CROOK TOWN 1 WHITLEY BAY 2
Tuesday 3rd March 2026
Report by Jensen Coleman
After their narrow defeat at fellow play-off chasers Boro Rangers on Saturday, Bay were on the road once again, this time to 15th placed Crook Town. The Seasiders were boosted by the return of Jack Errington to the starting XI after missing out on Saturday entirely, while Alfie Livermore came in for Nathan Nkunku.
In what would ultimately prove to be somewhat of a cagey affair between the two sides, Bay captain Michael Scott would go close very early on; turning on a sixpence and firing towards goal, only for Adam Cameron to collect the shot comfortably.
It would then be Town’s turn to threaten the opener, as Josh Thynne’s free kick from the edge of the box was cleared off the line by Callum Larmouth. Bay would have a few more half chances down the other end moments later, with Mechack Kanda sending a wild attempt well wide of the mark and Mackenzie Sharpe unlucky not to head home from Kieren Aplin’s great ball in from the left hand side shortly after. Crook No.11 Jack Raper then saw a decent effort travel just over the bar.
As the game approached the half hour mark, Crook’s Charlie Bunton went down in the box under a challenge by Josh Stewart and the appeals for the penalty began, but the referee waved them away.
With Crook getting on the front foot at this point, Zac Niven saw his close range effort saved by Bay goalkeeper Mauro Asikaogu before Luca Nelson somehow scooped the ball over the woodwork from two yards out - the best chance of the game so far.
The hosts’ persistence would be rewarded just six minutes before the break when Joseph Smith cut the ball back towards the impressive Ashton Houlahan, who steered the ball home past Asikaogu to give the home side the lead their pressure had warranted (1-0).
With Bay showing their recent complacency at the back once again, Jay Bates knew a response was vital in the second half to keep their play-off hopes alive, and it seemed like the half time team talk was working, as Stewart’s cutback towards Mikel Thompson saw the latter’s goalbound shot cleared off the line by Niven.
Bay would get their leveller on the 58th minute, and what a strike it was. The ball was played forward towards Alfie Livermore, who laid the ball back to Larmouth just outside the box and the Bay No.11 struck a wonderful half volley into the far corner, leaving Crook goalkeeper Cameron rooted to the spot (1-1).
The 15 minutes that followed was a prime example of a scrappy midfield battle, with no real chances of note. But Scott would change that with 15 minutes to go, as he took the ball under his control well before curling a great effort just past the far post. Down the other end, it was Crook’s turn, as captain Joshua Allen worked some space before firing a fine attempt just over the bar.
Kanda then had another great opportunity for Bay to go in front at his feet, but the Bay No.8 somehow steered Thompson’s cross in from the right, wide from five yards out at the near post.
Ultimately, it would be Bay that ran out the winners of this contest as Jay Bates’s men won it three minutes from time. Substitutes Gildo Da Silva and Nathan Nkunku played a one-two just inside the box before the latter squared the ball across the goalmouth to Sharpe, who tapped the ball in at the far post - a massive goal in the race for the play-offs (1-2).
As the game came to a close, Da Silva and Sharpe both had decent chances to finish Crook off, but their strikes went just wide, before Houlahan’s volley from 25 yards out whiskered past the far post down the other end with moments to go.
A response to Saturday would have been the one thing on Jay Bates’s mind coming into this fixture, but after a somewhat disjointed first half, his players fought back in style through Callum Larmouth’s third goal in as many games and Mackenzie Sharpe’s late winner. The perfect preparation for Saturday’s trip to West Allotment Celtic, who currently play at Craik Park in Morpeth, where Bay fans will be hopeful of three more points to aid their play-off push.
Whitley Bay: Asikaogu, Stewart, Aplin (Christie, 77’), Shilling (Forster, 77’), Scott [C], Errington (Nkunku, 73’), Livermore (Da Silva, 77’), Kanda, Sharpe, Thompson, Larmouth
Substitute not used: Owen Lees
Attendance: 256
Caution(s): Errington (6’), Larmouth (93’)
Referee: Thomas Ross
Man of the match: Mackenzie Sharpe - The Bay No.9 may have got what proved to be the winner on the night, but it was his eagerness to get to every ball that was crossed into the Crook box that would have impressed the Bay fans in attendance. A striker’s predatory instincts on full show from Sharpe.
