WHITLEY BAY warmed up nicely for Sunday’s FA Carlsberg Vase Final with Glossop North End at Wembley when they coasted to a 5-0 victory against Ashington in the Skilltraining Ltd Northern League at Woodhorn Lane.

There was an early blow for the Colliers when goalkeeper Paul Simpson was stretchered off with a leg injury.

His substitute Kyle Hayes was quickly beaten as the former Durham City striker Adam Johnston headed in a Chris Moore cross.

Hayes was in the thick of the action and when he blocked a Phil Bell drive, the striker was first to pounce on the rebound. It got worse for Ashington and Hayes in the 56th minute. The keeper brought down Paul Chow and Lee Kerr converted the penalty.

Chow made it four, heading over the advancing Hayes and just before the end Steve Cuggy was spot-on with a penalty awarded for a foul on Callum Anderson by David Tremble.

Whitley Bay are second but they will be overtaken if Newcastle Benfield clinch the championship by defeating Penrith in the last game of the season tonight.

Nothing short of a victory will be sufficient to realise the Tynesiders’ title hopes and if they gain just one point, Whitley Bay will end runners-up to champions Consett.

In the Wearside League, Willington moved up to third from bottom with a thrilling 3-2 win at Wolviston, who were twice ahead through Danny Earl and Stephen Kilpatrick.

Paul Blenkinsop, John Weir and Martin Scott struck for Willington, who have an identical goals difference to East Durham Utd, who are second from basement having scored fewer goals than their rivals.