Match Report By Julian Tyley

Whitley cruised to a comfortable victory in their latest pre season friendly and the North Northumberland Hospice benefited from the gate money of the 300 spectators who turned up on a damp evening at ‘the other St James’ Park’.

Chris Fawcett, who lives in Alnwick, was named captain for the evening and before kick off the two sides lined up on the pitch with the FA Vase.

Alnwick, now a Northern Alliance side, started with enthusiasm but could not find a way through Whitley’s defence although they did force an early corner. Playing up the slope Whitley scored with their first real attack, when Lee Kerr played the ball wide to Paul Chow on the left wing. Some local fans were appealing for off side but Chow had timed his run well and raced clear of the Alnwick defence to slot the ball past keeper Bryan Brooks to give Whitley an 11th minute lead.

Midway through the half, Fawcett, having swapped wings, crossed from the left and Chow rose above the defence to head home the second goal.

Four minutes later Alnwick created their best move of the game down the left and Phil Hogg was relieved to see a low shot rebound off the post and away from goal. A free kick conceded by Alnwick just outside the penalty area was in ideal territory for Kerr and his shot went just past the far post with Brooks rooted to the spot.

After comfortably playing out the remainder of the first half, Whitley made eight changes after the interval, with Kevin Morton making his debut in goal. It could have been little comfort to the Northern Alliance side to see six of the FA Vase winning squad coming on to the field, a situation which served to emphasise the strength in depth of the current Bay side.

Shortly before the hour mark, Whitley increased their lead with a well worked goal. Following good work by Kerr and Bell, Richard Hodgson played a one-two with Adam Johnston on the right side of the penalty area before delicately chipping the ball over the Alnwick keeper into the net. A few minutes later the Bay fans were cheering again when Johnston’s glancing header from Moore’s cross flew into the top corner of the net. The celebrations were cut short when the linesman controversially raised his flag for an unlikely offside decision.

The home side appeared to be tiring and despite making changes of their own could not stem the flow of Bay attacks. Chris Moore easily outpaced his marker on the right before cutting in to drive home the fourth then a minute later Phil Bell added the fifth poking the ball past the substitute keeper from 10 yards. Seven minutes from time, Johnston’s cross found Craig McFarlane who crashed the ball home and then with just two minutes left, Johnston deservedly got on the score sheet when McFarlane turned provider.

WHITLEY BAY: Hogg, Anderson, McFarlane, Timmons, Coulson, Taylor, Fawcett, Reay, Kerr, Chow, Reid. Second half substitutes: Morton, Picton, Robson, Moore, Robinson, Johnston, Bell, Hodgson.

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