ISUZU FA VASE 1st QUALIFYING ROUND
LONGRIDGE TOWN 2 WHITLEY BAY 3
Saturday 24th August
Match report by Julian Tyley
Over the years, Whitley Bay fans have witnessed dramatic and nail biting FA Vase ties at venues across the country and this game in rural Lancashire will rank among the most nerve wracking.
Two goals down with 20 minutes to play, and having not scored in their previous four games, it was looking bleak for Jay Bates’ side even though their hosts had been reduced to ten men early in the second half.
However, a tremendous fight back saw them score three times, all excellent goals, to emerge victorious against a strong Longridge side who stood third in the North West Counties League having suffered just one defeat.
Ahead of the game, it was a tale of emergency goalkeepers with both sides missing their regular custodian. For Whitley, it resulted in a recall for Tom Kindley, who as a teenager was a member of the 2010 Vase winning side, while Longridge, with their first choice keeper injured, fielded youngster Aiden McKerney.
The game got underway in bright sunshine with Longridge playing with the strong wind at their backs.
The first chance came when Kyle Cockburn played Regan Paterson through but he could not get his attempt on target. Moments later at the other end Liam Atkinson drove a shot into the side netting.
Whitley were struggling to impose themselves and there was little flow to the game as passes frequently went astray but Longridge were looking the stronger side, winning the majority of challenges and they enjoyed more of the possession.
With 25 minutes played, the home side won a corner on the right. Roberts swung the ball into the goalmouth where Kindley punched clear but it was held up by the wind and was seized on by Dainty, who headed it back to the left edge of the box where Atkinson curled in a shot that took a deflection off a Bay defender and flew past Kindley into the corner of the net. It was hard on the keeper but on the balance of play it was a lead that the hosts deserved.
There was little to enthuse over for the remainder of the half, with play becoming rather scrappy as neither side managed to string passes together.
Two minutes before the interval, Whitley went close when a cross into the goalmouth from the Bay right was poked behind for a corner just ahead of the onrushing Kanda.
Larmouth then went close but could not get his effort on target while in the final action of the half, an in swinging Bay corner was palmed over the bar by McKerney.
The game changed just five minutes after the restart, when Cockburn was unceremoniously brought down by defender Connor Newton as he broke clear on the left, some 25 yards from goal and with a clear run on goal. It was a bad challenge which left the Bay winger needing treatment and referee Lee Corns had no hesitation in showing a red card, which judging by Newton’s reaction, was what he feared.
The resulting free kick was played just over the bar by Larmouth but despite being down to ten men, Longridge continued to pose a threat. A double substitution gave them fresh impetus and just past the hour, Smith played the ball to Roberts who blazed his shot over the bar. The warning signs were there for Whitley and in the 64th minute, sloppy play inside their own half resulted in them losing possession. Atkinson received the ball on the right and raced away down the wing. He cut in and hit a shot onto the far post but the rebound was met by Luke Smith who easily slotted the ball home to the delight of the home fans.
There seemed to be no way back for Whitley now but to their credit they kept their heads up and almost out of the blue got themselves back in the game.
Robbie Christie who had earlier tried a long range effort but without troubling the keeper repeated the attempt from more than 25 yards out, and with no apparent danger to the home goal fired a low shot past a startled defence into the bottom corner of the net. It was Whitley’s first goal in almost eight hours of football and it gave the team and supporters a huge boost.
Pushing forward with renewed belief, they nearly got another within a minute when a ball played across the face of goal was poked behind for a corner.
When the flag kick was knocked away from goal it reached substitute Thomas Wilson whose attempted cross was blocked by the arm of Roberts as he turned away from the ball.
The free kick from out near the left touch line was played perfectly into the goalmouth by Larmouth where Joe Robson headed home from close range to level the score. Two goals in rapid succession had completely changed the complexion of the game.
With their fans cheering them on Whitley pushed forward from the restart and an attempted clearance by McKerney fell for Larmouth whose lob back over the keeper was only narrowly off target.
With Forster now pushed up front in support, his through ball to Larmouth almost created another goalscoring opportunity but the shot was comfortably saved.
Both sides were searching for a winner rather than settling for the lottery of penalties, and playing against ten men this left gaps for Whitley to exploit in the home defence. Larmouth again had a chance after good approach work but his shot went just wide.
With seven minutes remaining, a mistake by Longridge substitute Bridges gave away possession just outside his own penalty area. Forster seized on the ball and played it square to Larmouth who struck it powerfully straight down the middle of the goal giving McKerney no chance as the net bulged. It was Larmouth’s first competitive goal in Bay colours and it was richly deserved after going close on so many occasions.
There was still time for Longridge to push for an equaliser but the Bay defence gave nothing away.
Late on, there were two lengthy stoppages when home players suffered head injuries following accidental clashes when going for high balls. Both needed treatment and had to be substituted.
Whitley played out time fairly comfortably, resisting late attacks from the home side, whose final effort came with a header that went wide of goal.
The final whistle was greeted with a mixture of delight and relief by the Bay players who had been made to work very hard for their victory by a good Longridge side who never gave up and battled away bravely despite being a man short for most of the second half.
This was a great fightback by Whitley with all the players deserving credit but special mention is due to keeper Tom Kindley who stepped in at short notice following a long absence from senior football and gave a good account of himself.
The reward for Whitley is another away tie, at Harrogate Railway Athletic in four weeks time.
WHITLEY BAY: Kindley, Stewart, Christie, Firster, Robson, Scott, Paterson(Brady 61mins) Kanda, Larmouth, Griggs(Wilson 71mins) Cockburn
Substitutes not used: Parkinson, Higgins
Cautions: None
Referee: Lee Corns
Attendance: 106
