NEWCASTLE BENFIELD 1 WHITLEY BAY 2
Saturday 20th December 2025
Report by Jensen Coleman
Following their 1-0 win over Penrith last Saturday at Hillheads, the Bay were back on the road, although they wouldn’t be heading far for this pre-Christmas clash. Hosts Newcastle Benfield would be the latest to test their mettle against Jay Bates’ promotion-chasing squad. Mackenzie Sharpe, who had started last week’s home victory over Penrith, was not well enough to start the game having felt sick overnight; the bench proving a safer option. Callum Larmouth, Kieren Aplin and Mikel Thompson, however, were all unavailable, leaving Jay Bates bringing in brother Guy to complete the substitutes bench.
Bay may have been depleted, but they started the game with intent, as Gildo Da Silva saw an early shot saved by the Benfield goalkeeper before Josh Stewart saw his rebound fly just over the bar. Jake Forster’s header was also just off target from a corner a few minutes later.
A quite outrageous effort from Robbie Christie soon followed, as the left-back spotted the Benfield goalkeeper from 30 yards out and went for it, but saw his long-range strike thwarted by a combination of the crossbar and the fingertips of the home stopper.
Half-chances for the hosts also came and went, with Mauro Asikaogu unfazed by most of them. However, in what was proving a incredibly competitive derby between the 8-mile rivals, Bay had edged the contest thus far and deservedly took the lead in the 25th minute. Josh Stewart received the ball down the right hand side and drove forward before cutting the ball back to the bright spark Da Silva, who took a touch before smashing the ball into the bottom corner to break the deadlock (0-1).
The Bay almost doubled their lead two minutes later, only for Alfie Livermore to bend the ball well over the woodwork from a decent ball by Da Silva. The Bay goalscorer also could have added to his tally for the afternoon, but his tame effort whistled just wide of the far post.
As the half drew to a close, Benfield had a few chances to level the match up, but the opportunities ultimately came to nothing as Asikaogu was alert and composed between the sticks.
The early minutes of the second 45 saw more chances come and go for the Bay to extend their lead, with the best opportunity seeing Stewart very unlucky not to see his deflected strike bobble in at the Benfield stopper’s near post. Jack Errington also saw a header travel the wrong side of the far post from the resulting corner.
As the game reached the 55th minute, a huge moment of controversy ensued as the home side thought they had an equaliser after Benfield’s Bradley Varga steered the ball past Asikaogu after some pinball in the box. To the shock of the home dugout especially, the linesman already had his flag up for offside a few seconds after the goal was scored. After discussion with the linesman, the referee concurred with the decision, leaving everyone of a Benfield persuasion baffled; and the Bay riding their luck.
Feeling hard done by, the hosts then took the game by the scruff of the neck, seeing multiple decent chances come and go, but once again thwarted by Asikaogu in the Bay goal.
With Bay under pressure to retain their lead, it all came to a head in the 71st minute when a handball by Christie saw the referee award a spot kick to the hosts, with the penalty duly being slotted into the bottom corner past Asikaogu by Andre Bennett. Benfield feeling that penalty was justice for the controversial offside decision (1-1).
Bay responded in kind, as a driving run from Stewart saw his ball into the box latched onto by Mechack Kanda, only for the visiting No. 8 to get it all wrong from just inside the box and steer his effort well over the bar. Benfield sub James Wilson then saw his long-range strike saved well by Asikaogu, even if the view was slightly obscured.
With seven minutes remaining, Bay were back in front. With Christie tripped over on the edge of the box, Bay had a free kick in a promising position. And considering he was ill overnight, substitute Mackenzie Sharpe would’ve certainly been feeling a lot better after his free kick caught out the Benfield goalkeeper and notched itself in the back of the net, and all of a sudden, the visitors were back in front (1-2).
Sharpe almost wrapped the three points up for Bay deep into second-half stoppage time with a third goal, but his tame strike fell straight into the arms of the Benfield stopper. The hosts also saw one final opportunity whisker just wide with what proved the final kick of a thoroughly enjoyable contest.
All-in-all, a huge early Christmas present for the Whitley Bay faithful and the perfect preparation for Boxing Day’s big clash with fierce rivals North Shields at Hillheads. For the neutral fan, another great advert for the Ebac Northern League came to fruition with both sides battling for the points from the first whistle. A very merry Christmas for Jay Bates and his staff, whose team now sit third in the table ahead of a very tough run of fixtures in the weeks to come.
WHITLEY BAY: Asikaogu, Williams, Christie, Forster, Scott [C], Errington, Livermore (Sharpe, 67), Kanda, Nkunku (Bates, 63), Stewart, Da Silva (Shilling, 81)
Cautions: Christie (51), Kanda (58)
Attendance: 179
Referee: Michael Moore
Match photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcqweb/albums/72177720331043147/
Player Of The Match: Gildo Da Silva - a brilliant performance from the 17-year-old who ran the show for the Bay throughout, capped off with a well-taken strike in the first half to open the scoring
