Whitley Bay 'A' 4 Percy Main 0

Different....

A similar result to Saturday, but a different game entirely. Yes, there were defensive lapses, by The Main's rearguard, but at the other end, there were also a series of missed chances throughout, good chances at that. The old saying that it's better to get there and miss, than not get there at all was hard to bear for those of a Percy Main persuasion.

Without doubt, Whitley Bay are our bogey side, we haven't beaten them since August 2012 and have had plenty of goes since then, maybe 15 or so, in league and cup and at home and away, which have included some draws when on another day we might've won and some heavy defeats. Last night's game stats show a 4-0 win for the home side, maybe that was maybe harsh on the visitors.

Percy Main have made a habit of conceding early goals this season and it didn't look good when Thomas Kalthoeber curled in a peach of a goal for Whitley from the edge of the area, with only 1 minute and 5 seconds played to open the scoring just as some were taking their places. Not long after, former Main man Hylton Hub fired over from 20 yards.

In between Ian Graham headed wide from Jack Armstrong's long throw and Ben Senior had Percy's first good chance just before the half hour mark as Ronan Attwood played the ball in from the left and Senior in space, saw his shot deflected behind for a corner.

At the other end, Whitley's James Proctor steered wide from Liam Anderson's cross, while Chris Zolden saw his effort well held by Shaun Backhouse in the Main goal. On the offensive once more and Senior for Percy was fouled on the edge of the area and Attwood's free kick was inches past the far post, while Graham headed Mark McDonnell's corner into the hands of home custodian Ross Logan.

Percy Main had another good chance on 38 minutes, made and ultimately missed by Senior, as the forward cleverly made up ground down the right, outwitted his marker and his cross to the far side of the area was played back by McDonnell, but Senior with a good amount of room was unable to make the final shot count.

As the floodlights sprang into action to banish the impending gloom, the miss was to prove costly as a minute later Zolden headed home Whitley's second of the night to double their lead. Not good, but it could've been worse for the visitors, but for a great save by Backhouse just before half time to thwart the same home forward.

Percy Main looked to hit back at the start of the second half, Senior played the ball across the face of goal and Graham steered his effort wide, whose the alert McDonnell robbed Robbie Potter and played in Senior, but his shot was tipped around the post by the home goalkeeper.

Once again, the attacking play was to count for nothing and Whitley went 3-0 up on 58 minutes as the unfortunate Robert Hamilton deflected Kalthoeber's right wing corner into his own net. Hamilton almost got himself on the scoresheet at the other end, but failed to connect to McDonnell's in swinging corner, with a diving header.

Great North Run enthusiast, Ryan Laws took to the field for Percy Main with a little over 10 minutes to play, for the first time since injury during November 2015, giving at least one positive to The Main's management team - not sure if he touched the ball mind....

In reply Zolden sent a half volley narrowly wide and Liam Anderson twice went close for Whitley, but Adam Beattie wrapped up the scoring in the 81st minute for Whitley!s 4th.

However, the pizzas were nice - compliments to the chef there!

Season Delaval at home in the Challenge cup on Saturday, 2pm kick off.