WHITLEY BAY 2 BORO RANGERS 2
Saturday 9th November 2024
Report by Harry Salkeld
After a thumping 4-0 win on the road at Tow Law, the Bay were back at Hillheads Park to play Boro Rangers, who came into this game sitting in the highly respectable position of 3rd. Two changes were made to the Bay eleven that beat Tow Law, Mikel Thompson was replaced by Kyle Cockburn while Mechack Kanda returned from suspension.
The game started and the Bay had visibly not clicked into gear. There were powerless, lethargic passes being played, inviting Boro Rangers pressure which was very quickly capitalised upon after a Gladstone miskick. The poor pass fell to Stuart Rose of Boro Rangers, who skilfully curled his shot into the bottom left corner with a first-time finish. Rose’s early goal sent Hillheads into a state of shock and the Bay players had definitely received a much needed wake up call.
Minutes later, and Larmouth had a shot from the edge of the area which was parried as far as Sharpe whose rebound effort hit off the post, finding its way into the keeper’s grateful grasp as he lay on the floor. It looked destined for the goal, but luck was not on the number 9’s side. In the 9th minute, Larmouth had another shot from outside the box which tested the keeper once again.
In the 13th minute, Larmouth had a powerful effort from a free kick, which was spilled by the keeper, but he quickly made amends before a Bay player could get onto the end of the loose ball. The Bay were applying all the pressure since the goal and another chance came when Djalo smacked a one on one effort off the top of the bar and into the allotments.
You could feel a Bay equaliser but, unfortunately, the visitors second attack of the game led to their second goal. Lamb’s deflected shot found its way over Gladstone and eventually crawled into the far-right corner.
Despite the scoreline, the crowd were trying their best to urge the lads on as you could feel a goal was so close due to their brilliant play throughout the first twenty minutes.
The dynamic of the game was soon about to change as Djalo was fouled, earning the free kick for the Bay. However, the situation escalated as James Dillon violently and aggressively hurt Sharpe. The referee initially gave a yellow card as he was disrespectfully swarmed by Boro players. However, the referee spoke to his assistant, who had the best view, and the decision was made to send Dillon off.
Just before the interval, a cross was played into Djalo who beat the keeper for it, leaving him with an open goal to aim at. Djalo, with no doubt in his mind, smashed the ball into the back of the net with no questions asked.
Hope was restored for the Bay as they went into the break one goal down despite the fact, they had created more chances and played better football.
No real chances were created in the opening fifteen minutes of the second half as the only event to write home about was another red card. The Bay no longer had the numerical advantage as Sharpe received a second yellow for an unnecessary foul high up the pitch. It was in an ineffective area of the pitch and needlessly threw the momentum back in Rangers’ direction.
The first big chance of the second half fell to Kanda who cut inside and had a left foot effort brilliantly blocked by a defender’s shoulder. Minutes later and Kanda played a magical ball through to Larmouth but the keeper brilliantly denied his effort at goal.
In the 75th minute, the Bay won a penalty despite there being protestations that the foul was committed outside the penalty area. Djalo stepped up, looking for his second for the afternoon, and with no hesitation smashed it into the back of the net. It was a proper penalty which the keeper had no chance of denying. After a penalty miss against Penrith and a cup shootout exit against Heaton Stan, the Bay’s penalty fortunes had finally favoured them as the crowd held their breath.
Despite the Bay’s late pressure, a winner never came as the opposition clearly took their time on goal kicks as the clock ran down to their delight. The points were shared despite the superior number of shots, chances and overall quality of play by the Bay, not dictating the ultimate scoreline.
It was a thoroughly entertaining encounter which had everyone in Hillheads on the edge of their seat or, in the standing areas, on the tip of their toes. The game felt like another frustrating and slightly sad indictment on football as the team which created significantly more chances and played football didn’t take all three points, like the Penrith game. What was evident however was the fact that the Bay can more the mix it up with best teams in the division and have little to fear against anyone if they continue playing their entertaining brand of football.
Alfa Djalo earned Man of the Match after a stellar, two-goal performance. Despite the disappointing result, it was another exhilarating game at Hillheads for anyone who had the pleasure of witnessing it.
Thank you for your great support and HOWAY THE BAY!!!
WHITLEY BAY: Gladstone, Stewart, Brady(Beeston 71mins), Forster, Scott, Robson, Cockburn(Wilson 74mins), Kanda, Sharpe, Larmouth, Djalo
Referee: Callum Black
Attendance: 469
Cautions: Sharpe red card (two yellow), Robson
