BLYTH TOWN 2-4 WHITLEY BAY
Tuesday 29th September 2026
Report by Jensen Coleman
Having secured back-to-back league wins for the first time this season against Whickham and Easington Colliery, Bay headed to Gateway Park looking to cap off an unbeaten September in the league by getting the better of relegated Blyth Town. With Mackenzie Sharpe unavailable, Nathan Nkunku filled the void in the number 9 position, while the rest of the starting XI remained unchanged from Saturday’s home win against 2nd-placed Colliery. One further boost came in the form of Josh Stewart’s return to the squad following injury; he started on the bench.
It would only take Nkunku eight minutes to justify why he was handed a start by Jay Bates. Jamie Storey raced down the right flank and laid the ball off to the Bay striker, who played a quick one-two with Alfie Livermore before curling a wonderful first-time effort into the far corner to open the scoring in a game Bay would go on to dictate throughout; Town goalkeeper Neil de Jesus left helpless (0-1).
Blyth Town striker Bailey Adamson also looked bright early on; his strike deflected wide and whistling just past the far post. Mauro Asikaogu also pulled off a superb save to keep out Liam Noble minutes after.
Lennox Magalhaes, scorer of the late winner on Saturday, could count himself unlucky not to put Bay two to the good when Nkunku’s pass deflected into the path of the midfielder who couldn’t get his shot away at the last minute. Magalhaes then almost returned the favour as Nkunku found himself through on goal, but his shot could only find the side netting. Livermore also fired a decent effort wide before Magalhaes was denied twice in quick succession by Town captain Joseph Gibson moments later.
With three minutes of the first half to go, the hosts equalised against the run of play as Luke Parker’s ball in from the left hand side of the box saw Ben Franklin’s header loop in over a diving Asikaogu to tie the game up at one a piece before half-time (1-1).
The second half was only three minutes old when Whitley re-established their lead as Magalhaes got down the left flank and laid the ball off to Livermore just inside the Town box. Livermore then cut inside and curled home a great strike past de Jesus, who got his fingers to the ball but couldn’t keep it out; Bay back in front and, on the balance of play, it was truly warranted (1-2).
Bay would add a third just before the hour mark, as a mistake in the midfield from Blyth saw Magalhaes race through on goal one-on-one with de Jesus before slotting the ball past the Town stopper to extend Whitley’s advantage further; a goal that player-of-the-match Magalhaes had thoroughly deserved thus far (1-3).
That advantage would be halved just minutes later. A great cross in from the left flank saw Adamson get his head onto the ball just inside the Whitley box and divert it past Asikaogu to give the hosts a glimmer of hope of getting something from this game (2-3).
In what was proving a jam-packed second 45, Jay Bates’ men sealed all three points for good this time with just under twenty minutes to go. After Nkunku held the ball up well down the left flank, his pin-point ball found Magalhaes racing through on goal before the latter chipped the ball over de Jesus to finish off the hosts’ hopes of getting anything from the game (2-4).
Whitley’s hosts were down but not completely out just yet; Andy Burn’s fierce strike from range proved that, but it was ultimately collected comfortably by Asikaogu. Bailey Adamson was also denied twice by Asikaogu and Jack Chapman respectively in the closing moments of the contest.
Bay substitute Jamie Clark had a great opportunity to add what would have been a rare fifth goal for the visitors with ten minutes to go, but the forward’s shot was tame enough for de Jesus to sweep up with ease.
A dominant win at Gateway Park wraps up an unbeaten September for Bay as far as league form is concerned. After winning just one of their first nine league games, Whitley have picked up 14 points from a possible 18, a haul that now sees Bay enter October in the top half of the Northern League Division One table.
Three straight wins could turn to four when now 10th-placed Bay travel to Crook Town - who sit 12th - this Saturday for a 3pm KO. October looks a big month for the boys, so get yourselves to Hillheads or on the road for the tough run ahead!
Whitley Bay: Asikaogu, J. Storey, Ashcroft (Brady, 52’), Power, Chapman, Scott [C], Magalhaes, Heywood, Nkunku, M. Storey (Clark, 75’), Livermore (Stewart, 73’)
Unused Substitutes: Errington, Achuo
Caution(s): Ashcroft (38’)
Attendance: 246
My Personal Player-of-the-Match: Lennox Magalhaes - Whitley’s last-minute hero on Saturday looked brighter than ever on a misty night in Blyth. The midfielder recorded two well-taken goals on the break and an assist for Livermore’s great strike early in the second half, but it was his all-round performance that would have put a big smile on Jay Bates’ face.
