KENDAL TOWN 0 WHITLEY BAY 1
Saturday 22nd February 2025
Report by Julian Tyley
Whitley returned from Kendal with three precious points after a hard fought game which saw the sides swap places in the Northern League table with the Bay edging to within five points of the play off positions. Kendal have one of the best home records in the league and with Whitley’s captain Michael Scott suspended, their task looked to be a tough one.
However, a goal twelve minutes from time by substitute Regan Paterson earned them an important victory.
Graham Williams, signed just the previous day, and who spent a year at the club back in the 2017/18 season, made his return debut at centre back and his calm authority and organisation was to prove invaluable.
A key moment in the game came as early as the ninth minute when Kendal’s Niall Cowperthwaite was sent off in controversial circumstances. Lucas Lowery raced through on goal and was tripped by the home side’s skipper two yards inside the box. It seemed an obvious penalty and consequent yellow card but to the bewilderment of many inside the ground, the referee awarded a free kick inches outside the box and showed Cowperthwaite a red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
Presumably the match official felt that the initial foul took place outside the box and therefore penalised that offence but it left the home side without a key defender for the remainder of the game.
In the opening exchanges of the game Kendal, who were playing down the slope, had posed the greater threat. They went close in the sixth minute when a ball was played in from the left and was driven into the side netting from near the back of the box by Dudley.
Even when down to ten men, they still pressed forward and Tom Kilifin sent a shot narrowly wide after 17 minutes.
Whitley then created a couple of chances, Larmouth firing over the bar before Lowery drove in a powerful effort but Kendal keeper Chris Cheetham got behind the ball and made the save.
Kyle Cockburn was then played away down the left wing but his cross into the box was deflected just wide.
Back at the other end, Dan Gladstone made a vital save, racing off his line to clear the ball when it had been played through the Bay defence.
In the 38th minute, Kendal thought they had broken the deadlock when Yawson put the ball in the net but the flag had already been raised for offside against Bailey and the home celebrations were cut short.
In first half stoppage time, there was pandemonium in the Kendal six yard box when a shot from Larmouth took a deflection and Mackenzie Sharpe went in with his foot to try and poke the loose ball past Cheetham, but the two collided and the keeper required treatment. Home players reacted to what was a 50/50 challenge, there was a melee involving players from both sides and Lowery was pushed to the ground. When calm was restored and the referee consulted his assistant, Sharpe was cautioned and not long after, the half time whistle was blown with the game goal less.
Whitley began the second half strongly and a cross deep into the goalmouth by Cockburn was headed just over the bar by Sharpe. Shortly past the hour Lowery played the ball wide to Brady on the right but his cross was slightly mis-directed and crashed into the side netting.
Bailey wasted a good chance for the Mintcakes blazing his effort over the bar before substitute Winder got into a good position but a weak shot was easily saved by Gladstone.
The Bay keeper faced a much greater test four minutes later, making an excellent one handed save as he pushed a dangerous free kick from Dudley over the bar.
Despite being down to ten men the home side were proving resilient but Whitley finally made the break through with 12 minutes remaining when Lowery played a perfectly judged ball through the Kendal defence to Regan Paterson who had only been on the pitch four minutes and timed his run well to stay onside. With space on the left edge of the six yard box, Paterson chipped the ball over Cheetham and into the net for an excellent goal.
Kendal pushed more men forward in search of an equaliser but Whitley’s defence remained solid, Williams twice heading clear.
Inevitably the home side left gaps at the back and Whitley almost exploited one opportunity but Lowery was caught offside when well placed.
Deep into stoppage time, Gladstone pushed a free kick over the bar and when Josh Stewart headed the resulting corner clear, the final whistle was blown and Whitley could celebrate a hard earned victory with their travelling fans.
The game may not have been a classic but it was a second win of the week and to keep a clean sheet against their free scoring opponents for the second time this season was a significant achievement.
WHITLEY BAY: Gladstone, Stewart, Brady, Forster, Williams, Kanda, Djalo(Parkinson 62mins), Larmouth, Sharpe, Lowery, Cockburn(Paterson 73mins)
Substitutes not used: Crawford, Parker, Wilson
Referee: Mark Karvounis
Cautions: Sharpe, Lowery
Attendance: 442
Match photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcqweb/albums/
