WHITLEY BAY 3 KNARESBOROUGH TOWN 0
ISUZU FA VASE 2nd QUALIFYING ROUND
Saturday 20th September 2025
Report by Harry Salkeld
After the first league loss of the season midweek, away at Guisborough, the Bay’s attention quickly turned to the FA Vase. Nothing quite beats an FA Vase game in the eyes of the ardent supporters at Hillheads. The Bay’s ‘Road to Wembley’ started in Darlington with a thumping 4-0 win and Saturday’s game against Knaresborough Town was an opportunity to enter the first-round draw. Two changes were made to the side that travelled to Guisborough during the week, as Thompson came in for Christie and Larmouth replaced Shilling.
The game started with the Bay on the front foot and their early pressure paid dividends when a delectable through ball was played into the run of Mackenzie Sharpe, who played a first-time ball across the six-yard box where Layton Campbell was ready to pounce. Unsurprisingly, Campbell delivered the goods as he placed the ball into the back of the net. An outcome that becoming wonderfully familiar for him in a blue and white shirt.
The Bay’s dominance continued but no real chances were created until the 16th minute, when Livermore’s cross into the penalty area ultimately fell to Larmouth, whose well taken volley was blocked by a Knaresborough defender.
The game went a little dry on the chances front and Knaresborough grew into the game from a possession standpoint as well as having their first few chances of the half.
Seconds before halftime, Knaresborough had a golden opportunity as Aaron White ran through on goal, one-on-one with Asikaogu, but somehow sliced his effort wide of the right-hand post! It was a huge let off for the Bay and Jay Bates’ half-time team talk was in desperate need as the tempo of the game from 25-45 minutes had died down somewhat. After White’s missed chance, the half-time whistle was blown.
Fifteen minutes later, the game was swiftly back underway, but it would take until the 55th minute for the first chance as Larmouth’s effort flashed over the bar. About five minutes later, Mackenzie Sharpe had a shot from point blank range saved by Knaresborough’s keeper, but it should have been two for the Bay.
In the 69th minute, the Bay’s first change of the game was made as Sharpe made way for Aplin, meaning Campbell would now play through the middle, as witnessed in the dying embers against Shildon. It wasn’t going to take long for him to make an impact in that position either. In the 75th minute Thompson played a perfectly weighted through ball in between the structured Knaresborough defence, sending Campbell on his way. The Bay’s number seven calmly dribbled past the opponent’s goalkeeper and, once again, placed the ball into the box of the net. It was composure personified, and the Bay were looking good for the first-round draw with fifteen minutes remaining.
In the 82nd minute, the Bay made a double substitution as Luca Shilling and Christie came on for Forster and Livermore. Jay Bates’ changes wouldn’t take long to impact the game, once again, as in the 89th minute Luca Shilling accurately hit the ball into the bottom right corner, giving the keeper no chance, scoring his first goal for the club.
Shilling’s contribution was the last of the game as not long later, the whistle for full-time was blown. It was a tightly contested match at times, but much like the game against Shildon, the Bay players took their half time instructions from manager, Jay Bates, and took command of the game as the second half developed. As a result, the Bay are now in the first-round draw of the FA Vase and are one step closer to the highly anticipated final in Wembley.
WHITLEY BAY: Asikaogu, Stewart, Thompson(Harvey 89mins), Forster(Christie 82mins), Scott, Errington(Achuo 89mins), Campbell, Kanda, Sharpe(Aplin 69mins), Larmouth, Livermore(Shilling 82mins)
Referee: Lewis Chirnside
Attendance: 368
Cautions: None
Bay Landscaping North East Ltd Man of the match: Layton Campbell
