Percy Main 0 Whitley Bay 'A' 2

Percy's interest in the Bowl is ended....

Percy Main failed to reproduce their improved form of late and went out of the Northumberland Senior Benevolent Bowl at the semi final stage following a disappointing home showing against Whitley Bay 'A' who ultimately were full value for their win and will face either Newcastle University or Killingworth in the final, whose game was postponed.

There had been an element of doubt over the game on Saturday morning as an overnight frost had rendered the surface a little hard in places, but thankfully it had thawed sufficiently by kick off time for the contest to take place, although both sides did well to contend with what turned out to be a very heavy pitch, which made flowing football difficult.

Percy Main have a poor record against Whitley Bay in recent times and were undoubtedly hampered by the late withdrawal of forward Paul Collinson who had scored both goals in his side's 2-1 win at Shankhouse 7 days previous and had also netted a brace against Whitley Bay during his side's 4-3 defeat earlier in the season, although it presented opportunities for others as the starting eleven showed 3 changes to the one which had accounted for Shankhouse.

The opening exchanges saw both sides test each other out, Whitley's Michael Bell fired low into the hands of Rob Rodgerson, while at the other end, Sam Thompson's effort cleared the crossbar following a neat lay off by Ben Senior. But it was the visitors who came closest to breaking the deadlock on 21 minutes, as Paul Dunn's right wing centre was headed just past the far post by Connor Campbell.

Percy Main themselves had a good chance minutes after as Senior found himself one on one with goalkeeper Callum Harley, who did well to block his initial effort and the loose ball fell to Thompson whose shot was also blocked and subsequently cleared by the visitors defence. The Main were left to rue that miss as Whitley Bay took the lead with a goal out of nowhere on 26 minutes, as Dunn fastened onto a loose ball some 30 yards from goal and lofted the ball over the head of Rodgerson.

Trueman Hub for the visitors, on as a first half substitute for the injured James Proctor, made his presence felt as he fired just over, following good play by Regan Pattison down the right flank, while in reply the busy Thompson looked to restore parity for The Main as he burst into the area and fired narrowly past the far post.

Whitley Bay started the second half in the ascendancy as Campbell brought a save from Rodgerson and McKenzie Sharp's deep cross was bravely headed from under his own crossbar by an under pressure Rob Watson, who sustained an injury in the process. Watson, certainly did no wrong during the course of the game and acquitted himself well for the Percy Main cause, but he was powerless to prevent Campbell hitting Whitley's second on 48 minutes.

The Main then endeavoured to get back into the game, Thompson, played in by Jake Forster, brought a full length save from Harley, Watson's cross from the left was just too far for the on rushing Forster, once more in the thick of the action and Harley again proved his worth as he raced from his line to save from the feet of Steven Hurd.

Hub was a constant threat for the visitors and when he was halted in his tracks by Adam Green and illegally deemed by the referee, Dunn's subsequent free kick from just outside the area, was scrambled from the line by the grateful home defence.
Jorge Bollado and Joe Rowan were entered into the fray for Percy Main to alter the side's attacking options, while Forster, played in by a great through ball by Thompson was crowded out by the combined efforts of Harley and Matty Aspley.

Percy Main face Ponteland United at home on Saturday, league match, 2pm kick off....