Interview by Julian Tyley
Whitley Bay club coach Gary Somerville felt that his side’s 1-1 draw against Newcastle Blue Star on Saturday was a fair result.
“Yes I think it was fair to be honest. They had plenty of chances, we had plenty of chances. Strikers on both teams couldn’t quite make the difference that was needed.
“I think the first 45 was pretty quiet, rather a lame duck to be honest.”
Describing the goal that gave Blue Star the lead he added “The game sparked to life in the first minute of the second half. Our defenders let the ball bounce in our box two or three times and Preston’s dropped it. It happens, it is what it is, but to be honest the lad’s pulled three or four good saves off today. The keeper’s got to be there to take the good times and the bad times and he does a lot more good than he does bad.“
Moving on to Whitley’s equaliser which came from a Mackenzie Sharpe free kick, Gary continued “ I thought it should have been a penalty to be honest. From where we were it looked like it was inside the box where the foul happened. The ref was saying the first contact with the foul happened well outside the box.”
Whitley have brought in several players from Whickham to counter the unprecedented series of injuries over recent weeks. “I think it’s hard because even though they played together at Whickham, we might not play the same way as they did, so if we ask them to do one thing and they’re used to do another it’s like playing with new players. The midfield is totally different. It’s going to take time, but to be honest the lads that have come in have done really well. I cannot complain at any of them. They seem to have come in and joined the group really well.”
Back in the squad was defender Hugo McNicol who suffered a head injury earlier in the season. “Hugo’s had a rest and has come back. He’s only a young lad and I think he’s going to end up being a cracking player if I’m totally honest. He’s got height, he’s physical, a good tackler, good passer, he plays the game well. I think he’ll do really well for us this season.”
Hugo was brought off the bench after just 15 minutes when captain Michael Scott became the latest victim of injury. “To be honest it’s something we’ve got used to, making two subs in the first half, but losing Micky is a massive blow. Of course he’s a good player but as well as that, it’s what he brings and everything around him. A bit like Mikel, the captain and vice captain, they bring so much to the team, in the changing room and on the pitch, the warm up, everything. They’re so part of it. We’ve built teams around them, but this season with so many injuries we’ve had to rebuild and bring far more people in than we’d want.
“I think the players we’ve brought in will give us a good headache, when the injured lads recover, not a bad one because we’ve not done what some other teams have done and just go and get anybody. We’ve gone and picked ones we knew would fit in. Obviously we’ve checked to make sure they’re all good lads because we only want to bring good lads in. We don’t want to bring people in who might upset the apple cart.”
After a relentless run of 13 games in the first six weeks of the season, Whitley now have the welcome relief of a free midweek to help them prepare for their FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round tie at home to Darlington Town on Saturday, but as Gary quipped “I still think someone will get injured in training, but hopefully some will be alright!
“I think at one point last week there were 13-14 payers out injured, but I think that’s coming down. Getting players back will obviously be good for the squad in the long run because they’ll have to fight for their place even harder.
“Darlington Town will be a tough test but I’d like to hope we’ll give a good show and get into the next round, but nothing’s a gimme. You’ve got to work hard.”
