WHITLEY BAY 0 SEAHAM RED STAR 2
Saturday 10th August 2024
Report by Julian Tyley
Whitley suffered their first home defeat of the season with a disappointing performance against Seaham.
As on Tuesday evening against Northallerton, they were unable to convert possession into goals and struggled to break down the Red Star defence.
The early stages looked promising as Whitley pushed forward while the visitors looked content to soak up the pressure.
The first chance came with 14 minutes played when Mikel Thompson worked his was through to get a sight of goal but his shot flew just over the bar.
A foul 25 yards from goal two minutes later saw Larmouth take the free kick but the ball was blocked. It was cleared out wide but Matty Griggs, making his full debut, went past two men before delivering a good cross which was met by Kyle Cockburn whose effort was too high to trouble former Bay keeper Andrew Jennison.
The action was all in the Seaham half and it began to look just a matter of time before Whitley made the breakthrough.
A strong run from midfield by Joe Robson almost set up a chance for Cockburn but a strong challenge denied him and Jennison dived to take it off the Bay player’s toes.
Seaham had produced very little in attack but in the 39th minute they took the lead out of the blue, making the most of a rare opportunity with Bradley Chisholm lashing the ball beyond Gladstone from barely six yards.
In the final minute of the half, Whitley came close to grabbing an equaliser, Jake Forster playing in Matty Griggs whose shot brought a great one handed save from Jennison.
A goal behind at the interval, Whitley needed a response to get themselves back on level terms but eight minutes into the second period, their hopes took a major blow when Seaham doubled their lead.
From a left wing corner, the ball was played into the box where Mason Burton found himself in space and poked it into the corner of the net with Gladstone stranded.
Not surprisingly, the visitors were happy to retain their advantage by getting men behind the ball and making Whitley’s task more difficult.
The introduction of Regan Paterson on the hour gave more of a threat down the wing but they continued to be thwarted by Red Star and when Brady played a good ball down the right to Larmouth, his shot from just inside the box was straight at Jennison who gather the ball safely.
When Seaham broke upfield, Chisholm was almost clear on goal but Stewart did well to force an early shot which was well off target.
With 15 minute left, Robbie Christie played in a low ball and substitute Jos Storr got a foot to it but the ball hit the side netting.
Attempts to dribble the ball through the Seaham defence were repeatedly unsuccessful but in the 78th minute Whitley seemed certain to reduce the arrears. Paterson’s cross into the box reached Kanda whose downward header from barely four yards rebounded up and just over the bar.
A goal at this stage would have set up the game for an exciting finale but the missed chance seemed to drain the confidence from the Bay players and Seaham saw out the remaining minutes without undue alarm.
WHITLEY BAY: Gladstone, Brady, Christie(Parkinson75mins), Forster, Robson, Stewart, Griggs, Kanda, Larmouth (Storr 67mins) Thompson, Cockburn(Paterson 60mins)
Substitutes not used: Wilson, Higgins
Referee: Lewis Chirnside
Cautions: None
Attendance: 281
