GUISBOROUGH TOWN 3 WHITLEY BAY 2
Saturday 28th September 2024
Report by Julian Tyley
The final score tells only part of the story of a quite remarkable game of football in North Yorkshire.
Whitley travelled to Guisborough with a threadbare squad as a result of injuries, illness and suspensions, and this led to manager Jay Bates naming himself among the substitutes.
The Priorymen had appointed a new manager, Steve Connolly, in midweek and the players were obviously out to impress their new boss.
They certainly did that in the opening ten minutes as they scored three times, finding the net with deadly efficiency.
The first goal came with less than two minutes played when a free kick from near the left corner flag was headed back into the goalmouth where Jason Blackburn headed home just inside the back post.
Two minutes later a long range effort from Davis just cleared the bar but that was only a temporary relief for Whitley as inside the fifth minute, Blackburn raced away down the right before crossing into the box where Kurtis Howes found plenty of space to slot the ball beyond Gladstone to double the lead.
In Whitley’s first break downfield Michael Baxter crossed for Thomas Wilson whose effort flew just over the bar.
Guisborough added a third goal in the tenth minute when Howes burst forward down the left wing and his cross behind the Bay defence left Blackburn with a simple tap in.
After this disastrous start Whitley looked shell-shocked and a record margin of defeat looked possible, such was the ease with which they were being cut apart.
With 20 minutes played, their plight appeared to get even worse when goalkeeper Dan Gladstone went down with a neck injury and despite treatment, was unable to continue. Fortunately Whitley had a substitute keeper Richie Crawford, on the bench and the former Seaton Delaval man took over in goal for his debut.
Out of adversity comes opportunity and the stoppage in play gave the Whitley players a chance to regroup while Crawford was in a position to show his ability and prove his worth to the squad.
Barely two minutes after play resumed, Whitley won a corner on the right and when Donaghey played the ball low to the edge of the box, captain Michael Scott struck a shot beyond keeper Robert Dean into the far corner of the Guisborough net. It gave the Bay a much needed lift and from this point on their confidence steadily grew.
With 32 minutes played, an excellent run down the right by Matty Griggs saw the ball put behind for a corner which was safely cleared.
When play switched back to the other end, Crawford was tested for the first time when a corner was played in but his handling under pressure from the tall Guisborough side was immaculate.
There were few alarms in the remaining minutes of the half and at the interval the home side retained their 3-1 advantage, leaving Whitley with a lot to do to get anything from the game.
Just five minutes into the second half, the one controversial incident of the game occurred when Josh Stewart played a long ball out of defence and when it cleared the first defender, Kyle Cockburn raced onto the ball but barely a yard outside the penalty area he was sent sprawling by a very poor challenge from Bradley Mills. It looked to many like a sending off offence as he appeared to be clear on goal but the referee only showed a yellow card. Cockburn struggled to recover from the injury he suffered and had to be replaced about ten minutes later.
Meanwhile, the free kick following the foul, was firmly struck by Baxter but Dean dived low to his left to push the ball around the post.
A double substitution shortly after the hour saw Finlay Parker, signed just ahead of the Blue Star game in midweek, make his second appearance in place of Cockburn while Ryan Higgins took the place of Donaghey.
Whitley were beginning to look the better side, having more of the possession, passing more accurately and looking a lot more solid in defence than in the opening stages of the game.
George Brady fired in a shot that was too high but there was better luck to follow in the 74th minute when Baxter, now out on the left after starting as a right back, turned inside his marker before unleashing a cross cum shot from 25 yards that flew over Dean, deceiving the keeper as it dipped just under the bar.
Quite remarkably Whitley were now right back in the game and it was the home side who were under pressure.
It led to a tense final 15 minutes with Whitley pushing for an equaliser while Guisborough looked to counter and get a fourth goal to make the game safe.
Michael Scott, leading by example, burst forward with 8 minutes left but was tripped just outside the box. Understandably following his previous success, Baxter stepped up to take the free kick but this time his effort flew high and wide landing in the car park.
Half chances came and went at both ends but Whitley looked the likelier with the ball more often than not in the Guisborough half. However, despite five minutes added time, they could not find a way through and the home side claimed the victory.
It had been a gallant fightback by Whitley who never let their heads drop but in the end the three early goals they conceded proved decisive. Debutant Crawford had a good 70 minutes in goal and looks to be a very capable deputy and the team spirit throughout the squad could not be faulted.
WHITLEY BAY: Gladstone(Crawford 23mins), Baxter, Brady, Forster, Stewart, Scott, Wilson, Kanda, Cockburn(Parker 63mins), Griggs, Donaghey(Higgins 63mins)
Substitute not used: J Bates
Cautions: None
Referee: Colin Royal
Attendance: 204
