Whitley lift Senior Cup after win over Ashington - Video
WHITLEY Bay collected their first silverware of the season on Monday night when they defeated Ashington in the TyneTec Northumberland Senior Cup Final at St James' Park.
Two first half goals from Paul Chow and Adam Johnston put them on the road to victory with Ashington's goal, though well deserved, coming deep into stoppage time and too late to affect the outcome.
Whitley fielded a near full strength side with Darren Timmons back in the starting line-up for the first time since the FA Vase semi final.
PICTURE GALLERIES TO FOLLOW
Whitley got off to the best possible start with Paul Chow firing them in front in the third minute.
Chow took possession of a through pass played into the box to turn a defender and blast home a left footer from six yards.
Ashington battled back well and enjoyed the majority of the possession during the next half hour but they were unable to put any real pressure on the Bay defence.
They suffered a blow when Paul Dunn received a head wound in an accidental clash with Johnston and had to leave the field for treatment.
He returned heavily bandaged and gave an excellent performance at the heart of the Ashington rearguard.
With 36 minutes played, Whitley doubled their lead when Johnston's 25-yard shot took a wicked deflection off James Harmison and flew into the net beyond the reach of keeper Karl Dryden.
The second half saw Whitley on top in the early stages but they were unable to extend their lead.
Dryden made an excellent diving save to deny Richard Hodgson and he then took the ball off the toes of Paul Chow.
The Colliers fought back strongly in the later stages following the introduction of Alex Benjamin.
But excellent work at the back by Callum Anderson and Leon Ryan kept them out until the second minute of stoppage time when Mark O'Dea fired the ball past Burke from 12 yards.
It was deserved reward for the Colliers but Whitley had little difficulty in holding out for the remaining two minutes to claim the trophy for the 11th time in all, their last success being in 2005.
Whitley Bay: T Burke, C Anderson, C Fawcett, R Hodgson, D Timmons (L Picton 76 mins), L Ryan, P Bell, L Kerr, A Johnston (C Reid 87 mins), P Chow, P Robinson (D Robson 61 mins). Subs not used: T Kindley, M Waite.
Ashington: K Dryden, J Harmison (S Baptist 64 mins), M Walmsley (A Benjamin 55 mins), P Dunn, L Atkin, I Nickalls, A Johnson, M O'Dea, S Blandford, G Taylor (K Douglas 71 mins), D Colvin. Subs not used: A Carr, G Bainbridge.
Attendance: 1,370.
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Weather for Whitley Bay
Saturday 11 February 2012
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