F.A.Cup Match

Playing Home

Against Newfield

Score: Whitley Bay 4 - Newfield 1
(Graham, Kay, Hunter 2)
 
Whitley faced a tricky Cup tie against newly promoted Newfield in their bid to match last season's heroics. A strong wind blew the length of Hillheads with Newfield chosing the advantage in the first half. Both teams started strongly, with Whitley just edging possession, but Newfield were defending well and restricting Whitley to very few chances. Helen Graham was making great runs down the wing but was caught offside on 2 occasions as she ran clear. She was not to be denied though as on 35 minutes Kirsty Hunter played another ball through. This time Graham held her run and with one touch, slotted the ball into the corner of the net. Within 3 minutes Whitley were 2 to the good when Kirsty Hunter was the provider again for Rachel Kay who fired into the top of the net despite the Newfield keepers best efforts to keep the ball out. Newfield kept plugging away and were rewarded on 40 minutes with a great shot from the edge of the box that flew past the Whitley keeper. Just before half time Whitley restored their 2 goal advantage when a Nikki Smith cross eluded the keeper and Hunter was on hand to pass the ball into the unguarded net. With the wind in their backs in the second half, Whitley failed to find any rhythm and Newfields workrate prevented any meaningful play until the hour mark when a free kick outside the box was dispatched by the left foot of Hunter for her second of the game. Substitutions by both teams halted the flow of the game and Whitley were content to see the game out and go into the hat for the next round. Whitley manager Colin Phillips was satisfied with the win ' We had the edge today and some of our passing and possession football was excellent. Credit to Newfield who kept battling until the end and defended very well for long periods of the game'