KENDAL TOWN 1 WHITLEY BAY 2
Saturday 21st March 2026
Report by Jensen Coleman
A season-defining game awaited both sides as 3rd placed Whitley Bay travelled to Kendal Town, who sat a point and a place below Jay Bates’s men. Bay welcomed back right-back George Brady, who re-signed for the club during the week, while Alfie Livermore’s younger brother Archie was named on the bench after signing with Bay.
It was Livermore who threatened first in this huge encounter, as his cross in from the right was cleared as far as Nathan Nkunku who volleyed the ball just over the bar. Kendal captain Bailey Kenny and DJ Taylor looked to catch out Mauro Asikaogu down the other end, but the Bay goalkeeper was alert on both occasions.
Livermore once again looked to spark this game into life, with his tame effort fizzling just wide after initial shots from Nkunku and Kieren Aplin were blocked by Jack Milburn, while Will McGladdery’s header was glanced wide at the far post for the hosts.
A fast start from both sides warranted an opener, and it was the visitors who got it with just over 10 minutes gone. A neat one-two between Nkunku and Livermore saw the latter get the ball back from the Bay No.9 before finishing well into the far corner past a diving Chris Cheetham. On the balance of play, Bay had edged it so far at this point and deserved this lead (0-1).
Cheetham was called into action once again not long after, as he prevented a second for the instrumental Livermore after Nkunku’s initial ball into the box failed to find Aplin making a run down the middle. Aplin himself saw a shot of his hit the side netting shortly after.
It was all Bay at this stage in the game, and it was Livermore at the forefront of it all, as the Bay winger guided crosses in towards both Mechack Kanda and Aplin, but the first ball just about evaded the Bay captain before Cheetham got to the second ball before Aplin could tap it home.
Bay should have doubled their advantage with 33 minutes gone when Nkunku’s strike from range was unlucky to have come back off the inside of the far post before Aplin failed to put away the rebound. Kendal striker James Bailey and Kenny also saw chances come to nothing before the first half came to a close.
Livermore was at it again with the second half just minutes old when his teasing cross from the left hand side almost found Aplin in the Kendal box, but the ball was cleared by Milburn. Josh Stewart also saw a tame long-range effort collected comfortably by Cheetham.
The hosts were still in this game, however, and looked to get back on level terms quickly, but Taylor’s header landed safely in the arms of Asikaogu. Aplin’s free kick moments later at the opposite end was unlucky not to be turned in by Graham Williams at the far post, instead seeing his wayward shot go wide.
Kendal’s best chance of the game so far fell the way of Zach Walker, who forced Asikaogu into a wonderful save to keep out his strike at the near post, while Jamie Looker headed wide minutes later.
With ten minutes to go, Bay finally doubled their advantage. A corner was won on the left hand side and was delivered with ease by Aplin into an area where Williams rose highest above everyone else and headed home past Cheetham. A big goal for Bates’s men, who had, in truth, soaked up a lot of pressure from the hosts in the second half but held firm (0-2).
Bay substitute Mikel Thompson could have made the points safe after being put through one-on-one with Cheetham, but the Kendal goalkeeper got down well to make the save.
With two minutes to go, Kendal did pull a goal back through Bailey, after the striker headed home at the near post with Asikaogu finally beaten on an afternoon where he barely had to make a save (1-2).
As second-half stoppage time went by, the hosts threw the kitchen sink at Bay in their quest to snatch a point, but the visitors held their own and took all three points back to North Tyneside to assume their place as leaders in the play-off chase.
The word “huge” would have proved an understatement for how important of a match this was, but in truth, bar James Bailey’s late consolation, it was a relatively comfortable afternoon for Jay Bates’s charges. Man of the Match Alfie Livermore got things underway with over 10 minutes gone before Graham Williams headed home from a corner 10 minutes from time with what proved to be the winner.
Another huge league clash awaits next Saturday when Horden CW visit Hillheads, but it’s the second El Clasicoast of the season this coming Tuesday first, as North Shields pay a visit of their own to Bay for a place in the semi-finals of the Northumberland Senior Cup.
Whitley Bay: Asikaogu, Brady, Christie, Shilling, Williams, Errington (Larmouth, 65’), Stewart, Kanda [C], Nkunku (Thompson, 70’), Aplin (Archie Livermore, 87’), Alfie Livermore (Forster, 77’)
Attendance: 504
Referee: Thomas Ross
Cautions: None
Man of the Match: Alfie Livermore - Up until he was substituted 13 minutes from time, the Bay No.11 was absolutely everywhere. The winger notched a deserved opener and essentially ran the show for Jay Bates’s men, ultimately proving the difference-maker in a game that could determine where Bay finish come the end of the season.
Match photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcqweb/albums/72177720332674733
