NEWCASTLE BLUE STAR 3 WHITLEY BAY 3
Saturday 26th July 2025
Report by Julian Tyley
If this six goal thriller was a sign of what is to come, Bay fans are in for an exciting and entertaining season!
The opening fixture of the Northern League campaign saw Whitley face a tough challenge away to last season’s beaten play-off finalists Newcastle Blue Star, who are seen by many as favourites for promotion this time around. However, in what turned out to be a real rollercoaster of a game, Whitley were two goals ahead by the interval, before Star fought back to level the score. A third Bay goal looked to have sealed victory, but despite seeing a last minute penalty saved, the hosts claimed a point thanks to a stoppage time own goal.
Wearing a smart new yellow and black away kit, Whitley gave debuts to four summer signings, all of whom made significant contributions across the pitch.
Inside the first minute, one of the debutants Kieren Aplin tried an audacious shot from the halfway line, seeing former Bay keeper Dan Lister off his line but the ball drifted wide of the right post.
Blue Star’s first chance came in the fifth minute when captain Connor Oliver’s free kick was palmed behind by Bay’s new teenage keeper Mauro Asikaogu. Whitley responded five minutes later with Josh Stewart drilling a shot wide of the near post from just outside the box.
An overhit back pass nearly caused problems for Whitley but they recovered and Wilson’s attempt failed to hit the target.
The opening goal came just past the half hour mark when Layton Campbell collected the ball on the right, worked his way past a couple of defenders before firing a low shot from a narrow angle that beat Lister’s dive and nestled in the far corner of the net. It was an excellent individual effort by the young debutant and delighted the large following of Bay fans.
It got even better for Whitley on the stroke of half time when Aplin’s left wing corner was met by a bullet header from centre back Jack Errington, Whitley’s fourth debutant, giving Lister no chance as it flew into the net to give Jay Bates’ side a 2-0 interval lead.
A reaction from the home side was only to be expected but it took a double substitution and change of formation on the hour to make a difference. Within two minutes of being brought on the pitch Charlie Smith drove a shot from the left of the box across Asikaogu and into the net to reduce the arrears. The goal spurred on Blue Star and with the home crowd getting behind their side they pushed forward with a series of attacks that forced Whitley back in defence.
It came as little surprise when the equaliser arrived with just under 20 minutes remaining, former Bay defender Chris Reid beating Asikaogu with a powerful shot from the left edge of the box.
Rather than capitulating after losing their two goal advantage, Whitley battled back and forced two corners in quick succession. The second one taken from the right by Callum Larmouth caused problems in the Blue Star six yard box and Meeshi Kanda seized on the loose ball, poking it goalwards. An outstretched foot from a defender failed to keep the ball out and Whitley were back in front with less than ten minutes remaining.
The drama was far from over with Wilson heading narrowly wide for Blue Star before Larmouth hit the side netting as he attempted to beat Lister at his near post.
In the 90th minute, Bay hearts sank when the referee awarded the home side a penalty after Lanning went down in the box.
The Blue Star striker picked himself up to take the spot kick but was denied as Asikaogu dived to push the ball wide before Wilson blazed the rebound h
It was looking like the game was won but the home side kept pushing forward and in a cruel twist of fate, Bay captain Michael Scott who had done an excellent job all afternoon containing dangerous striker Wilson, poked a cross from Heppell into his own net as he attempted to clear the ball.
With the goal coming deep into stoppage time there was no time for Whitley to respond and the points were shared.
While there was an obvious sense of disappointment at the final whistle, in reality it was probably a fair outcome between two well matched sides and before the game, most Bay fans would have gladly taken a point.
It was certainly a very encouraging start to the season with Whitley looking a stronger side with the new arrivals.
They will hope to take this positive start into their next game on Wednesday, when they are on the road again at Whickham.
WHITLEY BAY: Asikaogu, Stewart, Christie, Kanda, Scott, Errington, Campbell(Lees 90mins), Larmouth, Forster, Aplin(G Bates 65mins), Thompson
Substitutes not used: Williams, Achuo, Harvey
Referee: Patrick Laws
Attendance: 548
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcqweb/albums/72177720327871209
