mis-hit the ball with the open goal at his mercy. The fans behind the goal were already jumping up as he was about to hit the ball, but the deadlock remained to be broken. The games fast and aggressive start continued as both sides were contributing to an end-to-end game that had fans on the edge of their seat.
The Bay had another big chance in the 9th minute as Forster set up Mackenzie Sharpe in the centre of the penalty area but the Bay’s number nine managed to miss the ball despite being given a heaven-sent opportunity from the right.
The Bay’s pressure continued, in the 14th minute Sharpe had a long-range effort which forced a fingertip save, in the top right corner, from Lewis Boyd which looked destined for goal. Minutes later, the visitors had their first real chance of the game from a long throw, but Mauro managed to pull of a phenomenal double save and then a goal line clearance removed any remaining threat to the Bay’s goal. Fans in Hillheads Park couldn’t believe how this game remained 0-0 due to the array of chances we had witnessed in the early stages.
In the 20th minute, Mauro pulled of another trademark save as James Bell ran through one-on-one, but the Bay’s number one made himself big and denied the effort. Minutes later, Kanda had an open header, 2 yards out from goal, but managed to glance his effort wide of the post despite towering over other competing Penrith defenders.
In the 29th minute, the Bay were on the counter attack as a through ball was played into Sharpe who magically dummied the ball, completely fooling his defender, and sending Alfie Livermore through on goal. The Bay’s number seven took a couple slick touches and managed to break the deadlock as he personified composure by slotting his effort into the bottom left corner.
Now that the deadlock had been broken, it felt as though the Bay could kick on and increase their advantage. Minutes after Livermore’s opener, Aplin had a volleyed attempt at the back post which he mishit despite acres of space and all the time in the world. Then Errington had a long-range effort go just wide in the 36th minute.
The half ended with the Bay having the bigger chances as Errington crashed a close-range header over the bar and Livermore had another one-on-one which didn’t amount to anything as he attempted to chip Boyd.
The Bay went into the break with a marginal lead to the surprise of many as they had many outstanding chances. Mauro had however made a number of monstrous saves to stave off the Penrith attack.
Unfortunately, the beginning of the second half completely contrasted what was seen, from an entertainment viewpoint, in the first half as chances were few and far between. The chance of the half fell to the Bay on the stroke of the hour mark as Boyd made a mistake, outside of his goal, which the Bay didn’t fully capitalise on.
The Bay then made changes as Da Silva and Nathan Nkunku came on to offer their technical flair, and palpable energy.
Chances remained limited for either side in the second half as the two halves of this game were like watching night and day. With approximately 15 minutes left on the clock, Larmouth crashed an effort towards the bottom left corner which Boyd palmed away from goal.
In the 85th minute, Mauro made another impressive save to maintain the Bay’s slender advantage and in the 90th minute, James Best delivered the biggest scare of the game as his free kick crashed off the post. It would have been a heartbreaking ending but after so many missed opportunities, there was the niggling feeling that it could happen.
The Bay managed to hold on until the end and won a deserved three points. It was a game of two highly contrasting halves as the first was steeped in entertainment, action, and big chances. However, the second period was the polar opposite, with midfield battles taking predominance. Despite this, it was a great game which saw the Bay move up to third in the table.
Our next home game is on Boxing Day against local rivals, North Shields. Your support for that game is needed more than ever as a winning derby would be the ideal Christmas present.
WHITLEY BAY: Asikaogu, Thompson, Christie, Forster, Scott, Errington, Livermore(Achuo 82mins), Kanda, Sharpe(Nkunku 72mins), Larmouth, Aplin(Da Silva 63mins)
Substitutes not used: Shilling, Williams
Cautions: Errington, Sharpe, Thompson
Referee: Ben Higgott
Attendance: 267
Bay Fencing North East Ltd Man of the match Mauro Asikaogu
Match photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcqweb/albums/
