F.A.Cup Match

Playing Away

Against Team Northumbria

Score: Team Northumbria 0 - Whitley Bay 2
(Darmody 2)
 
Whitley travelled to Bullocksteads Sports Ground for their first ever away FA Cup match to face North East Premier League outfit, Team Northumbria. Whitley Bay started the stronger of the two teams and were soon on the attack but as expected, Team Northumbria defended well and restricted Whitley to long range shots. Whitley were rampaging down the flanks, but were unable to deliver a final telling ball. On the 38 minute, a quality ball from Rosh Turnbull turned the Team Northumbria defence and Laura Darmody raced through to hit a right foot shot across the keeper and into the corner of the net. The game was very equal as Team North fought to get back into the game and Whitley were glad to hear the half time whistle. After the break Team North started to apply some pressure to the Whitley back line and only some great last minute defending by Siobhon Davies and Helen Lackenby kept Whitley ahead. However, Whitley were conceding some dangerous free kicks just outside the area and Team North needed no inviation to shoot. Some tactical changes saw Team North pour forward in an attempt to get the equaliser, however gaps were being left at the back and Whitley were playing well on the break to take play from danger. On the 90 minute mark, after a sustained period of Team North pressure, Whitley cleared the ball to Rachel Kay who ran from inside her own half to the edge of the Team North box and then laid the ball across for Laura Darmody to round the keeper and slide the ball in for her second of the game and a killer goal. After a short period of added time, the ref blew the whistle and Whitley had taken another higher League FA Cup scalp. Manager Colin Phillips was delighted to win the game 'We knew that Team Northumbria were strong in defence and that the game would be low scoring. We worked extremely hard and I am really pleased with the clean sheet'