BORO RANGERS 3 WHITLEY BAY 2
Saturday 28th February 2026
Report by Jensen Coleman
Following their second successful trip to Horden in the second round of the Northern League Cup, the Seasiders would finish February with a visit to Boro Rangers, who sat just below Bay in the league table. Manager Jay Bates welcomed Mackenzie Sharpe back into the starting lineup for this one, sticking largely with the same XI that edged past Easington Colliery a week ago at Hillheads. The XI would not feature Jack Errington, however, as the defender was unavailable.
The first few minutes of the game would see decent opportunities fall for both sides, with Sharpe thwarted at the far post by Oliver Bailey with not even sixty seconds gone before Harry Thompson saw his free kick blocked by a resolute Bay wall down the other end. Kieren Aplin also had two opportunities from free kicks to open the scoring, but both were dealt with by Bailey.
With 12 minutes gone, however, the home side would be gifted the opener, as Michael Scott passed the ball to Mauro Asikaogu, who failed to clear his lines, leading the ball to fall into the path of Rangers captain Stuart Rose who tapped into an empty net - an unfortunate mistake from the visiting goalkeeper (1-0).
Bay responded in kind nine minutes later, as Mikel Thompson played the ball out wide to Josh Stewart, who cut the ball back towards Sharpe in the box, only for Stewart’s delivery to be turned into his own net by Jacob Thompson - a goal that, in truth, reflected the game so far with regards to lack of quality (1-1).
Although, this seemed to spark a flurry of chances for both sides to add to the scoreline as the first half progressed. Callum Hickman and James Dillon both saw opportunities for the home team come and go, as Aplin blocked the former’s low strike en-route to goal, while Dillon’s header was tipped over the bar by Asikaogu. Chay Liddle also saw a long-range effort blocked by Callum Larmouth moments after.
Harry Thompson then saw two efforts from a free kick blocked in quick succession for the hosts, who were well on top in this contest at this point, before Rose saw his chance of netting a brace stopped by Asikaogu at close range.
Down the other end, Michael Scott saw his fierce attempt from Sharpe’s layoff land straight in the gloves of Bailey, before Rose and Dillon saw more chances for Rangers kept out by Asikaogu to keep the scoreline level at the break.
Larmouth had a great opportunity to put Bay in front five minutes after the break, but his effort from Luca Shilling’s pass flew well wide in the end. Up the other end, Hickman’s decent curling strike towards the far corner was kept out well by Asikaogu before Dillon’s header towards Jacob Thompson at the far post snuck just past his teammate and went out for a goal kick.
A couple of minutes later, a good ball by Aplin found Mikel Thompson 20 yards out who took the shot on from distance, but the strike was tame and drifted just wide. However, Bay would hit the front moments after, as a free kick just outside the box was struck like an arrow into the bottom corner past Bailey by Larmouth, who netted for the second game in a row in all competitions (1-2).
After seeing Rose and Rangers right back James Field have chances palmed away by Asikaogu, a failed clearance by Larmouth fell to Jacob Thompson, who atoned for his own goal earlier in the game by volleying the ball wonderfully into the top corner, leaving Bay stopper Asikaogu clutching at thin air and with no chance of getting to it (2-2).
Bay could have been back in front again just a minute later as Mechack Kanda chipped the ball over Bailey, but the Bay midfielder’s effort landed on the roof of the net instead.
The winner came 15 minutes from time, as a foul by Graham Williams on Rose in the box left the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Rose picked himself up as any team captain would and tucked the ball neatly into the net past Asikaogu to put the hosts back in front (3-2).
Jay Bates’s men weren’t done quite yet, however, as Larmouth saw another chance fly well wide of the far post before a ball forward by Scott almost found substitute Gildo Da Silva in stoppage time, but it was subsequently cleared.
A disappointing end to a very good February for Bay, who now sit fourth in the table with Boro Rangers, as well as West Auckland Town and Horden CW, breathing down their necks. A topsy-turvy game that had all the makings of - if you wouldn’t know it - a rehearsal for a potential third meeting in the playoffs come April, where both teams battled hard for the points. Ultimately, it would be Bay who came out second-best on the day and will look to atone for that at Crook Town on Tuesday night.
Whitley Bay: Asikaogu, Stewart, Aplin, Shilling (Forster, 84’), Scott [c], Williams, Nkunku (Da Silva, 82’), Kanda, Sharpe, M. Thompson, Larmouth (Livermore, 82’)
Cautions: Stewart (24’), Kanda (41’), Forster (95’)
Substitutes not used: Christie, Achuo
Referee: David Carr
Attendance: 155
Man of the match - Michael Scott: The Bay captain look assured and calm all afternoon, even having a shot on target to his name late on in the first half. The defender was also on hand to clear the danger when he needed to.
Match photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcqweb/albums/72177720332294668
