SATURDAY 1ST DECEMBER WHITLEY BAY 2-1 SHILDON

Bay left it late to win a game that was a great advert for the Northern League. Both teams could have won it with Shildon having much the better of the first half, but as Whitley have learnt in the past, when on top – take your chances!

Paul Robinson, Mark Taylor and Andy Dugdale were on the bench from the team that started against Morpeth with Damon Robson, Lee Picton and Brian Rowe starting.
Bay started brightly enough with Rob Livermore nearly forcing the ball home from a Robson corner and then Robson himself just off target with a 20 yard effort. Lee Picton then headed just over from a Lee Kerr right wing cross.
Shildon though were on a good run and they came close to opening the scoring with a Tyson Masters shot which David Coulson had to clear off the line.
After Robson’s cross curled away from Livermore at the last minute, Shildon came close again when Stuart Niven had a header tipped over the bar by Terry Burke.
Anthony Woodhouse was next to Bay’s rescue heading a Chris Mason effort off the line and then he and Burke got in a tangle which let in Masters but the opportunity took the Shildon striker by surprise and he shot wide.
At this stage of the game it was all Shildon, but Picton came close for Bay again heading over a Chris Graham corner, but the action was soon at the other end again with Burke again denying Masters.
At half time Bay brought on Paul Robinson for Livermore but in the early stages of the second half it was Shildon pressing again and for the third time they were denied by a Bay defender when Lee Picton cleared off the line from Karl Everitt after 52 minutes.
So despite bossing the game Shildon hadn’t forced the breakthrough and from here on in, with Robinson pulling the strings, Bay began to turn the game round.
Kerr was set up by Paul Chow but tried to take the ball at the second attempt and the chance was lost. Robinson then nutmegged John Jury before curling a cross against the bar with Spence beaten all ends up. Chris Graham then played in Mark Minto and he saw Spence, who had looked a little shaky on crosses in the first half, tip his shot over the bar.
After 64 minutes Bay hit the woodwork for the second time when Chow was picked out well by Kerr and he hit a low curling shot which left Spence helpless but hit the inside of the post and came back out.
Whitley continued to press with Kerr and Robinson combining to set Minto up but his shot was just wide.
Spence produced a fine save to deny Kerr after the Bay striker had tried his luck from outside the box and although the Shildon keeper could only parry the ball there was no-one following up to net the rebound.
Gary Cook came on for Lee Picton with 20 minutes to go and was soon in the action, breaking down the left but he shot straight at Spence. Spence was soon in action again this time blocking a Chow effort well with his legs, Kerr again supplying the pass.
The breakthrough finally came on 82 minutes. Kerr slipped the ball through to Chow and he shrugged off a defender to round Spence and fire home.
Spence produced the save of the match four minutes later when Kerr let fly from 20 yards and the ball was arrowing towards the top corner but Spence managed to tip it round the post. A minute from time Bay looked to have secured the win after tremendous work by Robinson. He won the ball in midfield and broke down the left beating two defenders, before curling an inch perfect cross into the path of Minto who scored from two yards.
Whitley don’t do things the easy way this season and a minute into stoppage time a deflected Daniel Moore shot beat Burke to create a few anxious seconds but Bay pocketed the points which they deserved for their second half performance.
 MATCH REPORT TAKEN FROM WHITLEY BAY WEBSITE