FA Vase: Shildon 1 Whitley Bay 5

Feb 28 2010 by Steve Brown, Sunday Sun

Robinson hit the underside of the bar, then a post, and Johnston’s shot was blocked on the line, hit Chow in an offside position and rebounded in.

Perhaps Whitley wouldn’t win here for the first time in 22 years.

Creditably, Shildon then rallied, Daniel Moore twice testing Burke from distance and Steve Walklate blocked twice by David Coulson, and then by Leon Ryan.

Moments later, on 69 minutes, the hosts fell behind. The indefatigable Damon Robson’s cross was flicked with ingenuity by Robinson into the path of Coulson, who was then a tad fortunate that his shot cannoned off Finch, back off him and over the line.

Again though, to their credit, Shildon almost hit back, only Burke’s outstretched left hand between Jamie Harwood and an equaliser.

You sensed something of a finale, but the unholy union of Russell Grant, Nostradamus and Michael Fish could not have foreseen what followed.

On 74 minutes PhD-to-be Phil Bell headed Robson’s cross clinically past Finch. Four minutes later Darren Timmons was dismissed for a second bookable foul (though he was kicked first).

Shildon went close through Mark Foster, Byrne and Martin Houlahan; it was their last effort.

On 87 minutes Justin Keegan saw red for strangling Chris Moore until he turned red.

Two minutes later the good Dr Bell nodded in another from Moore’s cross, and in added time Lee Kerr applied an even harsher gloss on proceedings, netting a second penalty after Ian Watson felled Moore. And breathe. . .

SHILDON: Finch 7, Brumwell 6, Watson 7, Walklate 8 (Johnson 79, 6), Foster 8, Keegan 7, Richmond 7, MOORE 8, Byrne 8, Garvie 7 (Harwood 57, 6), Chapman 6 (Houlahan 46, 6).

WHITLEY: Burke 8, Timmons 7, Johnson 7 (Bell 73, 8), McFarlane 7, Coulson 8, Ryan 8, Moore 8, ROBSON 9, Chow 7 (Picton 81, 6), Anderson 7 (Kerr 58, 7), Robinson 8.

Ref: Richard West (Beverley) 7

Attendance: 1505