EASINGTON COLLIERY 1 WHITLEY BAY 2
Saturday 4th October 2025
Report by Jensen Coleman
Following their 3-0 win over Northallerton Town last time out - and a run of three straight home games in all competitions - the Bay were back on the road to Easington Colliery. Manager Jay Bates clearly enjoyed the impact that Kieren Aplin had in that win, and handed him a start as a reward as next to no changes were made to the starting lineup.
The hosts certainly looked for a fast start against the league leaders as Liam Adamson’s fine strike was saved well by Mauro Asikaogu after just 20 seconds on the clock. However, it was then the turn of Callum Larmouth to test Colliery stopper Keaton Marrs, only for the moderately strong winds of Storm Amy to drag the Bay number 10’s effort well over the bar.
Layton Campbell also looked bright early on, seeing his through ball tucked home by Mackenzie Sharpe in the 9th minute, but assistant referee Ellie Mason’s flag was already up for offside, denying Bay an early lead. Two further efforts from Larmouth - including a free kick that almost trickled in from forty yards - were prevented from hitting the back of the net by Marrs.
With 20 minutes gone, the Bay finally took the lead when Mikel Thompson slotted a great through ball to Kieren Aplin, who applied the finishing touch through Marrs’ legs to put the league leaders into a deserved lead. Colliery looked to reply in kind, however, with Dane Eltringham’s fierce low effort being kept out brilliantly by Asikaogu from about 20 yards out.
The game soon began to fall apart for Jay Bates’ visitors following that strike from Eltringham, as Jack Errington was taken off injured to be replaced by Graham Williams. But after plenty of chances came and went for either side, a bigger blow for the Bay, as Campbell was sent off seven minutes from half-time for an alleged off-the-ball altercation with Eltringham. Bay were now down to ten.
And the first half collapse was complete in first half stoppage time when Colliery got the equaliser their pressure had warranted as Liam Wright’s low cross was steered into his own net by Bay right-back Josh Stewart. Aplin was close to restoring the visitors’ lead soon after, but was denied by Marrs.
The hosts dominated the opening minutes of the second 45 with Wright and Eltringham both missing chances to give Colliery the lead, thanks to a couple of fine saves from Mauro Asikaogu.
Bay were certainly on the ropes at this point, but in the 58th minute, a moment of magic restored the lead for Jay Bates’ side. After Kieren Aplin was brought down just outside the box, a free kick was awarded. Aplin then stepped up to defy the ferocity of Storm Amy’s winds and fire a cracking strike into the far corner past a diving Keaton Marrs - this is now Aplin’s third goal in two games across all competitions.
Despite Aplin’s goal, Colliery continued to dominate proceedings with Dane Eltringham especially persistent in finding the hosts’ second equaliser of the match. The Colliery number 11 continuously probing with multiple chances but he was thwarted by another bunch of vital saves from Asikaogu.
The last clear cut effort of the game came courtesy of Bay substitute Alfie Livermore who drove down the left hand side before cutting inside and curling a quite wonderful effort towards goal, but it came back off the top of the bar instead.
Good news for the visiting fans was that Aplin’s diamond of a free kick - his second of the game - meant that all three points would be heading back to Tyneside. A real test for Jay Bates’ men, as Errington went off injured and Campbell was dismissed, but the character and resilience prevailed on a windy afternoon for the league leaders. Aplin no doubt putting in a man-of-the-match performance as his two goals meant Bay stayed top of the pile.
WHITLEY BAY: Asikaogu, Stewart, Thompson (Christie, 57’), Forster, Scott (C), Errington (Williams, 25’), Larmouth, Kanda, Sharpe (Achuo, 89’), Aplin, Campbell
Red Card: Campbell (38’)
Caution: Mackenzie Sharpe
Referee: Kevin McKitterick
Assistant Referees: Ellie Mason & Kian Walton
Attendance: 150
