Mens 1s let a 3-1 lead slip

A nervy finish and a lack of composure in front of goal meant they let a 3-1 lead slip along with 2points, as Formby snatched back a 3-3 draw.

The first half was dominated by Whitley Bay but Formby had the 1st chance of the game within the opening 2min; Jordan Thompson having to get down and make a smart save with his right leg from a Will Miles penalty corner drag-flick.

Whitley Bay started to find space in behind the Formby defence and both Alex Lockey and Andrew Titmus both came close to opening the scoring. Lockey's first time slap was saved by a sliding Sam Birtles and moments later Birtles denied Titmus with an outstretched arm as he lay seemingly hopeless on the goal line.

The Bay regretted their misses 5min later when Steve Wright beat Thompson at his near post after poor marking let Formby down Whitley's baseline and the forward was able to find a gap between the keeper and his post.

Again from the restart Titmus had another scoring opportunity but couldn't find a clean strike on the ball to beat Birtles. From the resulting long corner though Stoddart was able to find a foot and a penalty corner.
Chris Traynor switched the ball right to James Redpath at the top of the "D" and Redpath flicked the ball high into the Formby net, but just before the ball crossed the line the umpire blew his whistle as Formby's Miles clattered into Traynor, wiping the forward clean out of the game. Whitley Bay felt aggrieved as although Miles was sin binned for 10min, so too was Traynor for 2min and more importantly the goal was ruled out.
From the retaken penalty corner Alex Lockey's strike struck a Formby body as the ball was travelling goalward and this time a penalty flick was given. Andrew Hayes stood up and dispatched the ball to Birtles left.

Whitley Bay made the numerical advantage pay when Traynor came back on and took the lead through Alex Lockey. Stoddart was able to find him at the back post with a nice pass cutback under his body and this time the forward took no chances and crashed the ball home to give Whitley Bay a deserved 2-1 lead into half time.

Whitley Bay started the 2nd half off the way they finished the 1st and opened up a 2 goal lead, again from a penalty stroke. This time it was Hector Hall who was felled in the Formby "D" as he goal bound. Chris Traynor was back available to take the flick and netted his 15th of the campaign, keeping up his charge leading the league top goal scorers.

Just as it looked like Whitley Bay were going to see the game out comfortably the tide started to change. Formby got themselves back into the game as Connel Capper beat Thompson with a drag-flick from a penalty corner.

Whitley Bay quickly started to look out of ideas and could hold possession, as their nerves got to them and with 5min to go they had lost 2 points and a chance to go 2nd along with it. Rob Pritchard was able to slap the ball home from a diverted cross and Thompson was unable to do anything to stop him.

So Whitley Bay go into the Christmas break with a disappointing draw but they will be hoping to make amends for this in early 2017, facing the bottom 4 teams in a row. These will all be games they will be setting their sights to win before they face league leaders Leeds again.