NEWCASTLE FLOORING COMPANY NORTHUMBERLAND SENIOR CUP QUARTER FINAL
WHITLEY BAY 2 NORTH SHIELDS 1
WEDNESDAY 8th APRIL 2026
Report by Julian Tyley
Whitley are deservedly through to the semi finals of the Northumberland Senior Cup after a thoroughly entertaining and top quality cup tie against local rivals North Shields.
It was a performance that delighted the home fans and restored bragging rights after the lacklustre display in the North Tyneside derby at the Daren Persson Stadium four days earlier which saw the Robins complete the League double over Jay Bates’ side.
Straight from the kick off Whitley looked more lively than at the weekend and they took the lead in the sixth minute.
A long throw from the left by Kieren Aplin was knocked around the edge of the 18 yard box and eventually reached Alfie Livermore who played it short into the path of Mikel Thompson who from just over 20 yards sent a superb first time shot into the top corner of the net giving keeper Callum Elliott no chance.
It was just the start Whitley needed but Shields responded positively and on the quarter hour Asikaogu punched clear from Blair Adams.
Four minutes later the visitors were penalised for a foul just outside the box but Aplin’s free kick struck low towards goal was gathered by Elliott.
The game was being played at a rapid pace but neither side was able to get a telling shot on goal until the last ten minutes of the half. Shields then struck the frame of the goal twice in a four minute spell.
Firstly Ryan Carr’s header clipped the top of the bar then Adam Forster’s effort crashed off the underside of the bar before being cleared. The visitors looked to be getting on top as they searched for an equaliser but then in first half stoppage time Whitley so nearly grabbed a second goal. Thompson, who worked tremendously hard all night and epitomised Whitley’s determination and battling spirit, broke forward down the left and fired in a great shot that Elliott did very well to push away, but the onrushing Josh Stewart blazed the rebound over a gaping goal and out of the ground.
Six minutes into the second half, a shot from Lashley was deflected behind for a Shields corner which was dealt with comfortably by the Bay defence.
Whitley had another great chance to double their lead after 55 minutes. Following a Bay corner that was not cleared, Thompson’s lobbed ball evaded Elliott and dipped towards the back corner of the Shields box where Jack Errington poked it just the wrong side of the post and into the side netting.
Both sides saw attempts from distance fail to trouble the keepers and Whitley’s disciplined defending and tenacious tackling was keeping them in front.
With 15 minutes left, a cross from Aplin was scrambled away from danger as Sharpe put pressure on Elliott. An audacious 40 yard attempt from Aplin shortly after was held by the back pedalling keeper and then Larmouth tried his luck from 25 yards but his attempt whistled over the angle of post and bar.
Just into the last ten minutes, Shields thought they had found the equaliser when Wanless got his head to a cross from Adams but his glancing effort towards the far corner was pushed wide by a stunning one handed save from Asikaogu. Shields were desperately pushing men forward and two minutes later Whitley scrambled the ball clear after repelling goalbound efforts.
By pushing forward, the visitors left themselves vulnerable to counter attacks and when Larmouth broke away it took a brave save from Elliott to keep his side in the game.
Two minutes into added time, Kanda won the ball on the Bay right, exchanged passes with Stewart before powering a tremendous shot across Elliott and into the top corner of the net to send the majority of the 861 fans into raptures of delight. As many Bay fans recalled, it was Kanda who headed home the last minute winner against North Shields in the league game at Hillheads last season and he had sealed victory again.
In the emotion of the goal, former Bay midfielder Lewis Suddick, who had been cautioned just a few minutes earlier, was sent off after received a second yellow card.
The Robins did pull a goal back with almost the last action of the game and it was a near repeat of the incident leading to Asikaogu’s stunning save ten minutes earlier, but this time Wanless beat the keeper’s dive to head home a well worked goal from another left wing cross from Adams.
The final whistle was not long delayed and Whitley had secured their place in the semi finals where they will travel to Newcastle Benfield with the winners earning a place in the Final at St James’ Park, Newcastle.
The victory was a well-deserved reward for the players who shrugged off Saturday’s disappointment in fine and disciplined style, with every player contributing on the evening.
The bumper midweek crowd was richly entertained with goals of the highest standard and the increasingly vociferous younger fans helped to create an excellent cup tie atmosphere.
* The semi final will be played at Newcastle Benfield on Tuesday 21st April.
WHITLEY BAY: Asikaogu. Errington, Aplin(Achuo 89mins), Stewart, Scott, Williams, Larmouth, Kanda, Sharpe, Thompson(McCarthy 78mins), Livermore(Christie 76mins)
Substitutes not used: Foster, Harvey
Attendance: 861
Cautions: None
Referee: Joel Tilmouth
Bay Fencing North East Ltd Man of the Match: Mackenzie Sharpe
