WHITLEY BAY 1-2 DARLINGTON TOWN
FA Vase Second Qualifying Round
Saturday 12th September 2026
Report by Jensen Coleman
Having recovered to draw 1-1 with Newcastle Blue Star in the league last time out, Bay began their FA Vase campaign for the new season against Northern League Division Two side Darlington Town, whom the hosts had thrashed 4-0 in the first round last campaign. Having resigned for the club earlier this week, Mauro Asikaogu made his grand return between the sticks for Whitley, while Nathan Nkunku and Spencer Ashcroft both returned to the starting lineup following injury.
It only took two minutes for scoring to get underway in this FA Vase tie, and it would be the lower-league visitors who profited from a mistake at the back by Bay's backline after Michael Scott’s poor back pass saw a failed clearance by the Bay goalkeeper fall to Max Craggs who lobbed the ball into an empty net; not the start the returning stopper wanted on his second debut for Whitley (0-1).
Bay then piled the pressure on their opposition shortly after. Three straight corners saw Mackenzie Sharpe and Jack Errington almost find a quick response, but their efforts ultimately didn’t come to fruition. The former then forced an excellent save out of Tyler Smith in the Town goal with two brilliant strikes in quick succession minutes later. Alfie Livermore then tried his luck from just outside the box in the 25th minute, but his tame effort was collected comfortably by Smith.
In a first half of very few big chances for either side, Luca Shilling was next up to test his luck against the Town goalkeeper, but his deflected strike fell straight into the arms of Smith. Town substitute Ben Jackson - who came on for Joel White earlier on in the first half due to injury - then saw a decent shot of his own deflected wide by Alan Achuo.
With the second half just seven minutes old, Bay levelled the game. A superb give and go between Spencer Ashcroft and Nathan Nkunku saw the former whip in a lovely cross over the glove of Smith and Sharpe was free in the middle of the Town box to head the ball into an empty net; Whitley finally back on terms (1-1).
The hosts could have taken the lead shortly after, with Lennox Magalhaes getting on to the end of another excellent ball in from Ashcroft, but his header at the far post whistled just wide. Sharpe also saw another good opportunity drift just past the bottom corner.
Town could have retook the lead halfway through the second half, but Jackson’s low drive bounced back off the inside of the post and was cleared away. Craggs - the scorer of Darlington’s first goal - then somehow couldn’t slot the ball home from six yards and saw his effort bounce off the near post before former Bay player Nathan Stephenson blazed the rebound over the bar.
Shortly after, Nkunku then played the ball in towards Sharpe on the edge of the box, who laid it off to Shilling in a similar position, who fired well over from roughly 18 yards out. Sharpe then tried his luck from just outside the box moments after, but the strike was ballooned over the woodwork.
Whitley were almost the masters of their own downfall from a free kick, as Jackson got away down the left flank before cutting inside and firing a fierce shot at Asikaogu before the rebound by Jack Raper was blocked at the last minute by Bay substitute Hugo McNicol.
With six minutes to go, the visitors got the goal their resilience had warranted after they won a free kick just outside the box. Stephenson then stepped up to curl a beautiful strike into the far corner past Asikaogu to retake their lead (1-2).
Bay almost restored parity minutes after, but Michael Scott blasted the ball well over the woodwork from a few yards out with what proved the last real chance of the game from a Whitley perspective.
It would be the lower-league visitors who prevailed in the end, however, after Nathan Stephenson’s stunning free kick sent his former club packing from the FA Vase at the first hurdle. Mackenzie Sharpe’s equaliser gave Whitley hope, but Darlington Town took the spoils back to County Durham.
Bay’s focus now turns to improving their league form, starting with a long trip to the Lake District where they visit Kendal Town on Friday (18th September) for a 7.45pm KO.
Whitley Bay: Asikaogu, Brady (McNicol, 78’), Ashcroft, Errington (Clark, 62’), Scott [C], Achuo, Shilling, Magalhaes, Sharpe, Livermore, Nkunku
Caution(s): Errington (50’), Achuo (84’)
Referee: Adam Kain
Attendance: 405
My Personal Player-of-the Match: Spencer Ashcroft - On a thoroughly disappointing afternoon for Bay, the left-back stuck out as one of the bright sparks. The Blyth Spartans youngster sent in a pin-point cross for the equaliser but his general performance throughout the tie sealed his spot as the standout Whitley player.
Match photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcqweb/albums/72177720335614079
