WHITLEY BAY 3-3 EASINGTON COLLIERY
Saturday 8th August 2026
Report by Jensen Coleman
Following two straight league defeats without scoring, Bay looked to get back to winning ways - and back on the scoresheet - via the FA Cup’s Extra Preliminary Round, where they hosted fellow Northern League Division One side Easington Colliery. Looking for a response to Tuesday’s disappointing performance against Horden, Jay Bates welcomed Mackenzie Sharpe and Jake Forster back to the starting lineup, with Alfie Livermore dropping to the bench and Jake Jensen missing from the match day squad entirely.
The visitors would be first to threaten an opener from a corner, but Colliery captain Thomas Bott’s header was well off target at the far post. A mix-up in the Whitley Bay defence also saw Kevin Pearn curl just wide from just inside the box early on.
Up the other end, Sharpe had an excellent chance to break the deadlock after being put through by Kieren Aplin, but the Bay striker completely missed the mark and somehow - with visiting goalkeeper James Hopkinson quite far out of his goal - volleyed the ball well over the bar.
Colliery would get the opener in the 12th minute, as Luca Shilling was outmuscled by Daniel Maw on the ball and the latter raced forward. Maw then played the ball into the box, only for Graham Williams’s clearance to reach the feet of Pearn, who squeezed a decent effort underneath a diving Preston Leech; a goal that the visitors’s start had deserved (0-1).
Bay had struggled to really get going at this point, and as a result, Jay Bates introduced Hugo McNicol in place of Graham Williams. Easington, however, continued to look the better team and almost had a second to their name, only for Aiden Stanton’s shot to be dragged wide.
Whitley almost had a leveller through a free kick from Aplin, but his deflected effort landed straight into the arms of Hopkinson. They would, however, get that leveller with 22 minutes gone as Aplin’s decent cross in from the left hand side found the head of Sharpe, who directed the ball in at the near post past Hopkinson - Bay’s first goal in three games in all competitions (1-1).
Both sides had chances to take - or retake the lead - shortly after, as Luca Shilling’s strike from just inside the box whistled just past the far post, while Pearn’s long-range effort flew past Leech’s far corner for the visitors.
Bay found themselves in front in the 28th minute through a quite brilliant goal from Sharpe, as the striker found space and chipped the ball delicately over outrunning goalkeeper Hopkinson from 18 yards; a focal point had returned to the lineup and certainly made his mark (2-1).
Despite Bay’s lead, Colliery’s Pearn looked a consistent threat for the visitors. However, his latest effort was saved comfortably by Leech. Unfortunately, Leech could do nothing about Colliery dragging themselves level in the 35th minute, when Aiden Stanton steadied himself just inside the box and tucked the ball past the Whitley goalkeeper (2-2).
With less than 10 minutes to go, Sharpe was shown a straight red card for violent conduct after an altercation with Easington left-back Dane Eltringham, who could be considered lucky to only receive a yellow card and all of a sudden, the hosts were a man light. That didn’t stop Bay from trying to retake the lead as Aplin’s lovely through-ball found McNicol down the left hand side of the box. The latter’s finish, however, blasted straight into the side-netting.
As the second half got underway, Aplin found himself taking yet another free kick from 25 yards out and looking to get the better of Hopkinson, but the shot was tame and landed straight in the arms of the Colliery goalkeeper.
The visitors then took advantage of being a man up by retaking the lead in the 48th minute when a good cross in from the right found Stanton at the near post who headed home past Leech; the worst possible start to the second 45 for Bay, now a man down and a goal down (2-3).
Colliery may have had the lead, but Bay continued to create as Mikel Thompson showed soon after. Unfortunately, the Bay winger’s effort went well wide at the far post. Luca Shilling then tried his luck from range minutes after, but James Hopkinson was equal to the shot, collecting it comfortably. Another free kick from Aplin found substitute Alan Achuo with 20 minutes to go. Unfortunately for the young defender, his header missed the mark completely and flew well wide of goal.
Bay did find another equaliser on the 73rd minute, when George Brady found some space down the right hand side following a throw-in and delivered a pinpoint ball in towards Aplin, who headed home past Hopkinson to level the game again (3-3).
Hugo McNicol had a great opportunity to put Bay in the 93rd minute, but missed his cue with a wayward header from a free kick. Colliery substitute Brad Hird was also put through one-on-one with Leech a minute later, only for the Easington No.12 to blast his effort over the bar.
In the end, the two sides will go through all the motions again on Wednesday (12th August) at Easington Colliery’s stadium after an enthralling game of FA Cup football which had it all. Bay do remain without a win in three games in all competitions now but have a second chance of securing progression through to the Preliminary Round in four days time. Will you be there?
Whitley Bay: Leech, Brady, Aplin, Forster (Achuo, 70’), Scott [C], Williams (McNicol, 15’), Magalhaes, Shilling, Sharpe, Thompson (Livermore, 57’), Nkunku ( McCarthy, 90’)
Caution(s): Sharpe (37’, sent off), Magalhaes (97’), Livermore (97’)
Attendance: 407
Match photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcqweb/albums/72177720335060497/
My Personal Player-Of-The-Match: Nathan Nkunku - Despite coming off injured in the second half, the Bay forward looked a ray of light for the hosts throughout, racing forward constantly with the willingness to make opportunities for the team to score.
