WHITLEY BAY 2 NORTHALLERTON TOWN 2
Saturday 25th July 2026
Report by Julian Tyley
Whitley conceded a last minute equaliser after coming from behind and looking set for an opening day victory against Northallerton Town on a sunny but windy afternoon at Hillheads.
There were four new signings in the starting eleven. Striker Jamie Clark, midfielder Lennox Magalhaes and defender Hugo McNicol had all been part of the pre-season squad but goalkeeper Adam Cameron was a late addition, brought in less than 24 hours before the game after Preston Leech was ruled ineligible due to issues with the paperwork on his loan deal from Gateshead.
Northallerton meanwhile had been reprieved from relegation, despite finishing last season second bottom of the table.
Playing with the wind at their backs Whitley went close in the sixth minute when Kieren Aplin’s free kick was just too high and struck the top of the bar.
The visitors were giving as good as they got and Myers fired over the bar after Whitley conceded possession deep in their own half.
There was little to enthuse over for the Bay fans as their side gave away the ball too frequently and shortly before the half hour, another defensive lapse saw the North Yorkshire side take the lead. Coatsworth played the ball from the right touchline across field to Dale Hopson unmarked and in acres of space on the left edge of the box. With only Cameron to beat he calmly slotted the ball into the far corner of the net giving the debutant keeper no chance.
More sloppy defending gave another opening to Northallerton but this time Cameron blocked Hopson’s effort after the ball was played across goal.
At half time, the visitors were good value for their one goal lead while the break gave Whitley the chance to reorganise.
What ever was said in the dressing room certainly had the right effect as Whitley looked much more purposeful when the second half got underway. Attacking down the right, Nathan Nkunku delivered a dangerous cross into the box but with the goal at his mercy, Magalhaes could not get a proper connection and the ball flew just wide of the far post.
Then in the 53rd minute, Mikel Thompson burst forward down the left before crossing to Sharpe who cleverly chested the ball into the path of Magalhaes who from just outside the box volleyed a tremendous shot into the top corner, a stunning equaliser and a goal that will take some matching all season.
Moments later Nkunku was causing more problems down the right before Aplin had a shot saved by the keeper and another Magalhaes effort was deflected wide.
Three minutes after the equaliser, continued Bay pressure forced a corner on the right and when Clark floated the ball into the box, Michael Scott raced in to power a great header across the keeper into the far corner of the net.
In no time at all the game had been turned on its head and Whitley were in control, looking dangerous whenever they broke forward.
A rare chance for Town came when Healey curled a great shot narrowly wide of the far post but with 20 minutes left, Scott almost repeated his earlier goal, but this time his header from Clark’s left wing corner flew just over the bar.
A minute later Nkunku burst down the right and crossed into the box but Clark’s shot was narrowly off target.
Magalhaes’ through ball then provided an opportunity for Sharpe whose header was just too high.
The third goal that would have made the game safe would not come and in the last minute of normal time, a long ball upfield by Town keeper Swann eluded the Bay defence. Hopson crossed into the box where Healey dived in low to head home.
It was tough to take for Whitley who had played so well in the second half but Northallerton showed the sort of resilience that was missing when the sides met at the end of last season.
WHITLEY BAY: Cameron, Stewart(Christie 80mins), Aplin, Forster(Jensen 65mins), Scott, McNicol, Nkunku(Livermore 83mins), Magalhaes, Sharpe, Thompson, Clark
Substitutes not used: McCarthy, Achuo
Referee: Adam Kain
Cautions: None
Attendance: 324
Match sponsors: McGillivray’s Chartered Surveyors
Match photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcqweb/albums/72177720334848742
