MECHANICS IN AGONY AS BAY MAKE MERRY
WASHINGTON’S RUN EXTENDS TO ONE POINT FROM SEVEN GAMES WITH LOSS TO WHITLEY
Washington remain 12 points from safety in the Ebac Northern League’s First Division after succumbing 2-1 to on-form Whitley Bay last night.
The second-bottom Mechanics managed to stage their game at Nissan, while the remainder of the scheduled programme was called off.
But their run without a win reached seven games, with only one point picked up in the process.
The visitors started brightly, and Chris Salmon crossed well in the fifth minute, only for Tom Potter to head narrowly wide.
Callum Dent then had a shot saved by visiting goalkeeper Thomas Flynn after 12 minutes and, two minutes later, Shaun Pickford fired straight at Flynn as Washington grew into the game.
However, in the 18th minute, Bay took the lead when Liam Brooks rifled the ball past goalkeeper Dan Gladstone from just inside the area.
Pickford then had an opening for the hosts, but he hit his shot over the bar.
Jak Hanson was thwarted by a last-ditch tackle in the box as Washington pressed in vain for an equaliser.
In the second half, Jake Pickard headed wide for Washington before keeper Gladstone saved well from Brooks and Joshua Nearney. Gladstone also made a fine finger-tip save, following Ross Gardner’s clearance off the line.
Whitley doubled their lead on 70 minutes with a hotly disputed second goal, which resulted in ex-Sunderland defender Pascal Chimbonda receiving a yellow card, then a red, for dissent.
Washington claimed that Callum Johnston was offside as he fired home from close range, after Alex Kempster’s shot had been parried by Gladstone.
Nearney was then sent off with four minutes to go and the Mechanics were awarded a penalty in the 88th minute, which Cameron Wilson duly despatched to make it 2-1.
Bay, though, held on for all three points to climb to seventh place.
Gateshead had to fight back for a 1-1 National League Premier Division draw at home to Woking.
Reece Grego-Cox fired the southern side ahead on 51 minites, but Ben Fox hit a magnificent half-volley from just outside the box to level matters in the 80th minute.
BlythSpartanssuccumbed to a 1-0 defeat at home to Alfreton Town in National League North, Brendon Daniels heading home for the Derbyshire side on the half hour mark in front of a 541-strong Croft Park crowd.
Ex-Sunderland and Hartlepool United centre-back Peter Hartley has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Motherwell after making his loan from Blackpool a permanent move.