Whitley Bay 3 Lowestoft Town 0

Mar 31 2008 The Journal

SO near, yet so far. Five words which illustrate the agony of Whitley Bay’s exit from the FA Carlsberg Vase when Wembley was in their sights.

It’s every player’s dream to run out on the hallowed turf but few Arngrove Northern League sides have achieved it.

Whitley Bay would have been there in 2002 when they won the Vase but, with Wembley being redeveloped, the final was at Villa Park.

This was their big chance but when they conceded four goals in the first leg of the semi final in Suffolk, their chances looked dim. At the time manager Ian Chandler, who scored the only goal in the victorious final six years ago, promised Lowestoft would face a different side at Hillheads Park. He was spot on.

But after making a blistering start when they demolished Lowestoft, scoring three times in 22 minutes, the Seasiders couldn’t find a way through for a fourth time. As the minutes ticked away the realisation dawned that the dream was about to end. A crowd of 2,059 braved the weather and the majority were just about hoarse when Chandler’s side went ahead after three minutes.

Lee Picton, who missed the first leg because of injury, is known for his long throw and the visitors’ defence was exposed leaving David Coulson to fire past Andy Reynolds.

Six minutes later and Bay were in with a chance. Paul Robinson had fans jumping for joy with a 20-yard effort which crashed into the net from the underside of the bar.

Bay were rampant and in the 22nd minute looked as if they could make a dramatic comeback. Another long throw by Picton again caused problems in the Lowestoft defence. David Coulson flicked the ball on and Paul Chow powered home a header.

Bay dominated the first half but Chow was twice denied. First Reynolds made a point-blank save and shortly afterwards Chow fired just wide.

In the second half Reynolds made another fantastic save from Chow but the longer the game went on Bay relied more on the long ball which Lowestoft were able to counter.

Brian Smith went close twice, notably in the last minute when he headed wide from a corner. But for all their supremacy, Bay couldn’t find a way through.

Chandler said: “The lads did Whitley Bay and the North East proud and with a little bit of luck we would have made it. Nobody gave us a chance, chasing a four-goal deficit, but we had opportunities galore.

“We were a different side compared with the previous game but I suppose the sucker-punch was when we conceded the fourth in stoppage time down there. We showed what we can do in front of a big crowd who cheered us on to the end.”

WHITLEY BAY: Burke, Taylor, Picton, Smith, Carlson, Graham, Moore (Minto), Robson, Chow (Woodhouse), Kerr, Robinson. Subs (not used): Dugrave, Robbie Livermore, Douglas.

Goals: Chow 4, 19, Robinson 7

LOWESTOFT TOWN: Reynolds, Poppy, Potter, Woodlow, Saunders., Paskett, Godrold, Cockrill., Stock, Hough, King. Subs (not used): McGee, Mckenna, Hunn, Bloomfield, Rix.

Attendance: 2,059

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)