BROOKS MILESON MEMORIAL LEAGUE CUP 3rd ROUND
WEST AUCKLAND TOWN 4 WHITLEY BAY 1
Tuesday 10th March 2026
Report by Jensen Coleman
A week on from their 2-1 triumph at Crook Town, Bay were back on the road, this time in the Brooks Mileson Memorial League Cup where West Auckland Town were the hosts. Jay Bates’s men were no doubt looking for revenge for their 5-1 defeat back in November. However, with the play-offs in mind for both teams in the domestic campaign, progression in the League Cup could be considered far from a priority. With regards to team news, Josh Stewart, Kieren Aplin and Mackenzie Sharpe were both dropped to the bench, with Alan Achuo, Gildo Da Silva and Nathan Nkunku handed starts. Robbie Christie was also re-introduced to the beginning XI.
Bay would have the first chance of the game fall their way, with Callum Larmouth firing a decent effort from range towards goal, only for the shot to be blocked by Oscar Eckley-Aldsworth just inside the box. Down Bay’s end, however, both Craig Moody and Jaedon Faulkner saw opportunities come to nothing for the hosts; Moody striking over from close range, while Faulkner was denied at the near post twice by Mauro Asikaogu minutes later.
Come the 20th minute, however, West Auckland would get the opener their dominance deserved, albeit in bizarre circumstances. A cross in by Adam Mitchell was headed towards goal by Eckley-Aldsworth, with Asikaogu thinking he had saved the ball from going over the line. However, the Bay goalkeeper had carried the ball past the goal-line, and after a discussion with his linesman on the side, the referee awarded the goal (1-0).
The home side could have added to that advantage six minutes later, but Leo Robinson’s shot on goal drifted just wide of the far post instead.
With what would really prove the last real chance of the first half, Bay found the equaliser. About 30 yards from goal, Jack Errington lobbed the ball into the path of the onrushing Da Silva, who turned on a sixpence before sweeping the ball past a diving Zach Wilkinson into the bottom corner, levelling the game at the break (1-1).
Jay Bates’s side could have gone in front at the start of the second half, but Larmouth couldn’t divert Mechack Kanda’s ball into the corner from close-range. Up the other end, Cieran Jackson saw a decent effort whistle just over the bar.
The hosts would find themselves back in front just five minutes into the second 45 in scrappy circumstances, as a cross in from the right hand side saw Alfie Steel’s overhead strike bobble in the bottom corner past Asikaogu to put West Auckland back in front (2-1).
Their dominance of the game continued in earnest, with Cobi Jones sending a well-struck shot just over the bar, Mitchell’s free kick whistling just past the near post and Jackson curling a great effort over from range. Moody also firing wide at the far post in what was a commanding spell for the home side.
It was effectively game over 16 minutes from time, as the hosts added a third through Robinson, who smashed the ball home from the edge of the box after the ball was cut back to him from the right hand side leaving the Bay defence at sea (3-1).
After seeing a chance of his own blocked by his own teammate following the third, Moody would get his goal and in doing so making for the hosts as he curled a great strike into the far corner to make sure of West Auckland’s progression into the fourth round of the League Cup (4-1).
Bay may have been crashing out, but the attacking intent was still there until the full-time whistle; substitutes Mackenzie Sharpe, Kieren Aplin and Josh Stewart all seeing chances not come to fruition.
In the end, Bay exit the Brooks Mileson Memorial League Cup with a whimper. On a incredibly windy night, Jay Bates’s side were again blown away by West Auckland Town, who showed exactly why they were right in the race for a play-off place in the domestic league campaign. Gildo Da Silva’s goal proving a consolation in the end for the Seasiders, who must now focus on sealing their play-off place, starting with a visit from rock-bottom West Allotment Celtic this Saturday (March 14th).
Whitley Bay: Asikaogu, Achuo (Aplin, 61’), Christie, Kanda, Scott [C], Errington (Williams, 74’), Larmouth, Shilling (Stewart, 81’), Nkunku (Sharpe, 66’), Thompson, Da Silva (Forster, 75’)
Caution: Shilling (75’)
Attendance: 66
Referee: Lewis Hardy
