Recap
Bishops entered the game with no fewer than four regular starters missing due to suspension and injury and in the opening minute Matty Weirs had a great chance to give the Seahorses the lead but Catterick made a good save with his feet.
Charlie Watt and Dean Thexton scored goals within six minutes of each other to put Bishops’ firmly in the box seat, both goals coming from crosses from the left. Watt got on the end of a Gott ball across goal to guide in past a wrong-footed Lister and Thexton slid in from a few yards as another inviting delivery dissected the sluggish Bay defence. Henderson almost joined the scoring but he dragged his effort just wide of Listers’ far post from a clever Thexton pass.
Turnbull was sent to the sin bin just after the half-hour mark and this only encouraged the buoyant two blues to put the game out of sight of the visitors. before halftime. Another quick burst of goals from Thexton and Watt started with the former slotting the ball past Lister after holding off a defender, then Watt was released down the right to advance on goal and fire his shot high into the near corner.
Whitley Bay were able to stem the bleeding in a much more even second half and pulled a goal back after an hour when Day fired in a low shot which seemed to catch Catterick by surprise and flew into the bottom corner. Thexton grabbed another hat trick for his hometown club just two minutes later when at the second attempt he beat Lister from close range.
The sides traded chances with Suddick finding the net before an offside flag was raised and Watt wasting a great chance for his hat trick as Lister made a good block. Free-scoring Bishops’ now go into next Saturday’s crunch FA Cup game in great form.
Report by Gavin Hadden
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