BROOKS MILESON MEMORIAL LEAGUE CUP 2nd ROUND
HORDEN CW 1 WHITLEY BAY 4
Wednesday 25th FEBRUARY 2026
Report by Julian Tyley
For the second time this month Whitley emerged victorious from a trip to Horden, with this League Cup success as impressive as the scoreline would suggest.
Both sides made changes for this cup tie, with Whitley bringing Alan Achuo, Graham Williams, Gildo Da Silva and Nathan Nkunku into the starting eleven.
The excellent playing surface at Welfare Park was conducive to free flowing football and Whitley were soon into their stride with Da Silva tormenting the home defence with close ball control.
With nine minutes played Callum Larmouth let fly with a shot from just outside the box which flew narrowly past keeper Robert Dean’s right post.
Horden retaliated two minutes later with Asikaogu in the action as he saved a well-directed header on goal.
Midway through the half an in-swinging right wing corner from Kieren Aplin very nearly crept inside the far post as Whitley continued to create the better chances.
The deadlock was broken after 26 minutes with a tremendously well worked goal. Picking up the ball on the halfway line, Da Silva raced away down the left wing, riding several challenges before cutting in past two defenders. His cross to the edge of the six yard box found Nkunku who powerfully drilled the ball home for his first goal in Bay colours.
Ten minutes before the interval, a free kick ten yards outside the Whitley box gave Horden a chance to draw level but Ash Lavan saw his effort go narrowly wide with Asikaogu untroubled.
Dean, who had been his side’s hero in the League game, kept Horden in the tie as the game approached half time when Josh Stewart broke forward down the right wing and crossed into the box. The ball reached Nkunku with only the keeper to beat but Dean stuck out a foot to deflect the ball wide.
Deservedly a goal ahead at the interval, Whitley doubled their lead just 60 seconds after the restart. Receiving from Nkunku in midfield, Stewart played the ball perfectly into the path of Callum Larmouth whose first time effort from just outside the right corner of the box flew past Dean and crashed off the inside of the far post and into the net.
Just past the hour mark, Horden pulled a goal back when a long throw on the right was headed on and Daniel Flounders, unmarked about ten yards out, struck a left footed shot across Asikaogu into the net.
Alfie Livermore came off the bench to replace Mikel Thompson and within four minutes he restored Whitley’s two goal advantage. When Dean raced out to clear a long ball, it was intercepted on the halfway line by Stewart who burst forward before playing it out to the right for Livermore. In almost the identical position from where Larmouth has scored the second goal, he cut inside a defender then struck a superb shot into the far corner of the net leaving Dean helpless.
Another four minutes on, Dean blocked another goalbound effort from Livermore following good build up play involving Stewart and Nkunku.
With 13 minutes remaining, Stewart, who was having a tremendous game, received the ball in the centre circle and raced forward skipping over multiple challenges as he entered the 18 yard box but although his shot beat Dean, the ball clipped agonisingly off the upright and away from danger.
Whitley were now comfortably in command and in the final minute Nkunku put the icing on the cake with his second goal of the night. Graham Williams headed clear from a long ball upfield by Dean and Livermore played it out to Nkunku who was left in acres of space by a tiring home defence. The young striker advanced into the 18 yard box before firing past Dean to put Whitley 4-1 ahead.
With the game entering stoppage time, a dangerous high tackle on Achuo near the far touchline resulted in a straight red card for Horden’s David Doughty. Fortunately, Achuo avoided serious injury and the teenager who has usually featured as a substitute was able to complete the game.
Four top quality goals and impressive performances by players whose appearances have largely been off the bench so far this season were particularly pleasing ahead of a tough game on Saturday when Whitley travel to fifth place Boro Rangers to take on another of their play off rivals.
The draw for the 3rd Round of the League Cup has given Whitley another away tie, this time at West Auckland, date to be confirmed.
WHITLEY BAY: Asikaou, Achuo, Aplin, Kanda(Shilling 56mins), Scott, Williams, Stewart, Da Silva, Nkunku, Thompson(Livermore 63mins), Larmouth(Errington 68mins)
Substitutes not used: Forster, Foster(GK)
Referee: Matthew Davidson
Attendance:112
Cautions: None
