BIRTLEY TOWN 1 WHITLEY BAY 1
Tuesday 8th April 2025
Report by Julian Tyley
An outstanding performance by home goalkeeper Alfie Gordon denied Whitley victory in a keenly contested game at Birtley.
Unlike in Saturday’s game at title chasing Shildon, Whitley created numerous chances but were thwarted by Gordon time after time until Callum Larmouth struck a stunning long range shot into the top corner of the net with just 11 minutes remaining.
However, the hosts battled back and equalised four minutes from the end of normal time for a share of the points.
This was a much improved Birtley side from the one that Whitley crushed 6-0 at Hillheads in October. Indeed, they came into this game in excellent form, beaten just once in their previous ten games.
However it was Whitley who might have gone ahead just seconds after kick off when Lucas Lowery raced clear onto a through ball with only Gordon to beat but the keeper reacted quickly and blocked the shot.
Ten minutes later Marley was played through at the other end but his shot was off target. Play was switching from end to end as both sides searched for the breakthrough but it was Whitley who posed the greater threat.
With 18 minutes played, three attempts in rapid succession forced Birtley back on the defensive. An effort from Mackenzie Sharpe was narrowly wide then Larmouth had a shot well blocked by Gordon before the keeper made a tremendous save to push a fierce shot from Kanda wide of the target. From the resulting corner, Josh Stewart thudded a header against the bar.
Five minutes later it was Whitley who were saved by the frame of the goal as a free kick from Heslop clipped the top of the bar.
Lowery then went close for Whitley but four yellow cards in a short space of time, two for each side, disrupted the flow of the game.
The half ended with a spectacular overhead kick from Sharpe, meeting a cross from George Brady with near perfect timing, but the ball flew inches over the bar and at the break, despite all the chances there were no goals.
Four minutes after the restart, the referee had his cards out again following an off the ball incident. Birtley’s Nick Marley was sent off for violent conduct while Whitley had Meeshi Kanda cautioned.
Frustration was growing both on and off the pitch with appeals for fouls whenever a player went down and a yellow card was shown to a member of the home dugout for comments made to the referee.
Whitley brought on Cockburn and Paterson for Lowery and Williams, both of whom had been booked, midway through the half while Birtley also made changes.
A ball across the goalmouth by former Bay man James Proctor drifted wide while two minutes later another powerful goalbound effort from Larmouth was pushed over the bar by Gordon.
At the other end Heslop fired wide with Gladstone untroubled but moments later Whitley were back on the attack with Cockburn’s pace down the left causing problems for the Birtley defence and when he crossed into the six yard box, Sharpe sent a header over the bar.
The home side wasted a good opportunity blazing high over the bar following a corner but then approaching the final ten minutes, Larmouth conjured up a moment of magic, smashing a superb shot from outside the box high into the top corner of the net to put Whitley ahead.
It was a goal worthy of winning the game but despite being down to ten men, Birtley were not to be denied and in the 86th minute, Heslop struck the ball from out on the right, across goal and in off the far post.
This set up a tense finale with both sides looking for a winner.
Into stoppage time, Gladstone blocked an effort from Heslop but it was Whitley who came closest to snatching victory with Sharpe and Paterson combining only for Gordon to pull off yet another tremendous save, pushing a fierce shot round the post.
In the end Birtley were happy to play out an extended period of added time to maintain their unbeaten run.
WHITLEY BAY: Gladstone, Brady, Christie, Forster, Scott, Williams(Paterson 63mins), Larmouth, Stewart, Sharpe, Kanda, Lowery(Cockburn 63mins)
Substitutes not used: Djalo, Parkinson, Wilson
Cautions: Williams, Sharpe, Kanda, Lowery
Referee: David Mitchell
Attendance: 142
Match photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcqweb/albums/72177720324985558
