WHITLEY BAY 2 BORO RANGERS 3
Saturday 11th October 2025
Report by Harry Salkeld
After a win on the road at Easington Colliery, the Bay were back at Hillheads Park looking to make it four wins on the bounce against Boro Rangers, who sat sixth in the table. Three changes were made to the side that started at Easington as Livermore, Williams and Achuo came in for Campbell, Stewart and Errington.
The game started with early Bay pressure as Livermore’s dazzling footwork had the defenders on their toes. In the sixth minute, Aplin had the first shot on target of the game as his effort from the edge of the box tested Swan. In the 14th minute, Boro Rangers had an opportunity from a corner as Asikaogu made a phenomenal save but the rebound was met by James Dillon who was left with an open goal at his mercy. It was a frustrating goal to concede as Asikaogu’s initial save was like watching a cat spring into action.
The opponent’s early goal clearly didn’t help the Bay on the confidence front as minutes later Turner had a shot flash just over the bar. In the 19th minute, Boro Rangers attempted a long throw into the penalty area which ultimately fell to Turner who riffled an effort into the top right corner leaving the Bay’s number one with no chance of denying him.
The Bay had no choice but to throw everything they could at the game, and it looked like their pressure nearly paid off in the 22nd minute. The Bay launched a free kick into the box which was met by a diving Forster whose headed attempt marginally sailed over the bar as it looked destined for glory.
Despite the Bay’s great opportunity, Boro showed no signs of slowing down as Jacob Thompson whipped a ball into Rose, at the back post, but his first time volley had too much power on it, went just over the woodwork.
Chances suddenly became few and far between as the game's physicality and tension started to brew.
In the 37th minute, Boro Ranger’s keeper, Swann, was called into action after Thompson’s through ball into Forster created a one-on-one attempt which was unfortunately denied. A frustrating few minutes of play continued for the Bay as Forster had an effort headed off the line by a Boro defender, leaving the crowd in disbelief as to how the lads in blue and white still hadn’t scored.
The last chance of the first half fell to the Bay after some bamboozling, intricate play by Mikel Thompson but the efforts that soon occurred were saved by Swan or cleared of the line once again!
Seconds later, the half-time whistle was blown and despite being 2-0 down it didn’t feel like it, especially with how the last 10 minutes of the half panned out. On another day, the Bay could very well have made things level.
After rest and the management’s messages had been sent, the second half was underway. However, the Bay’s latter signs of dominance didn’t carry into the second period as Jacob Thompson was fastest to another scrap which he converted into the roof of the net. It was the third goal which had come from a set piece and the Bay had shown real weakness dealing with such tactics in their penalty area.
Despite another major setback, the Bay didn’t stop looking for their first goal which they thoroughly deserved. In the 51st minute, Callum Larmouth played a ball across the six-yard box to Mackenzie Sharpe, but he didn’t get a clean connection on a golden opportunity.
In the 56th minute, the Bay’s frailties in the box continued as Asikaogu made another stellar save to deny a fourth for the travelling side. A minute later, Livermore made way for Scott McCarthy.
No chances were created for a short amount of time but in the 63rd minute, Larmouth went on a rampaging run down the right flank, but Swann made another great save with his left hand at full stretch. In the 74th minute, the Bay looked to their bench in the hope of a miracle as Aplin and Larmouth came off for Henry Harvey and Owen Lees.
The Bay’s changes made an instant impact as our first goal of the game, ironically came from a corner, thanks to Owen Lees who scored his first goal for the club.
You could smell the belief that was now spreading through Hillheads Park and the players were reciprocating their fans support with even more pressure towards the Boro goal. In the 89th minute, the Bay had a corner which was cleared only as far as Sharpe, who on the edge of the box, chested the ball down and, with venom, smashed the ball into the back of the net.
The hope around the ground was palpable as the possibility of a phenomenal comeback was very much on the cards. However, Boro Rangers were trying all the tricks in the book to slow down the five minutes of additional time that were given by the referee. In the 95th minute the final chance of the game occurred as Sharpe’s header rose and rose and rose even more, but unfortunately it went over the bar silencing the optimistic gasps around the ground.
After Sharpe’s attempt, the final whistle was blown, and it was understandably a difficult loss to take. Despite being 3-0 down for a time, the Bay had many fantastic opportunities that were either blocked on the line or denied by brilliant saves. Our inability to deal with set pieces did ultimately cost us but the fight and determination shown at the end is a huge positive to take into the two cup games we have this week. On the topic of cup games, this Tuesday we play in the Northumberland Senior Cup against West Allotment at Hillheads Park and we’ll be looking for just a good a crowd as yesterday’s encounter.
WHITLEY BAY: Asikaogu, Achuo, Thompson, Forster, Scott, Williams, Larmouth(Lees 74mins), Kanda, Sharpe, Aplin(Harvey 74mins), Livermore(McCarthy 57mins)
Substitutes not used: Higgins, Errington
Referee: Patrick Laws
Cautions: Forster, Aplin
Attendance: 533
