WHITLEY BAY 0 NORTH SHIELDS 1
FRIDAY 26th DECEMBER 2025
Report by Julian Tyley
North Shields emerged victorious after a hard fought local derby in which chances were at a premium. Whitley were hoping to consolidate their position among the play off contenders but it was mid table Shields who claimed the spoils thanks to a first half goal from Stephen Hall.
Probably the most satisfying aspect of the game from a Whitley Bay perspective was the record breaking Boxing Day crowd which totalled a quite remarkable 1659 spectators, four times the average attendance and more than double the previous highest Northern League crowd of the season.
With fans still queuing back onto Hillheads Road at midday, the kick off was delayed by 15 minutes to allow everyone into the ground.
When the game eventually got underway it was the visitors who looked the more lively and after just five minutes, a defensive error involving Robbie Christie and Jack Errington allowed Hall to break through on goal but his shot from around 15 yards went narrowly beyond the far post.
With ten minutes played, a ball in from the Shields left was poked wide of the near post by Hall.
Whitley gradually settled into the game and it developed into a pattern of midfield play with both teams searching for ways to unlock the opposing side’s defence.
On the half hour a free kick just outside the box gave Shields an opportunity but the ball from Lashley flew over the bar.
What turned out to be the decisive moment of the game came in the 35th minute. A long ball was played over the top, out of defence by the visitors. Callum Larmouth, deep inside his own half, went to control the ball but he was dispossessed as Hall nipped in quickly from behind and raced clear, slotting the ball beyond Asikaogu and just inside the far post to put North Shields ahead, a lead they deserved on the balance of play.
The first time the visitors' goal came under threat arrived moments before half time when Christie’s ball in from the Bay left just cleared the bar.
It had been a lack lustre first 45 minutes by Whitley but whatever was said in the dressing room at the interval seemed to have made a difference as they began the second half in much more determined fashion.
Forcing Shields onto the defensive, they soon won a corner on the right and three minutes after the restart, when the ball was not cleared, Alfie Livermore struck a great shot from the left corner of the penalty area. It looked as if the ball was heading for the top corner of the net but with keeper Callum Elliott beaten for the first time in the game, it crashed off the underside of the bar and bounced away from goal.
Whitley continued to force the pace for a while but Shields soaked up the pressure and the game reverted to a midfield battle with the occasional moment of frustration which resulted in cautions for both sides. Most significantly, neither goalkeeper was seriously troubled for the remainder of the game with Shields understandably content to hang on to their lead.
Bay made four substitutions as they attempted to turn the game in their favour but it was to no avail. Deep into stoppage time they won a free kick just outside the box but Aplin’s shot went straight into the arms of Elliott and it was not long before the visiting fans were able to celebrate victory while the majority of the huge crowd were left to reflect on what might have been.
Despite the defeat, only their fourth of the season, Whitley remain third in the Northern League First Division at the turn of the year and well placed to secure a top five finish which would guarantee them a place in the end of season play-offs.
WHITLEY BAY: Asikaogu, Stewart, Christie, Forster(Shilling 78mins), Scott, Errington, Livermore(Aplin 72mins), Kanda, Sharpe, Thompson (Williams 83mins), Larmouth(Nkunku 60mins)
Substitute not used: Achuo
Referee: Patrick Laws
Cautions: Larmouth, Sharpe
Attendance: 1659
Photos:http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcqweb/albums/72177720331152893/
