HT 1-1

FT 1-1

AET 1-1

Click HERE to view Whitley Bay FC web site.

The FA Vase sponsored by Carlsberg - Fith Round Proper. Attendance 617

MATCH REPORT

Having forced a path through 105 minutes of hard fought action, during which time a result either way could have been produced, Chertsey Town was eventually frustrated in not finishing off their northern visitors in an enthralling, full blooded 5th round tie in the FA Vase against the competition’s holders and favourites Whitley Bay. Assisted in having only ten men to battle against after Bay’s earlier goal scorer was dismissed on a second yellow on 80 minutes, Chertsey laid a late siege on the Geordie’s goal and it was only the heroic Custer’s Last Stand acrobatics of goal keeper Terry Burke that stopped his side from conceding the tie in the most cruel fashion.

It was ironic for Burke to be made the hero of the Whitley hour for he had a less than impressive start to the game and was shaken for quite a while after full back Ollie Treacher took Chertsey into the lead by unleashing a 35 yard strike that bulged the back of the Whitley Bay net with the keeper still grabbing at air. The fourth minute Chertsey success must have shocked the hitherto confident trophy holders but they struck back within three minutes when a corner kick was headed down to Richard Hodgeson who was left with enough room to turn the ball into the Chertsey goal.

The opening gambit suggested that plenty of goals were on their way but in fact no more were conjured with both defences playing their full part in keeping tight, not that gaps still appeared on occasion. Town’s lapse in not marking tightly enough in conceding the early equaliser was not repeated and all goal efforts from Whitley Bay came either from distance or under pressure from closely marking white shirted southerners.

It was perhaps telling that Whitley’s goalkeeper was made man of the match by the press, for he had to make far more finger tip saves than his opposite number. Liam Stone too had a far from easy afternoon but most of his action came in addressing crosses into his area, which he dealt with assurance. At the other end, John Pomroy’s reputation went before him and was kept on a tight rein, but not restricting enough for him to deliver what looked two goal bound shots, one in the first half and another in the closing minutes, both looking odds on winners before Burke acted.

With a average age of 23 years, Chertsey’s youthful side matured with this full on encounter. Although the disappointment of failing to complete the job at home against a far more experienced side that only fielded two players without Vase final experience, was felt immediately after the game, the Surrey side proved to the Whitley Bay contingent that they are not as frail as was previous supposed.

The Curfews will have learned much and will be unfazed by their rival fans’ assertion that the door to the quarter finals is already open for the Seasiders to walk through. In a similar situation in 1988, fancied Falmouth Town made the same mistake after drawing at Alwyns Lane but were denied a sixth round place on that occasion by the perceived Surrey underdogs. So, another testing but sporting clash is likely with neither side giving ground, to further enhance the romance of a competition that has continued to win more friends than foes during its 35 years existence.