NORTHALLERTON TOWN 0 WHITLEY BAY 5
Tuesday 31st March 2026
Report by Julian Tyley
Whitley secured the point they needed to guarantee a place in the play-offs in emphatic style with an impressive and convincing midweek victory at Northallerton Town, scoring four times in the first half with striker Mackenzie Sharpe getting a hat trick to take his total for the season to 24 goals.
With Michael Scott not available, 18 year old Alan Achuo made a rare start while Jake Forster continued his recovery from injury starting his first game since January.
Whitley really should have opened the scoring inside 60 seconds but having gone round the keeper, Thompson was thwarted by a last ditch block almost on the line.
They were not denied for long though as Sharpe capitalised on a misplaced pass by Northallerton midfielder Coatsworth. Seizing the loose ball, he brushed off the challenge of a defender and burst through to fired home past Coulson.
Asikaogu pulled off a great save as Northallerton tried to get back on terms but immediately afterwards, Bay broke away and won a free kick just outside the box. Callum Larmouth stepped up and completely deceived the keeper with a powerful shot to put Bay 2-0 ahead.
Little more than a minute later a great flowing move started by skipper on the night Thompson ended with Sharpe going wide of the keeper to slot home the third goal, leaving Allerton deflated.
Moments before the interval Sharpe timed his run perfectly to meet a through ball from Thompson before racing into the box, rounding the keeper and putting into an empty net to complete his hat trick to leave Bay 4-0 ahead at the break.
Nkunku, who replaced Sharpe after the interval, was immediately in the action, forcing a corner on the left. When the ball wads played into the box, Kanda drilled a first time effort goalbound but Coulson did well to push the ball clear. Three minutes later, a ball poked across goal from the right by Stewart almost crept in at the far post.
Asikaogu was having a quiet game but when necessary he did what was required and after 64 minutes leapt to palm a speculative effort from Martin over the bar.
With the game won, the second half saw series of Bay changes with all five substitutes given game time. One of the five, teenager Owen Lees completed the scoring midway through the half, latching onto a precisely played ball from Kanda down the left before closing in on goal and beating the advancing Coulson with a shot into the far corner.
With ten minutes left, Asikaogu ensured another clean sheet when he pushed a header from Croft over the bar.
The good size contingent of Bay fans who made the lengthy journey to North Yorkshire gave their side a rousing reception at the final whistle, knowing that they had ensured their place in the end of season promotion play-offs. The next target will be to claim third place and a home game in the play-off semi final.
WHITLEY BAY: Asikaogu, Stewart, Aplin(Christie 58mins), Kanda(Archie Livermore 77mins), Achuo, Errington, Shilling, Forster(Lees 58mins), Sharpe(Nkunku 46mins), Thompson, Larmouth(Alfie Livermore 66mins)
Referee: Timothy Craig
Cautions: None
Attendance: 203
