WHITLEY BAY 4 NEWCASTLE BENFIELD 0
SATURDAY 9th AUGUST 2025
Report by Julian Tyley
In a superb team performance, Whitley swept aside the challenge of league leaders Newcastle Benfield to take over at the top of the table. Only four games into the new season, they are looking a much stronger side in all departments but what is particularly impressive is their goalscoring record, with 14 goals scored, almost double the total of any other side.
A healthy sign is that the goals are being shared out and they are not reliant on any one player. On this occasion, it was Mackenzie Sharpe who stole the show with a hat trick, while Layton Campbell, who scored twice in midweek at Penrith, turned provider setting up the first two goals.
On a sunny but blustery afternoon, the first real attempt on goal came with ten minutes played when a free kick into the box by Benfield was punched clear by Asikaogu and Ames sent the rebound high over the bar.
There was a lengthy delay around the quarter hour while Jack Errington received treatment and had to be replaced Graham Williams. Errington’s form since arriving at the club had been impressive so to lose him so early in the game was a blow.
Undeterred, Whitley began to impose themselves and in the 19th minute, Mikel Thompson delivered a great ball in from the left. Coming in towards the back post, Campbell’s volley flew across goal and inches wide of the far post.
Three minutes later Whitley broke the deadlock when Campbell played a high looping ball in from the right touch line. Sharpe latched onto the ball on the edge of the box and following a scramble involving a defender and the keeper Lennon Trinder, Sharpe got the vital touch to poke the ball home and put Whitley in front.
Another injury forced Whitley into a second substitution with Josh Stewart having to be replaced after half an hour, with Robbie Christie taking his place in defence.
The changes did not disrupt the flow of the game and Whitley went close in the 35th minute when Campbell’s cross from the right was met with a great close range header from Aplin but Trinder made an excellent block to keep the ball out.
Just before the interval, Aplin forced another good save from the keeper and at the break, it was Whitley who held a narrow but deserved advantage.
The second half got off to an explosive start as within 60 seconds Whitley doubled their lead. Campbell attacked down the right and went past a defender before crossing low into the box. The ball was cleared back out to him where he took it past two men before delivering across the 18 yard box where Sharpe’s shot took a slight deflection off the back of a defender as it flew into the net.
The cheers had barely died down before Whitley launched another attack. This time Meeshi Kanda rode a strong challenge in midfield before slotting the ball through to Sharpe who cut inside and finding himself in space drilled a first time effort from the edge of the box low past Trinder and just inside his near post. Two goals in three minutes completed a hat trick for the Bay striker and left the visitors stunned with their hopes of a second half comeback in tatters.
Amid all the excitement, Whitley had made a third enforced substitution with Jake Forster hobbling off to be replaced by recent signing Henry Harvey.
The youngster was to enjoy his own moment in the limelight just past the hour mark when Sharpe crossed from wide on the right wing and Harvey, coming in at the back post, hit the ball into the ground before it looped over Trinder. Galbraith did his best to keep it out but the ball had clearly crossed the line with the assistant signalling the goal. It was his first goal since joining Whitley in the summer and was particularly satisfying having played for Benfield last season.
In complete control, Whitley were quicker to every ball, winning the midfield battle and they might have rubbed salt into the Benfield wounds in the 70th minute when Campbell robbed the keeper of the ball outside the box, attempted to lob him but could not get enough height on the ball and Trinder grabbed it above his head to save his blushes.
The visitors had produced little in attack but with 15 minutes to go they very nearly pulled a goal back, but Asikaogu produced a great diving save to push clear when Scott’s attempted defensive header from a Benfield cross was destined for the net.
Another attempt by the visitors was well saved as Whitley held firm to ensure a clean sheet, their first of the season.
The final whistle was greeted with a rousing ovation by the home fans, in what was the first league game of the season at Hillheads.
The victory took Whitley top of the table on goal difference and while it is still very early days, performances and entertainment of this sort should surely bring fans through the turnstiles in increasing numbers.
They are back at Hillheads next Saturday when current second top side Carlisle City are the visitors, but before then they have their fourth away game out of five on Tuesday night when they visit Marske United.
WHITLEY BAY: Asikaogu. Stewart(Christie 31mins), Thompson(Achuo 65mins), Forster(Harvey 48mins), Scott, Errington(Williams 16mins), Campbell, Kanda, Sharpe(Lees 79mins), Aplin, Larmouth
Cautions: Christie, Harvey, Campbell
Referee: Alex Atchison
Attendance: 287
Bay Fencing North East Ltd Man of the Match: Mackenzie Sharpe
