REDCAR TOWN 1-4 WHITLEY BAY
Tuesday 1st September 2026
Report by Jensen Coleman
With a second win in all competitions this season proving incredibly elusive, Whitley Bay’s next assignment was their second visit to Teeside in three days to face newly-promoted Redcar Town, who had finished their title-winning campaign with a century of points to their name. More new signings joined Jay Bates’s side for this fixture; Jack Chapman went straight into the starting XI following his move from Whickham under dual registration with Blyth Spartans, while reserves player Maison Auld made his first appearance in a 1st team squad. Mikel Thompson also returning to the lineup, and what a night he would have.
Like Bay’s trip to Marske United three days prior, it was a fairly even start to affairs at the Neeform Stadium, but the first half-chance of the game would fall Whitley’s way with Jamie Storey’s early cross in looking for Jamie Clark proving too quick for the latter to latch on to only a few minutes in.
A tame header by Kieren Aplin towards goal - which was saved comfortably by Town goalkeeper Will Cowey - seemed to spark the hosts into life, as Joseph Taylor’s excellent long-range effort was kept out wonderfully by Preston Leech. Callum Luck also headed the ball just over the bar from McCorie Carmichael’s free kick a few minutes after.
Town came again, though, with Carmichael the next to try his luck, but his low shot was collected by Leech. Chay Liddle also struck from just outside the box shortly after; Bay debutant Jack Chapman on hand to divert the ball away at the last minute.
Having come into this clash with a wretched run of form, Whitley finally got the first sign their luck was changing in the 36th minute, when Mikel Thompson pounced on a poor back pass by Redcar captain Craig Gott before taking the ball round Cowey and slotting into an open net; Bay’s first goal in three games (0-1).
Carmichael wouldn’t let that get him down, however, as his latest strike curled just over the bar before Jamie Clark’s low shot drew a decent save out of Cowey just before the first half was up.
With the second half just six minutes old, Bay won a penalty after Jayden Sekete brought down Thompson in the box, leaving referee Daniel Forbes to do nothing but point to the spot. Clark then took responsibility of the spot kick and slotted the ball into the bottom corner past Cowey to double the visitors’s lead (0-2).
Despite that second for Bay, Town continued threatening to get back into the game, and Taylor could have done just that after being put through on goal by Kayden Robinson-Coley, but Whitley goalkeeper Leech pulled off another fantastic save to keep the ball out of the net.
Unfortunately, there was nothing Leech could do just a minute later when Jayden Gray’s cross-cum-shot ended up nestling in the top corner for the hosts; finally finding a way back into the match for Town (1-2).
The chances continued to flow for both sides, with Redcar substitute Harry Thompson’s header whistling just over the bar, while Joseph Power’s decent strike from a Whitley corner also went wide.
Any anxieties about Bay falling apart would be settled in the 61st minute as a dangerous-looking counter-attack began through Aplin. The visiting No.8 then found Mikel Thompson down the left hand side, who burst into the box, worked the space for himself and fired the ball into the bottom corner to restore Whitley’s two-goal advantage (1-3).
Redcar weren’t exactly out of sight quite yet, however, as Gray looked to get his - and his team’s - second goal of the night minutes later, but the strike was deflected straight into the arms of Leech.
That effort from Gray ultimately proved to be the hosts’s last chance of the game, as Bay took the game by the horns as it came to an end. George Brady’s intricate one-two with Mikel Thompson saw the former curl the ball well past the far post, before the latter had the chance to seal a rare hat-trick moments later, but his chipped shot over Cowey drifted just wide instead. Aplin also made some space for himself and struck a brilliant effort towards goal, only to be parried away by Cowey.
Having come on for Mikel Thompson minutes prior and seen a deflected strike of his steered away by Cowey, Alan Achuo would finally seal Bay’s second win of the season five minutes from time, as the youngster tapped home from a corner to send the Whitley contingent home ecstatic (1-4).
This performance felt like the Whitley Bay of last season; intricate, composed and dominant. Mikel Thompson may have been the star of the show with a brace, but every Bay player played their part in a victory that Whitley supporters will hopefully see as a springboard for the season and boost the morale and confidence of the players in the process.
The lads return to Hillheads for another league fixture this Saturday (5th September), this time for a derby clash with Newcastle Blue Star; kick-off is at 3pm.
Whitley Bay: Leech, Storey, Brady, Power, Scott [C], Chapman, Shilling, Aplin, Clark, M. Thompson (Achuo, 78’), Magalhaes
Attendance: 158
Referee: Daniel Forbes
Caution(s): Magalhaes (45+1’)
My Personal Player(s)-of-the-Match: Mikel Thompson & Jack Chapman - This was Thompson back to his best; making the decisive runs forward to help his side look swift and clinical once again. Add a personal brace to his name and it proved a perfect night for the Bay No.10. However, a special word has to also be given to debutant Jack Chapman, who slotted into the Whitley defence with ease on Tuesday night as he made vital clearances and blocks to keep out the hosts all evening. A cool and calm first outing in a Bay shirt for the defender.
