WHITLEY BAY 2 BIRTLEY TOWN 2
Saturday 8th November 2025
Report by Harry Salkeld
After a disappointing run of three games without a win, the Bay returned to Hillheads Park with hopes of sparking a revival in form. Many changes were made to the team that lost 5-1 to West Auckland as Sharpe (who wasn’t available last week) and Kanda (who had been on holiday) returned to the starting XI. The visitors came into this game off the back of poor form themselves so both sides were in a similar boat before they set sail for kick-off.
Before the game started, a beautifully observed minute silence occurred. The game started with the Bay having the first effort of the game through Mackenzie Sharpe whose shot went wide of the near post. The Hoops first effort of the game came in the fourth minute when Liam Thear blazed a free-kick, over the bar and into the car park.
The game’s fast paced nature continued as the Bay then had another chance through Alfie Livermore whose curled shot unfortunately had minimal power and didn’t cause Max Campbell any problems.
In the ninth minute it was then the visitors chance at goal as a Birtley cross from the left flew to the back post where Nick Marley headed the ball down into his near corner to give Birtley the lead. The Bay was in a desperate need of a reaction and in the 12th minute, Mikel Thompson nearly provided an instant one as his volleyed effort flashed just over the bar. In the 17th minute Mackenzie Sharpe had a pop at goal with his weaker foot, but it was nowhere near testing the Hoops keeper.
In the 23rd minute the Bay were rewarded for their lasting pressure as Alfie Livermore’s dazzling run down the left flank, spun Max Campbell into no man’s land. His pull back from the byline set up Sharpe who finished with aplomb, personifying the definition of composure.
Surprisingly, the game completely changed from both an entertainment and momentum perspective as almost no chances were created for the remainder of the first half.
After the fifteen minute interval, the second half started in a much more positive and exciting vein than the way the first half had ended. Liam Thear, of Birtley Town, and Jake Forster, of Whitley Bay, both had early efforts that didn’t amount to anything.
On the strike of the hour mark, Birtley regained their advantage as a moment of disaster unfolded. Thear pressed Mauro Asikaogu, in his penalty area, as he attempted to play out from the back, but Thear’s pressure forced an out of character mistake from Mauro as he kicked the ball off the Birtley forward and into the back of the Bay net.
As a result of the goal, Jay Bates instantly looked to his bench for answers as Gildo Da Silva came off for Callum Larmouth who had just returned from injury. The change did help in applying pressure on the Birtley backline but no clear-cut chances were yet to be created. In the 72nd minute, another Bay change was made as Jack Errington returned from injury in place of Michael Scott.
In the 75th minute, Aplin whipped a corner in the direction of Kanda, who rose higher than everyone else, but his header frustratingly went miles over the bar. Minutes later, and the pressure ramped up as substitute, Larmouth, pierced an effort towards the bottom left corner, but Campbell produced a great save to deny the attempt.
In the 79th minute the Bay’s dominance appeared to bear fruit as a penalty was given for a handball after a shot was heading towards goal. After minutes of stoppage, due to an injury, it was time for Larmouth to take the spot kick. Despite, the opposition’s best efforts to put off the Bay’s number 12, he cooly and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner.
After the penalty was converted, Birtley’s number six, Dale Burrell, was sin binned for what appeared to be dissent. Due to the numerical advantage, there was a palpable feeling around the ground was that the game was for there for the Bay’s taking.
The Bay well and truly ‘threw the kitchen sink at it’ as Livermore had a point-blank effort denied at the near post and Aplin had a powerful attempt palmed away from danger.
Unfortunately for the Bay, Birtley marked really tightly in the dying embers, and the game ended level. It felt like two points dropped instead of a point gained but that speaks volumes about how well the Bay played on the day. A fantastic spectacle for all at the ground. For those of you that were at Hillheads Park yesterday, thank you very much. The attendance of 483 was the highest attendance in the league this weekend, and there was an abundance of youngsters who contributed to a great atmosphere throughout.
We are back at Hillheads Park next Saturday as we face Newcastle Blue Star and a crowd anywhere near as good as this would be fantastic.
WHITLEY BAY: Asikaogu, Thompson, Christie, Forster, Scott(Errington 72mins), Stewart, Da Silva, Kanda, Sharpe, Aplin(Larmouth 61mins), Livermore
Substitutes not used: Harvey, Lees, Achuo
Referee: Alex Atchison
Cautions: Sharpe, Forster
Attendance: 483
Bay Landscaping North East Man of the match: Alfie Livermore
