WEST AUCKLAND 5 WHITLEY BAY 1
Saturday 1st November 2025
Report by Jensen Coleman
After a goalless draw against promotion rivals Kendal Town at home last time out, Bay were back on the road for the first time in a month as they headed to West Auckland Town. Jay Bates was left with, however, an incomplete squad, with 8 players missing; Callum Larmouth out due to injury, Mackenzie Sharpe was unavailable while the likes of Alfie Livermore and Alan Achuo were both given the nod.
As this was the hosts’ final home game before Remembrance Sunday, the match was preceded by a impeccably observed moment of silence before proceedings got underway, with a wreath laid down in the centre circle by West Auckland boss Gareth Young beforehand.
What would prove to be a quite eventful first half kicked off with a quiet first few minutes bar a great chance for Josh Stewart, who could have opened the scoring inside two minutes, but the shot was blocked and cleared with ease by the West Auckland defence. Mikel Thompson’s through ball then almost found Gildo Da Silva a few minutes later. However, the pass was heavy and trickled out for a goal kick.
Down the other end, the hosts broke the deadlock with their first opportunity of the game, as Craig Moody was slotted through one-on-one with Mauro Asikaogu and rolled the ball into the bottom corner past the Bay stopper.
This didn’t stop the visitors from looking dangerous, however, as Kieren Aplin fired just wide from a decent lay-off by Michael Scott on the edge of the box. Just two minutes later, though, the Bay would get their equaliser, as Alfie Livermore’s fierce long-range strike was palmed out by Town goalkeeper Zach Wilkinson into the path of Da Silva, who rounded him and smashed home his first goal for the club from close-range.
A largely eventful first half saw a hugely controversial call not too soon after, as the referee pointed for a corner but after consultation with his assistant referee, he awarded the hosts a penalty for a handball. Moody would assume the responsibility for Town, but would see his spot kick saved brilliantly by Asikaogu.
The same fate would befall the Bay as the game reached its 20-minute mark, with another penalty awarded by the referee following Aplin’s foul on Moody. This time, Asikaogu couldn’t prevent the hosts from going back in front, as Leo Robinson dispatched the ball past the Bay goalkeeper to restore Town’s lead.
Bay had multiple chances to level the game up again, as a volley from Thompson was collected comfortably by Wilkinson and Livermore fired over the bar from a decent cross by Stewart. Leo Robinson, hunting for a brace, saw his deflected effort palmed away by Asikaogu down the other end.
Before the first 45 was done, Robinson had another chance to score from the penalty spot, as a THIRD penalty was awarded to the hosts by the referee after a challenge by Michael Scott. Only this time, Asikaogu would thwart Robinson as he got down well and saved again, meaning the score would remain 2-1 to West Auckland at half-time
The second half began in an almost identical fashion, with Bay dominating the ball and creating chances; those chances coming in the form of Livermore mistiming his strike from Da Silva’s cross and Thompson’s tame effort being collected comfortably by Wilkinson
With the second half just seven minutes old, West Auckland added a third to their tally, as James Hughes cut the ball back towards Robinson, who cut inside leaving the Bay defence at sea and slotted the ball home past Asikaogu, who was left furious with the lack of defending in front of his goal.
All of a sudden, it was no longer an equaliser Bay were hunting; it was a way back into the game altogether. The chances came and went again, with Livermore and Da Silva both unlucky to see efforts fly just wide of the far post.
It was effectively game, set and match with fifteen minutes to go as Town substitute Finley O’Gorman got forward and squeezed a tame shot past Asikaogu to leave the visitors staring down the barrel of one win in five in all competitions. And that would be the case, as the man who started the scoring finished it as Craig Moody fired home from range to make it five for the hosts and compound Bay’s misery.
In the end, a depleted Bay were well-beaten. The only real highlight for Jay Bates’ men being Gildo Da Silva’s first goal for the Seasiders following his move from Hebburn Town in October. After starting the season in such fine fashion, Bay have now not won in their last three in the league and will be looking to get back on track starting with a visit from Birtley Town next time out.
WHITLEY BAY: Asikaogu, Stewart, Christie, Scott (C), Bates, Achuo (Harvey, 68’), Da Silva, Thompson, Forster, Aplin (Lees, 64’), Livermore
Cautions: None
Referee: Michael Studholme
Assistant Referees: L. Brown & A. Sygmuta
Attendance: 194
