NEWCASTLE FLOORING NORTHUMBERLAND SENIOR CUP 1st ROUND
WHITLEY BAY 2 WEST ALLOTMENT CELTIC 0
TUESDAY 14th OCTOBER 2025
Report by Julian Tyley
Whitley are through the Quarter Finals of the Northumberland Senior Cup after a hard fought but ultimately well deserved victory over West Allotment Celtic.
The goals, both spectacular efforts, came in quick succession midway through the first half. Thereafter, the visitors enjoyed the greater share of possession but rarely threatened to get back in the game.
The return of Josh Stewart in place of Alan Achuo was the only change to the Bay side who lost their 100% home league record at the weekend while the visitors named former Bay players Dan Gladstone and Alfa Djalo in their starting eleven.
There was little goalmouth action in the opening 15 minutes, a shot following a corner by Allotment flying over the bar failing to trouble Asikaogu in the Bay goal.
Two attempts at the other end came to nothing before the game burst to life in sensational fashion in the 18th minute.
A ball played forward by Michael Scott was headed high out of defence by the visitors and when it dropped, Mackenzie Sharpe fully 35 yards from goal allowed it to bounce back up before unleashing a tremendous shot that flew past Gladstone and just inside the upright.
Just thirty seconds after the restart, Whitley doubled their lead with another amazing goal. Callum Larmouth played an excellent crossfield ball to Mikel Thompson who cut in from the left to the edge of the 18 yard box before delivering a stunning shot that crashed off the inside of the far post and into the net with Gladstone rooted to the spot.
Two goal of the season contenders had put Whitley firmly in control of the cup tie and what was to follow for the remainder of the game was very much ‘After the Lord Mayor’s Show’
The confidence from his opening goal gave Sharpe the belief to try another remarkable effort, an overhead kick from Livermore’s cross but this time the ball flew high over the bar.
Seven minutes before the interval, Allotment produced their best effort of the game with a shot from just inside the box that crashed off the bar before being cleared to safety by the home defence.
Just two minutes into the second half, Thompson took the ball along the edge of the Allotment box before playing it back to Kieren Aplin whose shot was held at the second attempt by Gladstone, with the ball almost trickling over the line.
An attempt by Djalo was only narrowly wide in the 56th minute and while the visitors continued to have a lot of the ball Whitley contained them effectively.
Both sides made several substitutions in the final half hour but goalmouth action was limited and Whitley saw out the game fairly comfortably to ensure their place in the final eight for the first time in three years.
Attention now turns to the FA Vase on Saturday, another home tie for Whitley when the club will be hoping for another large crowd when they take on Humberside club Barton Town, currently among the leaders in the Northern Counties East League.
WHITLEY BAY: Asikaogu, Stewart, Aplin(Harvey 89mins), Forster, Scott, Williams, Thompson(McCarthy 69mins), Kanda, Sharpe(Lees 83mins), Larmouth, Livermore
Substitutes not used: Higgins, Achuo
Referee: David Carr
Cautions: Stewart, Aplin
Attendance: 242
Bay Fencing North East Ltd man of the match: Mackenzie Sharpe
