NEWCASTE FLOORING NORTHUMBERLAND SENIOR CUP 1st ROUND
WHITLEY BAY 1 HEATON STANNNGTON 1 (3-5 ON PENALTIES)
Tuesday 1st October 2024
Report by Harry Salkeld
After a hard fought yet disappointing result away at Guisborough, the Bay were back at Hillheads Park for Northumberland Senior Cup action against Heaton Stannington. Our visitors, now in the division above, enjoyed a fantastic last season, yet we were only one of few teams who remained undefeated against the Stan on both occasions, where we showed great defensive stability and amazing threat on the counter-attack!
*New signing Mackenzie Sharpe made his debut in attack while goalkeeper Richie Crawford started his first game after coming off the bench on Saturday to replace the injured Dan Gladstone. Finlay Parker also made his first start in a Bay side still heavily depleted by injuries.
The game started with Heaton Stannington, who had a clear tactical kick-off routine. They overloaded the left side of the pitch with four players but the long ball to them, following a pass back to the goalkeeper, proved ineffective.
The visitors had an early chance as they won a free kick on the right-hand side of the pitch. The resulting cross reached the visitor’s Shay Richardson whose effort, off his thigh, went just wide of the far post. Minutes later and a Heaton forward was given a glorious chance at goal which he rushed, and instead of placing it into a corner, was sent straight down the throat of the Bay keeper.
Heaton were having most of the ball in the early stages and the Bay were struggling to get out of their own half. Despite this, the Bay continued to defend well and kept their shape to hold off any threat at goal. Minutes later, and Heaton had a promising counter-attack which petered out quickly when a dummy by a forward confused the others around him, seeing the ball gently roll out of play to the delight of the Bay defence.
The first half continued with Heaton Stan having most of the ball but not creating much with it, sending both teams into the break level.
The second half started, and the Bay were a team transformed! Lovely moves and one-twos were being played. Whatever Jay Bates said to the lads at half-time clearly paid dividends as the Bay won a penalty in the 49th minute after some lovely, intricate play. Thompson was the player fouled as he skipped into the penalty area with pace and guile. Larmouth stepped up to take the penalty and with ice in his veins slotted the ball into the back of the net. The penalty was hit with so much power and precision that the keeper, despite diving the right way, got nowhere near it.
Unsurprisingly, Heaton started to apply more pressure than ever before as a defender smashed a shot at goal which Crawford spilled, but finally collected.
The Bay had a great chance to double their lead as Larmouth had a shot go just wide of the left post as the Stan keeper was caught on his toes.
The visitors, in dire need of a goal, adopted a long ball tactic, which the Bay were coping with really well, nullifying any threat. Heaton continued to have efforts at goal but none of them were of any real threat.
The time ticked on, and the Bay were hanging on in. However, in the 89th minute the Bay’s hard work and efforts were crushed as substitute, Shepherd, came in at the back post to header home a late equaliser.
Penalties were on the horizon and minutes later the game ended, sending it to the dreaded shootout.
The Bay had lost all three of their last penalty shootouts, so the signs were worrying from a blue and white point of view. The signs became even more worrying as the visitors got the statistical advantage of starting the shootout.
Number 14 stepped up to the penalty spot first and he slotted his pen into the bottom left despite Crawford diving the correct way. Larmouth was next and he scored once again, sending it the same way as in the game. The next two pens were both converted and tensions, unsurprisingly, started to rise. Heaton’s next penalty was perfect, it was straight into the bottom left corner giving the keeper no chance. Up next was Forster who to the shock of everyone in Hillheads, skied his penalty way over the bar, giving the Stan the numerical advantage in the shootout. Heaton continued their perfect pens as they converted to put the shootout score at 4-2. Mikel Thompson loomed over the spot knowing, that if he missed, the Bay would lose the tie. Thompson coolly slotted the ball straight into the bottom right corner. Heaton Stannington’s Konnor Lamb stepped up to win the shootout with a cool penalty.
Weeks after penalty heartbreak in the Vase, the Bay had been crushed by the same pain again. Despite the frustrating result, there were many positives to take out the game. We executed a perfect game plan, defended brilliantly as a unit. We showed great threat on the counter-attack and let’s not forget, we did this all against a team from the division above. Great performance from the lads and we go again this Saturday.
WHITLEY BAY: Crawford, Brady, Christie, Forster, Stewart, Scott, Parker, Kanda, Sharpe, Thompson, Larmouth
Cautions: Thompson, Larmouth
Referee: Joel Tilmouth
Attendance: 137
Bay Fencing and Landscaping Man of the match: Josh Stewart
