WHITLEY BAY 3-2 WEST AUCKLAND
Tuesday 1 April, 7:30PM, League
West Auckland pushed title challenging Whitley Bay all the way but could not quite hang on for a point after battling so hard against Bay pressure, strong winds and injuries in the second half. they had stunned the hosts by snatching a half time lead in an entertaining game.
Following Bay's Vase exploits on Saturday, West Auckland nearly stunned the hosts as early as the fourth minute when the frame of the goal denied Neil Robinson - the young keeper raced out of his goal to clear just in time from Dale Jardine, his clearance though only went as far as Robinson whose shot wrong footed the covering defender and hit the post.
Shortly after Bryan Stewart, playing despite not fully recovering from a dead leg at the weekend, beat 2 men and fired narrowly wide from 25 yard in a positive start by the visitors.
However Whitley Bay came back into it and there first real effort came in the 16th minute with Paul Chow turning his marker but seeing his shot saved by the returning Mark Bell. Robinson responded by pulling a shot wide and in the 25th minute his strike partner Dale Jardine came close to give West the lead when he challenged with a defender and the ball the ball looped just over the bar.
2 minutes later though Whitley Bay were ahead - a free kick was fired in low and hard and Brian Rowe raced in to flick the ball into the net from close range.
Minutes later the lead should have been doubled - good play saw the ball pulled back and the shot crashed off the inside of the post. The ball was then not cleared by West and another shot was deflected wide from close range.
Bryan Stewart went on a mazy run to try and create an opening although his effort was held as West searched for a way back into the game. It was given to them in the 34th minute when the keeper wanted too much time on the ball, he was quickly closed down by Neil Robinson who challenged the keeper and poked the ball into the net.
Robinson has a chance shortly afterwards but snatched at his shot pulling it wide. He was sharper in the 38th minute however when he won a challenge then released Paul Freary to race clear. Freary knocked the ball past the keeper, who had raced out to the edge of his area, before calmly sliding the ball into the net to give West Auckland the lead at half time.
The second half saw Whitley Bay come out the raps much quicker - perhaps after a strong half time team talk, and they could have leveled within 7 minutes when a free header from the centre of the goal was tipped over by Mark Bell.
Another header was held before Bay did equalise in the 56th minute - the winger sped down the touchline then cut inside, playing the ball across to Robbie Livermore who steered the ball home.
Whitley nearly gifted the lead back to West moments later when Robinson's cross was deflected goalwards by the defender and the keeper was alert to push the ball for a corner. Brian Fairhurst saw a free kick fly over the bar as West tried to respond to Whitley Bay pressure.
The hosts should have taken the lead with a good cross finding an unmarked player rushing in only for his shot from 12 yards to be superbly pushed away by Mark Bell to keep West hopes of points alive.
West were beginning to struggle with tired legs - Neil Robinson was struggling to move after injuring his knee whilst Bryan Stewart also was suffering with injury although they had to carry on till the end. Whitley Bay, needing to win to keep title hopes alive brought on star forward Lee Kerr to try and turn 1 point into 3.
Robinson was in the right place with 11 minutes left as the ball dropped to him 20 yards out and his volley just say cleared the bar. 2 minutes later Whitley Bay broke West resistance when Chris Moore grabbed the winner. The winger cut inside before firing an effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
They should have wrapped up the game with 5 minutes left when Lee Kerr got past 2 players but with the goal insight pulled his shot wide from 18 yards. West tried to press the game although Jardine also began to struggle more towards the end with injury and the hosts were left to celebrate the final whistle with relief after being pushed close by an injury hit West Auckland side.
1. Mark Bell, 2. Thomas Louden, 3. Kevin Bromley, 4. Brian Fairhurst, 5. Ian Maddison, 6. Bryan Stewart, 7. Paul Freary, 8. Danny Richmond, 9. Dale Jardine, 10. Neil Robinson, 11. Stuart Owen