Brooklands move into 2nd

An injury and illness ravished Whitley Bay side fought hard against an inform Brooklands side but could not come home with any points on Saturday, as Brooklands ran out 5 - 3 winners.

Whitley Bay had to travel to Manchester with only 11 players on Saturday due to a bought of injuries and last minute illness, to face a team who had won their last 5 games in a row and not lost in 11.
The first half was contested evenly; Brooklands with the majority of the possession as Whitley Bay conserved energy but creating the majority of the chances on the counter attack. Brooklands opened the scoring with a highly contested penalty flick, after play had been allowed to continue on after the given foul, along with two free shots at goal.
They doubled their lead shortly after as Whitley Bay seemed caught in the headlights and some hesitation let Brooklands forwards seize onto a free ball and take full advantage.
However Whitley Bay grew in confidence as the game wore on and capitalised on miss control in the Brooklands midfield and back line. Twice they were able to steal a loose ball and turn it into a goal. Phil Ithurralde scoring Whitley's opener and Chris Traynor levelling the game. Whitley Bay ended the 2nd half with a chance to take the lead but Captain Jervis Fleming couldn't find the back of the net, as his chance was well saved.

The second half was a much more open affair as space opened up across the pitch as Whitley's legs grew tired. Brooklands were soon 2 goals to the good as they scored two well worked short corners, as they made their 16 man squad pay dividends.
Whitley Bay tried to get back in the game and Alex Flynn came close to grabbing a goal but his back post dive was just inches away from Fleming's cross. With 9min remaining they finally found a way back into the game as Fleming and Traynor combined at a short corner and Traynor scored his 2nd of the game, making it 4-3.
James Talbot nearly levelled the scores only a couple of minutes later but like Flynn earlier he too just couldn't find contact at the back post as another cross flashed past Brookland's back post. With only 2minutes remaining Brooklands put the game out of sight and made it 5-3, again from another highly contested penalty flick decision.

With only 3 games remaining in the season Whitley Bay will hope they can have a few returns to fitness and a 3 wins to show for the stronger squad.