WHITLEY BAY 2 WHICKHAM 2
Saturday 22nd November
Report by Harry Salkeld
After getting back to winning ways last week, the Bay had the task of playing a new look Whickham side at Hillheads Park. Two changes were made to the side that beat Newcastle Blue Star last week as Shilling and Sharpe replaced Da Silva and Aplin.
As for the visitors, they had two new faces in their squad as Shay Robinson started his first game for the club and player-coach, Daniel Craggs, was named on the bench.
The game started with the opposition having the first two chances of the game as Mason Hardy mis-kicked a near post shot after a free-kick was whipped into the danger zone. The second early chance then fell to Levi Collins who flashed a shot over the bar
In the 7th minute, the Bay had their first attempt towards goal as Callum Larmouth had a free-kick which sailed over the bar and towards the allotment. In the 12th minute, Sam Johnson was played through one-on-one with Mauro Asikaogu being the intimidating figure he would need to beat to open the scoring. Thankfully, a typical Mauro Asikaogu save was pulled off to keep the scoreline all level.
In the 18th minute, the deadlock was broken by the Bay’s usual achilles heel: a long throw. A piercing throw was hurtled into the penalty area and Tom Ions was there to flick the ball in to the back of the net.
The Bay did take time to conjure some form of a reaction as Kanda smashed a shot towards goal in the 24th minute, but the keeper managed to prevent what looked like a promising rebound for Alfie Livermore. Minutes later, the Bay created another great chance as Alfie Livermore drilled a shot wide of the far post as it looked almost destined for goal.
The chances continued to flow for the Bay as Livermore smashed a shot down the throat of Ollie Walker, minutes after his latest effort. The remainder of the half seen very little chances until the last kick of the first half was a Mackenzie Sharpe effort which flashed over the top of the woodwork.
After the half-time break, it didn’t take long for the Bay to make their first change of the game as in the 52nd minute, Luca Shilling came off for Kieren Aplin.
The first significant moment of the second half saw Josh Stewart intercept what looked like a guaranteed goal after Mauro was left in no-mans land. However, the Bay were tasked with defending another long throw, before the stroke of the hour mark, which Collins Unuareokpa managed to flick past Mauro at the near post.
The Bay had no choice but to make more changes if they wanted to take anything out of a game that they had quite frankly been second best in. The players who came on were Nathan Nkunku and Jack Errington for Livermore and Williams.
In the 71st minute, Aplin managed to create his first chance of the game as he had a headed attempt sail over the bar. With approximately ten minutes remaining on the clock, Mauro kept Whitley Bay’s miniscule chances of a revival alive when he pulled off another one-on-one save for the cameras.
In the 86th minute, the Bay were handed a lifeline as Mikel Thompson converted a rebound from a Aplin shot, giving the Bay faithful one final glimmer of hope.
In the last minute of normal time, Kieren Aplin started an attack down the left flank which resulted in a ball towards the back post. Thankfully, the Bay’s number nine, Mackenzie Sharpe was there to convert it to send Hillheads Park wild.
The Bay then pushed for what seemed the impossible but the last chance of the game, courtesy of Thompson, was miraculously denied by Walker who injured himself in the process.
It was frustrating to walk away with just a point, but it felt like a huge one considering the way it was achieved. The lads personified resilience and determination at the end of the match as Whitley achieved the impossible within four minutes.
WHITLEY BAY: Asikaogu, Stewart, Christie, Larmouth, Scott, Williams(Errington 69mins), Thompson, Kanda, Sharpe, Shilling(Aplin 51mins), Livermore(Nkunku 67mins)
Substitutes not used: Da Silva, Achuo
Caution: Williams
Referee: Jack Whitfield
Attendance: 348
