WEST ALLOTMENT CELTIC 1 WHITLEY BAY 6
Tuesday 4th February 2025
Report by Julian Tyley
Whitley continued their rich vein of form with an emphatic victory over West Allotment, hitting the hosts for six on a bitterly cold night on North Tyneside.
While Callum Larmouth took the headlines with an impressive hat trick of goals all scored from outside the 18 yard box, this was another excellent team performance that warmed the hearts of the hardy Bay fans who braved the conditions at East Palmersville.
Many of the Whitley squad were returning to their former club while Allotment included six players who had previously been at Hillheads so there was added incentive, if it were needed, for both sides to put on a show.
With Dan Gladstone unavailable, Whitley had Callum Corkhill in goal for just his second appearance for the club, while Joe Robson, who missed Saturday’s victory over Shildon, passed a fitness test and returned to the starting eleven.
With the wind at their backs in the first half, Whitley wasted no time in trying to capitalise on the conditions, with several shots from distance. Larmouth and Robson forced Callum Elliott to push efforts wide while Jake Forster fired an effort narrowly wide.
The policy paid dividends in the 17th minute when Larmouth, from all of 30 yards, sent a superb left footer into the top corner of the net giving Elliott no chance.
In a break to the other end Allotment got an attempt on goal but the ball was driven by Cowburn straight at Corkhill who made a low save.
In the 23rd minute, Whitley won a free kick on the left of midfield following a foul by Gavin Dick and from fully 25 yards, Larmouth struck the ball through the home defence and while Elliott got behind the ball, he allowed it to go straight through his legs into the net to put Whitley 2-0 up.
Kyle Cockburn then almost set up a third a few minutes later but his cross into the box was put behind.
Whitley were in command of the game, winning tackles and denying Allotment time on the ball but towards the interval, the hosts worked their wayback into the game forcing Whitley onto the defensive. Five minutes before the break, they pulled a goal back when a cross from the left brought a scramble in the six yard box and Alfie Livermore reacted quickly to poke the ball home.
Two more chances fell the way of the hosts in the final minutes of the half and with their side now under some pressure Bay fans were relieved to hear the half time whistle.
With just one goal in it and Allotment having the wind advantage in the second half, there was still everything to play for but the first 15 minutes after the restart proved decisive as Whitley took complete control.
To counter the effects of the wind, when Corkhill collected the ball from a left wing cross, he threw out to the left, where it was played downfield and though Allotment gained possession, Forster won it back and played it through to Lowery who got in between defender and keeper to poke home Whitley’s third goal and restore their two goal cushion.
Just 20 seconds after the restart, Lowery was tripped by Luke Salmon barely a yard outside the box as he ran clear on goal. Referee Zak Logue had no hesitation in showing Salmon a red card and after a delay while Lowery received treatment, Allotment’s misery was compounded when Larmouth smashed the free kick past the defensive wall into the net to complete his hat trick.
Leading 4-1 and with Allotment down to ten men for the remaining 23 minutes, the contest was as good as won and Whitley took the opportunity to bring on fresh legs with Parkinson and Sharpe replacing Brady and Djalo.
Cockburn brought a fine save from Elliott with 20 minutes remaining before Lowery was replaced by Regan Paterson.
With 75 minutes played, Sharpe won the ball in midfield before playing it down the left to Larmouth. Cockburn met his cross into the box but was denied by Elliott but when the ball ran free, Kanda produced a stunning chip shot from 20 yards that left Elliott helpless as the ball dipped into the top corner of the net. It was an outstanding goal and put Whitley 5-1 ahead.
Paterson almost got in on the act two minutes later, racing away down the right before delivering a shot that was deflected narrowly beyond the far post.
Whitley were not to be denied a sixth and it came in the 79th minute following good work down the left by Larmouth and a cross into the box by Cockburn where Sharpe got in front of defender Tom Bramley to poke the ball home from close range.
More chances came in the closing stages with Paterson firing narrowly over the bar with a shot from just inside the box.
With 14 goals in their last three games, Whitley are looking an exciting attacking side but credit must also go to the defence, led by captain Michael Scott, with the opposition given nothing and keeper Corkhill rarely called into action during the second half despite having to contend with a strong and blustery wind in their faces.
WHITLEY BAY: Corkhill, Stewart, Brady(Parkinson 59mins), Forster, Scott, Robson, Djalo(Sharpe 64mins), Kanda(Parker 79mins) Cockburn(Wilson 86mins), Larmouth, Lowery(Paterson 73mins)
Referee: Zak Logue
Attendance: 150
After the game assistant manager Barry Rizza spoke of his delight at the number of players contributing with goals in recent games. “Different names on the goal sheet is breeding confidence following on from a good win on Saturday and the five goals in the game before. Confidence is flying high. It’s finding that consistency now and keeping it going week to week. There were some unbelievable finishes tonight. To be fair to them their keeper pulled off some absolute worldies.”
On Callum Larmouth’s hat trick which takes him to seven goals from the last three games, Barry added “It’s from a deeper position, like I said a few weeks ago, I really see that as his best position coming deeper onto the ball because he always scores from long range.
“It was a good performance, the conditions were tough, the wind made it hard. To be fair to West Allotment, after going down a man they dug in and didn’t give up. The conditions made it hard for both teams but we played some good football especially in the second half from start to finish.”
