Match Report: 23/08/08
Whitley Bay 1, Billingham Synthonia 1
skilltrainingltd Northern League Division 1
Synthonia made two changes from the starting eleven that beat Glasshoughton Welfare in midweek. Joel Guy started at right-back, with Neil Campbell also starting in a back five.
Bay started the game stronger with a good spell of early pressure, but without troubling Peter Keen in the Synners goal.
It took until the 12th minute for Billingham to have a serious attack forward, when Nathan Jameson and James Magowan traded passes to send Tyson Masters through on goal. The Bay defence however, were alert to intercept and clear the danger.
The hosts failed to capitalise on a miss-cued David Abel clearance in the 13th minute. With the ball loose in the penalty area, Keen was on hand to gather the ball, with Whitley strikers bearing down.
The home side continued to force the game on Billingham, but without creating any clear-cut chances. In the 20th minute a free-kick from the right eluded everyone and went harmlessly behind for a goal-kick.
In the 25th minute. Synthonia moved swiftly forward. Michael Cater won the ball in midfield and laid the ball to Nathan Jameson. He fed in Masters who ran into space down the right, but his cross which was aimed at Magowan, was cut out by the Whitley defence and cleared.
Bay had a great chance to open the scoring in the 28th minute. A ball forward saw Paul Chow head the ball back and into the path of Robbie Livermore, but his shot was straight at Keen who gathered well. Then a minute later, a missed header in the defence let in Chow round the back. He laid the ball back from the bye-line to Lee Kerr who shot wide of the target.
Synthonia moved forward in the 36th minute when Michael Jameson picked out Masters on a run on goal. The Bay defence were again up to speed to intercept and snuff out any danger.
In the 37th minute, David Yale found Masters in the box and his shot was heading in before Darren Timmons handled on the goal line. Referee Mr Stalker had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot and giving the Whitley man a straight red card. DAVID YALE stepped up and sent Terry Burke the wrong way with a cool finish on 38 minutes to give the visitors the lead.
Synners finished the half stronger with the extra man. In the 39th minute a strong Magowan run saw him send Masters through on goal. Bay captain David Coulson was on hand to make a good tackle to deny the striker. Then a minute later Yale did well to hold the ball in the Bay penalty area and laid it back to Nathan Jameson. His powerful shot was well saved by Burke.
In the 41st minute, Yale collected and advanced down the left flank. He fed in Masters to run in on goal, only to shoot just wide and into the side-netting. Then on the stroke of half time Yale and Nathan Jameson combined, with the latter finding Michael Jameson on a run forward. His shot went inches wide.
Half-time: Whitley 0, Synners 1
The second period began as the first, with Whitley Bay looking to press Synners back, but without creating any goal chances. Synthonia countered, and in the 51st minute a long ball found Masters who did well to shrug off close attention and lay the ball back to Nathan Jameson. He switched play with a great pass to Magowan but a defender made a strong challenge and cleared.
In the 54th minute the hosts thought they had a decent penalty appeal. James Moore crossed from the right to Chow who went down under little pressure from the Synners rearguard. The referee waving away the Whitley appeals without hesitation.
A minute later and Synners were on the attack as the game began to swing from end to end. Masters found space on the edge of the penalty area with Magowan open to the right as the Bay defence were stretched. Masters opted to shoot, with his effort going inches wide of the upright.
Synthonia were now taking the game to Bay, and on the hour mark Nathan Jameson received the ball just outside the penalty area, but shot wide. Then Masters found Magowan in a good position to the right. Magowan sent the ball back in to Masters with Livermore intercepting as the striker was about to shoot.
Whitley Bay countered and won a couple of corners, but the Synners defence stood strong and Keen was able to catch and clear. In the 66th minute the ball was fed right to Joel Guy who sent in a good cross to Masters. He headed wide under pressure from two Bay defenders. Masters, who had ran himself into the ground, was then replaced by Callum Revely for his first outing in a Synthonia shirt.
A strong run by Moore in the 67th minute saw Campbell block the player on the edge of the penalty area. The resulting Damon Robson free-kick was eventually cleared by Brian Close. Then a minute later, Kerr received the ball on the edge of the box, only to see his effort saved by Keen.
A good Magowan run in the 72nd minute saw the striker cross from the left to Revely in front of goal. The striker however, miss-cued his shot and it went harmlessly wide.
In the 74th minute, the ever-dangerous Moore again made a strong run forward and he laid the ball into the path of substitute Paul Robinson. David Abel was alert to make a strong tackle and clear the danger. Robinson was again involved after 77 minutes when a move down the right saw him shoot just over the cross-bar.
A minute later and Synners were back on the attack with Guy making a great run down the right, beating three bay players. His cross was fumbled by keeper Burke under pressure from Magowan, with the referee blowing for an infringement. Then in the 82nd minute, Yale ran forward into space down the left. He held up the ball before shooting just over.
Whitley started to press and forced a couple of corners in the 85th minute. The second of which was well caught from Synners stopper Keen.
The hosts eventually found a way through in the 87th minute. The ball ran loose in the 6-yard box and out of a crowd of players; PAUL CHOW headed the ball home from a yard out.
Billingham had an opportunity to take all the points in injury time when Magowan ran at goal unhindered, but his shot went inches wide of the target.
Synthonia will feel it is two points dropped rather than a point gained, but in all fairness ten-man Whitley made Synners work hard for a good away point. Three games in six days took its toll in the end and one lapse of concentration let the home side in to share the points.
Billingham must now wait on the outcome of the Morpeth Town and Ryton FA Cup match in mid-week, to see who they face on Saturday at The PTS Stadium in the preliminary round of the prestigious competition. A stalemate in that game will see Synners without a fixture for ten days.
Teams:
WHITLEY BAY: Burke, Taylor, Graham (Robinson), Timmons, Coulson(c) (Woodhouse), Ryan, Moore, Robson, Kerr, Chow, Livermore (Minto). Subs not used; Smith, Chandler.
BILLINGHAM SYNTHONIA: Keen, Guy, M Jameson, Cater, Abel(c), Close, Yale, N Jameson, Magowan, Masters (Revely), Campbell. Subs not used; Baynes.
Referee: Mr P Stalker Assistants: M Carr, P Keogh
Att: 204
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