Whitley bay is famous for many things – its former status as
a seaside resort and current tag as a Stag and Hen Party hotspot perhaps chief amongst
them. Less well established is Whitley
Bay’s rather impressive record for producing footballers and bass guitarists.
Current Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor heralds from the town and his
namesake - Andy Taylor - was quite literally instrumental in Duran Duran’s
1980s dominance. It is rather apt that Duran Duran’s biggest international hit –
The Reflex - was exactly what turned the game in Whitley
Bay’s favour today. Those reflexes belonged to visiting goalkeeper Kyle Hayes.
With the game approaching half-time, Guisborough enjoyed a spell of dominance
which saw them equalise and carve out a number of good chances. They looked to
have taken a half-time lead, but for Hayes’ outstanding low stop. The ball was
turned away and the game turned in the visitors’ favour. From this point
onwards Whitley Bay never truly looked like surrendering their lead again. Or,
as Duran Duran may have put it, they were not about to let themselves Come Undone for a second time.
Whitley Bay have some rather impressive pedigree, though
last season (by their own exacting standards) represented a disappointment.
Having won the FA Vase in three consecutive seasons, it must become rather
difficult to fulfil expectations. Also, as with all great sides, key performers
begin to age or players move on to pastures new. Manager Ian Chandler has been
working hard to blend new talent with the old formula and in recent weeks Bay’s
results suggest that he is nearing the perfect recipe. For the first twenty
minutes today they looked slick. Movement was good from front to back and with
Paul Chow spearheading the attack, they will always be dangerous. Chow did not
have his most influential game today, but a measure of his worth was that when
he was presented with a chance, he finished it with aplomb. It rather reminded
me of Gary Lineker; not in looks – Chow is more reminiscent of Gary McAllister
in this respect. Nor is he like Lineker in style. But he seemed to similarly come
alive in the box and have the same predatory instinct. With the twenty minute
mark approaching, Chow slipped free of his marker as the ball was played into
the box. Home ‘keeper Escritt narrowed the angle as he left his line. Chow knew
just how long to wait before dinking the ball over the onrushing keeper. It was
a goal that smacked of quality and experience. Chow has scored hundreds of them
and there is no reason to think that the tank has run dry yet.
With the opportunity to take the game by the scruff of the neck,
the visitors seemed to get sucked back towards their own goal, defending ever
more deeply and surrendering midfield possession. Guisborough have an excellent
balance in midfield at present. Adam Gell and Lewis Wood add subtlety and look
to unlock defences, whilst the other Wood (Gary) and his fellow midfield
general Austin Johnston are the engine of the midfield. Johnston undoubtedly
benefits from Wood’s presence, being able to thunder forwards when given the
opportunity, safe in the knowledge that Gary Wood will often do the less
desirable but equally important task of snuffing out attacking threats and
breaking up play. Yet Wood is more than that, as proven in recent weeks. His
range of passing has widened, as has his ability to control the tempo of the
game. What appeared to be a temporary move into midfield has proven to be a
masterstroke.
As the half hour approached, the home side enjoyed a spell
of dominance. They moved the ball at pace and every time the ball was played
into wider areas, resultant crosses caused panic in the visiting defence. Guisborough
eventually got the goal their play deserved when Luke Bythway picked up a loose
ball in the penalty area, before turning and picking his spot in the bottom
corner. Had Guisborough scored another goal at this point, the outcome of the
game could have been very different. Hayes’ excellent stop put paid to that.
His handling and general awareness were excellent throughout and it was not
difficult to see why he had been chosen as the Northern League’s young player
of the year last season. Perhaps warmed by Ian Chandler’s words as well as their half time cuppa, Whitley Bay looked far more organised in the second half. They had strengthened their wider defensive areas and whilst the home side enjoyed spells of extended possession, they found it ever more difficult to unlock the visiting defence. This was a conundrum made all the more testing when Bay retained their lead from the penalty spot. Whilst the award of a spot kick was a touch dubious, the manner in which forward Ashley Davis dispatched the penalty could not have been more clinical. Guisborough continued to push hard for an equaliser, but were thwarted by an organised and committed visiting side, made all the more tenacious in midfield with the introduction of Lee Paul Scroggins. Whilst Scroggins helped to break up play, the introduction of Bay forward Denver Morris gave the home side a tremendous attacking option. Morris – who terrorised our defence whilst playing for South Shields last January with his pace and trickery – is a bigger outlet than the A19’s Dalton Retail Park. With twenty minutes remaining, Bay turned defence into attack in two passes. Morris surged forward at blistering pace and would have finished the game but for an excellent low save from Escritt in the Guisborough goal. When a side pushes hard to equalise, there is an obvious double edged sword. With bodies committed to attack, Bay finished the game when Robinson wriggled past his marker and shot low into the bottom corner. On balance, Whitley Bay probably merited their victory, but the two goal margin perhaps leant the score a sense of comfort which never truly existed.
Whitley Bay are closely associated with Wembley. But long
before the club was even conceived, Whitley bay resident Captain Gladstone Adams
travelled down to London to see Newcastle United take on Wolverhampton
Wanderers in the 1908 FA Cup Final. A car in those days was something of a
novelty, to the point where his 1904 Daracq-Caron motorcar was stored in the
safety of a car showroom whilst he was at the game. On the way home, heavy snow
resulted in Adams having to stop regularly to clear the screen so that he could
see where he was going. His experience led to his subsequent invention - the windscreen wiper. Today’s game was terrific with some top quality
passing football from both sides. Whilst this may well live on in the memory,
Guisborough will be keen to wipe clear today’s result from their consciousness.
They have a midweek trip to Carlisle to occupy their thoughts as they travel to
Celtic Nation, formerly known as Gillford Park. Hopefully this all goes
smoothly and windscreen wipers or not, let’s hope it doesn’t snow.
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