Bay Team
1	Kindley, Tom
2	Anderson, Callum
3	Fawcett, Chris
4	Timmons, Darren
5	Coulson, David
6	Ryan, Leon
7	McFarlane, Craig
8	Hodgson, Richard
9	Johnston, Adam
10	Chow, Paul
11	Robinson, Paul
12	Reid, Chris
13	Bell, Phil
14	Kerr, Lee
15	Robson, Damon
16	Burke, Terry

Match Report By Julian Tyley

Whitley Bay have produced some excellent performances during the first two months of this season but Saturday’s display at Horden was quite stunning and there can be few non league teams who would have lived with Whitley on this showing.

On an excellent wide playing surface, and backed by another large and vocal band of travelling fans, Whitley were soon on the attack. Inside three minutes, a free kick from Robinson about 25 yards from goal was headed on by Ryan to Coulson but as the ball trickled just past the post, an offside flag was raised. However, despite this narrow escape the warning signs were there as the home side left too much space in defence.

They were quick to counter though, and Stuart Brightwell, a veteran from the Durham side that Whitley beat in the 2002 FA Vase semi final, raced away down the right before firing a shot that failed to trouble Kindley in the Bay goal.

In the seventh minute, Whitley won a corner on the right and Hodgson’s ball into the box was side footed towards the far corner by Darren Timmons. The ball was probably going in anyway but Adam Johnston was taking no chances and drilled it home from close range. Six minutes later it was almost 2-0 when Chris Fawcett sent a low cross from the left across the face of goal. Paul Chow looked about to get back on the score sheet but had the ball whipped off his toes by defender Mark Scott. Whitley’s incisive play reaped its reward a minute later when Chow played the ball through to Johnston, who beat the offside trap and found himself one on one with keeper Craig Shields before calmly slotting the ball home from ten yards.

Two goals up inside the first 15 minutes, Whitley looked in complete control but to their credit Horden battled away and an excellent shot from Martin O’Riordan brought an equally impressive save from Kindley, who pushed the ball over the bar for a corner that was comfortably defended. Not long after, Kindley was tested again when an effort from Kevin Devine needed a reflex save to keep it out.

Back came Whitley and after Hodgson had fired wide from just outside the area came the goal of the game and a real contender for goal of the season. Paul Robinson was the architect and scorer of one of the best Whitley goals seen for some time. He began by exchanging passes with Chris Fawcett before weaving a touch of magic outside the penalty area. A quick one two with Paul Chow was followed by a blistering first time effort that flew into the top corner of the net from around 20 yards. Robinson has produced some outstanding goals in the past, perhaps most memorably against Lowestoft in the 2008 Vase semi final but this effort was one of his finest.

Rather than let their heads drop, Horden continued to push forward and after 38 minutes, Jack Pounder saw a low shot palmed away by Kindley at full stretch.

On the restart Whitley went straight on the attack once more and Craig McFarlane, seeing Shields slightly off his line, lobbed the keeper but the ball landed on the roof of the net. Horden continued to look for a way back into the game and David Coulson needed to be alert to deflect a shot from Devine past the post for a corner.

Shortly before the hour, the goalscorers, Johnston and Robinson, were substituted, but there was little relief for the County Durham side with Lee Kerr and Phil Bell being their replacements. Soon after, Chris Fawcett, who had caused havoc down the left wing with his pace and accurate crosses, was also replaced, with Chris Reid coming off the bench.

Paul Chow’s run of bad luck continued when Craig McFarlane crossed and his header flew over the bar when well placed. Whitley’s fourth goal was not long in coming however, with McFarlane’s shot from outside the area swerving and tricking the hapless Shields who would have expected to have made a comfortable save.

McFarlane was coming more and more into the game now and with 11 minutes left, his low cross from the right to the far post eluded the home defence and Chow, coming in at the back post, got his foot round the ball but the angle was too narrow and the ball hit the post and went out of play.

Whitley continued to press forward and two minutes from time they added a fifth goal when Phil Bell lashed the ball home after Leon Ryan’s effort rebounded into his path.

Whitley’s performance earned rich praise from the home side who on another day might have scored at least three goals themselves, but were denied by excellent defending. What was particularly impressive about Whitley’s display was that every single player who took to the pitch played their part and contributed to the victory. In defence, midfield and attack Whitley excelled and on a day when the game was played in good spirit by both sides, the match officials also deserve praise for controlling the game effectively in an unobtrusive manner.

WHITLEY BAY; Kindley, Anderson, Fawcett(Reid 62mins), Timmons, Coulson, Ryan, McFarlane, Hodgson, Johnston(Bell 58mins), Chow, Robinson(Kerr 58mins)

Subs not used: Robson, Burke.

Referee Mr P Stalker

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