WHITLEY BAY 0 REDCAR ATHLETIC 1
Tuesday 21st January 2025
Report by Harry Salkeld
After weeks of away games and postponements due to weather, the Bay were back at Hillheads for their first home game of the new calendar year.
Our opponents came into this game top of the league, so it was clearly going to be a demanding game for the Bay on and, most importantly, off the ball which was proven throughout the game.
A frenetic start resulted in long periods of head tennis as erratic play took hold and there were very few good passages of play from both sides. The first real chance came when Oscar Fletcher dribbled around the keeper leaving him with an empty net. Fletcher had his shot towards goal but despite it being a golden chance and a Redcar fan shouting ‘Get in!’ as he thought it was destined for goal, the effort never bulged the back of the net.
Redcar continued to be the more dominant side as they were having frequent shots from around the penalty area which were testing Dan Gladstone to a certain extent. Nothing really tangible had been created however as the play lacked any real fluidity.
The Bay started to grow into the game more but their opponents’ ability to win the ball instantly back after losing it, was unmatched. It was a desire and tenacity that you just couldn’t watch without admiring. It was almost Atletico Madrid-esque in the way they sent two or three men to each Bay player with the ball and the lads in blue and white were clearly struggling with it despite their best efforts. The sense of suffocation amongst the players was palpable.
Redcar then had a free-kick attempt on the left-hand side of the box which was curled to the right of the wall and a good test for Gladstone, which he passed. Minutes later and the pressure paid off for the league leaders. An inviting cross was played into the penalty area and a lovely one-two between Adam Boyes and his teammate led to a shot from Oscar Fletcher which sailed into the bottom corner. It was a brilliantly worked move and it summed up the proceedings so far in a nutshell. It was that moment of magic that hard work and endeavour had been working towards.
The Bay went into the half-time break behind, in what was a below standard performance.
The Bay came out and did look like they had a little bit more intensity in their game. The Bay’s first substitution of the game came when Matty Griggs was replaced by Regan Paterson in the 64th minute. Unfortunately, that change didn’t quite do the trick, so Jay Bates looked to his bench again as in the 72nd minute, George Brady was replaced by Luke Parkinson.
The Bay were pushing for the equaliser but chances were few and far between as the visitors dominated the ball and were still having efforts at goal. There was a real sense of inevitability regarding the end result, as the Bay struggled to create any real opportunities at goal.
Time was quickly ticking away for the Bay and in the 80th minute Redcar player Danni Lay dived in with what looked a reckless tackle. However, despite protestations from the crowd, Bay players’ appeals, and medical attention being required, only a caution was dealt. Luckily, Jake Forster didn’t suffer a serious injury from a tackle that was reminiscent of the full-blooded blows of a bygone age of football.
Despite late Bay pressure, the chances, let alone the equaliser, never came. It was a tough night for the Bay as they showed clear vulnerabilities at times but also showed real fight considering their opponents on the night. The real challenge was being able to impose their own moments of quality play, and sadly that is where they came up short. Onwards and upwards, HOWAY THE BAY!!!
WHITLEY BAY: Gladstone, Brady(Parkinson 72mins), Christie(Cockburn 19mins), Forster, Scott, Robson, Stewart, Kanda, Larmouth, Thompson, Griggs(Paterson 64mins)
Substitutes not used: Parker, Crawford
Referee: Jack Whitfield
Attendance: 216
