WHITLEY BAY 2 KENDAL TOWN 0
Saturday 14th September 2024
Match report by Harry Salkeld
After a narrow loss, midweek, on the road at West Auckland, the Bay were back at a packed Hillheads Park to play against an inform Kendal Town. The visitors had won 5 out of their last 6 games, scoring 21 goals in the process! Their only game which they didn’t win in that run was a draw against the league leaders, Boro Rangers, away from home, which is an incredibly impressive result. It was clear that the Bay were going to have to be at their best if they wanted to take anything away from this game.
As anticipation rose within the ground, more fans flooded into the stadium. There were plenty of travelling away fans who had made the long journey and an abundance of young fans from down the road at Foxhunters Pavilion.
The game started with the opposition dominating the play and pegging the Bay back into their own half. In the 11th minute, Kendal Town received a free kick in a promising position. As Niall Cowperthwaite loomed over the ball, the Kendal captain only had one thought in his mind, and it was ‘smash it as hard as I can’. His effort rocketed down Gladstone’s throat, but it was still a difficult one to save as he parried it back into the six-yard box. Danger was eventually averted as the Bay cleared the ball away after a scramble involving several players.
The majority in Hillheads felt that a goal for the visitors was coming as the Bay couldn’t get out their own half. Fortunately, the Seahorses’ fortunes were about to change.
The Bay’s first attack of the game, unsurprisingly, came from a counter-attack which nearly paid off. A ball was aimed for Larmouth but he brilliantly dummied the ball leaving Forster with acres of space to have a shot. However, his shot was a routine save for the keeper as it went low and without any pace.
In the 19th minute, Forster had another attempt at goal after some quality close control and a delectable through ball from Thompson sent the number four on his way. Forster bullied and battled the Kendal full-back of the ball but his eventual shot at the near post was poked wide by Cheetham’s foot.
The Bay’s glimpses of pressure and strong defensive stability paid dividends in the 23rd minute as Larmouth was clean through on goal. The Kendal defence were statuesque as the Bay number 9 had days to put the ball into the back of the net. There was only going to be one outcome as the star striker slotted the ball into the bottom right corner. 1-0 TO THE BAY!!!
Two minutes later, the Bay ‘scored’ again through Mechack Kanda but it was quickly ruled out for offside.
No more chances were created for the remaining twenty minutes of the half as the Bay went into the interval with the lead. It was a half in which the Bay were under the cosh early on but persevered and eventually took the lead after an array of menacing counter-attacks.
At half-time the attendance of an impressive 441 was announced. Thank you to everyone who attended the game, Bay or Kendal, your support was fantastic and really added to the dynamic of the game!
The second half started in the same vein as the first ended, the ball was being contested and fought for in the middle of the park, but no chances were being conjured. The first shot of the second half came through Thompson but he snatched at the shot, seeing it flash past the near post.
One minute later and the opponents had a shot wide of the keeper’s near post to the frustration of their fans behind the goal.
In the 68th minute, the Bay made their first change of the game as Thompson made way for Kyle Cockburn. Minutes later, the away side had a headed attempt, through James Bailey, which looked like it was destined for the goal. However, the ball just creeped wide of the post to a nervous Gladstone’s relief.
In the 72nd minute, Jay Bates made another substitution as Michael Baxter was replaced by Matty Griggs. It didn’t take long for Griggs to have his first attempt as he had a shot blocked.
In the 88th minute, Kendal received a corner giving them, possibly, their last chance at an equaliser. The ball was whipped in, and the Kendal fans appealed for a penalty due to a supposed hand ball, out of pure desperation, but the ref waved on, and the Bay carried on! The Bay’s lethal counter-attack sent Cockburn on his way like a galloping stallion as the Kendal defence scrambled back towards their goal. However, the blistering pace of Cockburn was too much for the visitors as he eventually slid the ball under the keeper sending Hillheads Park wild!
The Bay executed their game plan perfectly, they dealt with pressure as a defensive unit and showed real threat on the break which caused so many problems for the away side. As for the substitutes, Jay Bates got them spot on, they made a real impact and Cockburn, the first change of the game, sealed all three points for the hosts!
The final whistle was blown and the cheer that echoed around Hillheads Park just showed how proud the fans were of the lads’ performance. It was our first league win at home since the opening day, so it was definitely a game to enjoy and savour.
We are back in Northern League action on Tuesday as we take on local rivals, Newcastle Benfield. Great performance, great result, great atmosphere, HOWAY THE BAY!!!
WHITLEY BAY: Gladstone, Brady, Christie, Forster, Robson(Higgins 89mins), Scott, Baxter(Griggs 72mins), Kanda, Larmouth(Wilson 81mins), Thompson(Cockburn 68mins), Stewart
Attendance: 441
Referee: Lewis Chirnside
Assistant Referees: Paul Youngson and John Harkess
Bay Fencing and Landscaping Man of the Match: Dan Gladstone
