Hillheads Park Tuesday, February 23rd, 2016   Northern League Division One Attendance: 217         Whitley Bay 1-1 Guisborough Town
2015 /16

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A superb individual goal from Alex Kempster gave Ian Chandler his first point since returning as Bay manager as Whitley battled back from a goal down with a tremendous second half display against second top Guisborough at Hillheads. The point was richly deserved and was enough to take Whitley above Durham City and out of the bottom three. WHITLEY BAY 1 GUISBOROUGH TOWN 1 Tuesday 23rd February By Julian Tyley Whitley Bay staged a superb second half fightback to claim a thoroughly deserved point against second top Guisborough Town at Hillheads on Tuesday evening. After three narrow defeats the draw gave Ian Chandler his first point since returning as Bay manager and he was clearly delighted with the character his team showed in battling back against the championship chasing Priorymen. Callum Munro and Aiden Haley both came into the starting eleven just hours after their transfers had been completed while Dan Gladstone took over in goal from the unavailable Andy Jennison. The game got under way at a rapid pace with Guisborough full of confidence and looking the more dangerous side. They should have taken the lead in the 19th minute but Curtis Round failed to capitalise on an error by Michael Laws, firing wide of the near post after being played clear on goal with only Gladstone to beat. Seven minutes later they made amends thanks to an excellent individual effort from Steven Snaith who set off on a mazy run, cutting in from the right before unleashing a 20 yard shot across Gladstone and into the far corner of the net. The Yorkshiremen might have doubled their lead just four minutes later but Snaith could not reproduce his earlier skills and his shot was off target. Whitley came more into the game as the interval approached and a low shot from Haley gave Guisborough keeper Nick Liversedge his first real test. Two corners in quick succession failed to pay dividends as, not for the first time in recent months, Whitley lacked a cutting edge against a strong and determined defence, so at the half time whistle the North Yorkshire side retained their one goal lead. Ian Chandler made a bold triple substitution at the interval, replacing Flynn, Shanks and Kane with Youldon, McFarlane and Gibson. The manager also changed the formation and it completely transformed the game. The pace and movement up front of Kempster and McFarlane, the latter playing an unfamiliar attacking role, ably supported by the energetic Youldon, unsettled the visitors as did the neat passing on a playing surface that had recovered remarkably well from the mudbath of seven days earlier. Under pressure from Town captain Leon Carling, Youldon did well to retain possession 12 yards from goal before swivelling and firing in a shot that flew straight at Liversedge. Two minutes later McFarlane also got a shot on target then a minute later he could not connect fully with Kempster’s cross and his attempt on goal was comfortably saved. The pressure was mounting and with 61 minutes on the clock, Kempster produced a moment of sheer magic, weaving his way past several defenders and holding off sturdy challenges as he cut in from the left edge of the penalty area and from a very tight angle he cleverly slotted the ball between Liversedge and the near post to level the score. Two minutes later Town were penalised for a foul just outside the 18 yard box and Kempster’s free kick whistled inches past the near post. Chris McDonald then joined the attack and had a shot saved as Whitley stepped up the pressure. Confidence and belief was growing among players and fans alike and when Chandler’s men forced two corners in rapid succession, Guisborough were relieved to see Jake Fowler’s 25 yard shot clear the bar. Munro, who had played little football in recent months but had given his all in Whitley’s defence, went down with cramp late on but after treatment was able to continue. Chandler’s revitalised team were battling for every ball, never shirking a challenge and it was unsettling the Yorkshiremen who were struggling to retain possession and little was being seen of Gary Wood, who had been influential in Town’s midfield during the first half. Both sides were looking to snatch a winner but in the closing stages it was Whitley who were posing the greater threat while the title challengers seemed increasingly happy to settle for a point. At the final whistle the Bay fans gave their team a well deserved rousing reception after what had been the most stirring performance since the FA Cup run in the early autumn. WHITLEY BAY: Gladstone, Munro, McDonald, Anderson, Laws, Flynn(Gibson 45mins), Haley, Fowler, Shanks(Youldon 45mins), Kane(McFarlane 45mins), Kempster Substitutes not used: Day, M Williamson Referee: Graeme Hopper Cautions: None Attendance: 217 “A good point against a good team” was how manager Ian Chandler summed up his team’s performance against Guisborough Town. “It was hard fought as well. The first half I thought was even but we were not in their faces and we gave them too much space on the ball.” Delighted to see his side pick up their first point since he returned, Chandler was full of praise for goalscorer Alex Kempster. “It was a great goal and a great finish from Alex and I was well pleased with that!” It was a completely different game after the interval following the manager’s tactical changes. “We switched to four at the back and a diamond midfield with Alex and Craig McFarlane up front, so it was a four, a diamond and a two. I’d noticed they (Guisborough) were getting a lot of space in midfield and their number seven (Gary Wood) was the best player in the first half but I thought we marked him out of the game in the second half and when he did pinch the ball he gave it away again, which gave Alex with Craig – who’d played up there before – space up front. With Craig coming back from injury it was probably a good position for him rather than back in defence. Jake and Callum worked well together and really closed down and stifled them and allowed us to win the ball in their third which presented more chances.” He added that he was pleased with his two new young signings. “Aiden’s just turned 18 and Callum’s only 21. Callum hadn’t played for two months so he did well to finish the 90 minutes, though he did go down with cramp late on. In the first half he was a bit quiet but second half he showed what he’s all about.” “Yes, it was pleasing all round really, a bit like the olden days!” “We still need to find some more quality forwards to complement these we’ve got, some natural finishers to give us more chances. But we’ve got a good squad now and the subs are stronger. You could see that when Gibbo, Craig and Chris Youldon came on whereas in previous weeks the bench hasn’t looked so strong.”