WHITLEY BAY 1 CARLISLE CITY 0
Saturday 22nd March 2025
Report by Harry Salkeld
After three games without a win, the Bay were back at Hillheads Park looking to take all three points against a struggling Carlisle City side, who sat 18th in the table at kick-off. Four changes were made to the side that lost 5-0 to Whickham as Larmouth, Sharpe, Williams and Christie all made a return to the starting eleven. With no Premier League football due to the international break, a strong crowd of 451, eagerly awaited the forthcoming action.
The game started promisingly for The Bay as Lowery had a left footed curling shot on target in the 4th minute. It lacked the power or direction to really trouble Simons in the Carlisle goal. The early promise did somewhat deteriorate as both sides struggled to gain a firm stranglehold of possession and coherent play. While neither team lacked commitment, a combination of head tennis, poor first touches and misplaced passes set the accord for the next 20 minutes.
Other than a Chapman shot for Carlisle straight down the throat of Gladstone, City were struggling to create any chances. Their inability to capitalise on The Bay’s lack of cohesion allowed the home team to gradually grow into the game. In the 28th minute, a Larmouth free kick, was held by Simons just under the bar. In the 38th minute, a free kick for The Bay on the left-hand side of the pitch was played short between Christie and Larmouth. The ball was eventually swung in after some interplay between the two, and Simons in goal, made the decisive decision to come off his line and punch the ball. Captain Michael Scott went up for the ball and a 50/50 challenge between himself and the keeper ensued. To many in the stadium, Simons got a hand to the ball, and it flew clear, past the opposite side of the box from which the cross was made, away from danger. As Scott came crashing back to earth, the referee interpreted the keepers’ action as dangerous play and awarded a penalty, due to Simons making a stronger connection with Scott’s head than he may have done with the ball. The Carlisle players, management and fans, reacted with a combination of disbelief and anger. The emotion proved redundant, as a cool, Callum Larmouth stepped up and Shearer-esque, smashed the ball into the back of the net past a hapless Simons.
With emotions still running high in the Carlisle ranks, the players and management petered out the remaining minutes of the half, hoping for a ‘chat’ with the referee prior to entering the tunnel. As the referee blew the whistle, he congregated with his fellow disciplinarians in the centre circle and waited for all to disperse. This pacified the situation and a 15-minute break for cool heads to prevail, allowed the second half to kick off with full focus on the ensuing 45 minutes.
In the 53rd minute, The Bay created their clearest opportunity at goal after a beautifully delivered cross by Lowery from the right-hand corner. From a mere 4 yards out, Sharpe glanced his header straight at goal, with more power than the nonchalant twist of the neck appeared to warrant. As the crowd waited for the net to burst, the bar had other ideas as the ball crashed off the woodwork back into the danger zone, only to finally be cleared by Carlisle. Even though it was in the early stages of the second half, it already felt as though it would have put the game to bed.
In the 63rd minute, Lowery and Djalo, were replaced by Cockburn and Paterson. The fresh legs had a clear effect as the Bay appeared revitalised in the middle of the park, gaining greater control of the ball. Sadly, for all the possession in the middle of the park, The Bay really struggled to transition the ball in to threatening areas around the Carlisle box. All too often, the ball was aimlessly fired long into vacant areas, and when the ball did reach an intended target, the first touch was lacking.
This pattern of play continued until Carlisle made a tactical substitution, as Daniel Kirkup, entered the fray. His height and size upfront, enabled Carlisle to make a tactical change and play continuous long balls at every opportunity. While Kirkup won a number of headers initially, The Bay cottoned on to the tactic and at one point, 3 Bay players went up against him to clear the ball from the edge of the box. The ability to nullify this danger, allowed The Bay the opportunity to hold on to all 3 points as the final whistle blew.
Ultimately, The Bay just about deserved the victory as Carlisle created almost nothing and never really looked like scoring. Their lack of willing to send players forward stifled the game and made spaces limited for exciting offensive play. The Bay’s combative play and one key decision from the referee, proved decisive.
WHITLEY BAY: Gladstone, Brady, Christie, Forster, Williams, Scott, Djalo (Cockburn 63mins), Kanda, Sharpe, Larmouth, Lowery (Paterson 63mins)
Substitutes not used: Parkinson, Parker, Stewart
Attendance: 451
Man of the Match: Mackenzie Sharpe
Referee: J Crookes
Match photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcqweb/albums/72177720324617194
