CARLISLE CITY 2 WHITLEY BAY 3
Friday 5th September 2025
Report by Julian Tyley
A stoppage time goal from Callum Larmouth extended Whitley’s winning run to eight games and ensured they remained four points clear at the top of the table.
Quite remarkably this was the third consecutive season that Whitley have won 3-2 at Gillford Park and as on those previous two occasions, it was a closely contested game which could have gone either way.
Carlisle will certainly feel they deserved something from this game and it was undoubtedly the toughest test Whitley have faced so far this season.
That they not only retained their unbeaten record but also picked up all three points is a reflection of their resilience and determination to keep going to the end.
This Friday night visit to Cumbria came less than three weeks since the sides met at Hillheads with Whitley emerging comfortable 3-0 winners, but any thoughts of a similar outcome were quickly dispelled as the home side looked to dominate the early stages.
Inside two minutes Mauro Asikaogu was in the action, diving to save a low shot from inside the left edge of the box.
The home side continued to look lively in attack and they took a deserved lead with 13 minutes played when Jordan Irving cut in from the left past Thompson and drilled the ball just inside the near post from around 12 yards.
Whitley knew they were in a real contest and fought their way back into the game. They had an element of fortune nine minutes later when Aplin’s right wing corner was played back to him by a defender. He then drove a strong shot low into the six yard box where it was inadvertently poked into his own net by defender Kyle May.
Carlisle responded with another attempt on goal but Barker’s shot was blocked by Asikaogu. An effort by Birdsall curled wide of the upright as the hosts battled to restore their lead but a minute later it was Whitley who almost went in front when Aplin rounded the keeper and his shot looked to be heading for the net until Simpson hooked the ball off the line and ended up in the back of the net himself. His bravery appeared to leave him injured but fortunately he was able to continue.
A glancing header from Kanda was off target but in stoppage time, Thompson cleared off the line at the other end to ensure that the sides went in level at the interval.
Six minutes after the restart, Campbell’s shot struck a defender and the ball flew high over the bar. At the other end Blair had a shot saved but three minutes before the hour, Asikaogu pulled off two fine saves to keep Whitley level. Firstly he made a great one handed save to push a shot from Barker round the post, then from the resulting corner, he punched clear a header from May.
A bad foul by Blair on Campbell went unpunished by the referee who nevertheless went on to hand out no fewer than seven yellow cards in a game that was generally played in good spirit by both sides.
Chances continued to come at both ends and Mackenzie Sharpe went close for Whitley with a first time effort from inside the six yard box but the ball flew over the bar.
However, the Bay took the lead just over a minute later when a right wing corner taken by Larmouth was headed down by Sharpe and Campbell was on hand to lash home from close range.
Ahead for the first time in the game, Whitley would have been looking to continue their recent excellent defensive record and see the game out but with both sides looking to attack at every opportunity, more goals looked likely and so it turned out.
Ten minutes from time, an excellent ball played in from the right eluded the Bay defence and defender Sam Smith stole in at the back post to head home the equaliser and set up an exciting finale.
Into the last five minutes, Campbell’s shot from near the right by-line rebounded off the far post into the keeper’s hands and a quick throw out led to a rapid counter attack. Irving attempted to break clear down the middle but when Bay substitute Jack Errington tumbled to the ground the referee immediately awarded a free kick. Irving went on to head over the advancing Asikaogu and into the net but the whistle had long since been blown.
The drama continued and into stoppage time, Larmouth burst forward but was brought down barely a yard outside the left edge of the Carlisle box.
Stepping up to take the free kick himself, he fired a tremendous shot beyond the keeper and into the far corner of the net to the delight of the Bay fans who had made the journey across to Cumbria.
It was the decisive moment of an action packed and thoroughly entertaining game and a cruel blow for a Carlisle side that must have believed they could end Whitley’s unbeaten record.
The next two league games could well be even tougher tests for Jay Bates’ side. The only other unbeaten team in the League are Shildon and they are the visitors to Hillheads this Saturday, while a trip to another top side Guisborough awaits four days later.
WHITLEY BAY: Asikaogu, Thompson, Christie, Larmouth, Williams, Stewart, Campbell, Kanda, Sharpe, Aplin(Errington 66mins) Livermore (Forster 66mins)
Substitutes not used: Colquhoun, Harvey, Achuo
Referee: David Mitchell
Cautions: Thompson, Williams, Larmouth, Sharpe
Attendance: 255
