Mens 1s climb to 2nd

Whitley Bay and Tynemouth HC climbed back to 2nd place in the Northern Premiere League with a 7-2 demolition of Bowden HC, as Chris Traynor picked up his 2nd hat-trick of the season. The Bay caught Bowden on an off day and they certainly took advantage; with Formby dropping further points on the Sunday Whitley Bay leapfrogged them up the table.

Both teams started the match evenly but it was Bowden who took the lead on 5min as a defensive mix up led to Joe Kay being found in the “D” for a deflected 1st time finish.

It wasn’t long until Whitley Bay were back on level terms as Andrew Titmus got his 1st goal of the season with a low driven shot which Ted Heywood couldn’t keep out.

Whitely’s sustained pressure in the 1st half paid off as they went into half time 2-1 up, as they capitalised from a penalty corner. Mike Pollock’s saved drag-flick was deflected onto the Bowden cross bar only to fall kindly for Whitley Bay’s captain Jervis Fleming to grab his 1st of the campaign, as his volleyed it into the net.

In the 2nd half Whitely Bay lifted the pace and put the game out of sight early on, as Bowden’s defence collapsed around them. Bowden turned the ball over time and time again and allowed Whitley to create chances with far too much ease, netting another 5 times with only 1 goal in reply.

Whitley Bay’s 1st 4 goals of the half were all curiosity of Chris Traynor in open play, always seeming to find a bit of space in the Bowden “D” and a crafty finish. The pick of the bunch he collected tight to the Kay’s near post, as he stood out to block any shots Traynor dragged the ball onto his reverse and flicked the ball deftly over Kay’s left shoulder and into the goal.

Stoddart made it 7 as he was the only one to react to the ball spilling lose in the Bowden area; as the rest stood in protest he rounded Kay and slotted home.

Bowden finished the scoring for the day, with a consolation goal from John Miles. His deflected shot from a penalty corner was not enough to make up for what was a bad day at the office for the Bowden men’s worst performance of the season.

Whitley Bay travel to Timperley HC on Saturday who have had an unpredictable season to date as they hope Sheffield Bankers can put a dent in the Leeds HC charge at the top.