Match Report By Julian Tyley

Whitley emerged with a highly creditable draw from this friendly against a virtually full strength Hartlepool side at Hillheads.

Gareth Williams was once again in the Bay starting line up and he was joined by Joe Cornforth who appeared in the Darlington side on Monday evening.

Not surprisingly Whitley were on the back foot for much of the first half, as the superior fitness of the full time professionals saw Hartlepool control the game.

They went ahead in the 17th minute when captain Sam Collins rose to head home an Evan Horwood corner. Another corner created problems for the Whitley defence and David Pounder had to clear off the line, but the longer the game went on the more confident and determined Whitley became.

Having had little to do in the opening period, Pool's keeper Scott Flinders had to be at his best to push away a Lee Kerr free kick that looked to be curling towards the top corner just two minutes after the resumption.

Both teams made multiple substitutions during the next 15 minutes and after the League One side twice went close to extending their lead, Adam Johnston should have done better when clear on goal only to put his shot over the bar with only Flinders to beat.

Hartlepool were guilty of wasting good opportunities and they were made to pay when Whitley equalised with just eight minutes remaining. Johnston did well to work his way past a defender before playing the ball wide on the left to Phil Bell who drilled a low shot past Flinders.

Hartlepool responded quickly and looked sure to regain their lead but Monkhouse was denied by a brave block from Terry Burke.

The visitors created the great majority of the chances, enough to have won the game comfortably, but Whitley deserve credit for thwarting them with stout defending and soaking up a great deal of pressure, and by doing so they earned their share of the spoils.

On an individual level, Lee Kerr had a great game while Steve Gibson is looking very impressive at the back and Gareth Williams has done enough to show that he would be a very good signing if he can be prised away from Blyth. The cameo appearance of Craig McFarlane, starting his comeback from injury in the closing stages, was also very encouraging.

WHITLEY BAY: Kindley(Burke 52mins), Gibson, Pounder, Williams(Smith 64mins), Rowe(Bell 61mins), Cornforth(Goodman 80mins),Waite(Ormston 52mins), Robson(McMullen 75mins), Kerr(McFarlane 79mins), Johnston, Chow(Robinson 52mins)

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