Whickham 0-2 Ryhope CW: Ten-man Whickham fall against fine form away team
Written by Kyle Ritchie on 10th October 2021
After an even first half, the visitors took the lead through forward Karl Southern on the hour mark.
James Ellis secured all three points for the visitors with eight minutes remaining as Whickham were reduced to ten men after Ben Milburn’s red card.
Whickham came into the game on the back of a 2-1 away victory against West Allotment Celtic, aiming to get only their second home victory of the season. Colliery Welfare travelled to the Glebe Sports Ground hoping to build on their impressive away record, not losing away from home since the first game of the season.
Ryhope manager, Gary Pearson, had the experience of Christopher Trewick return to the heart of midfield with Kyle Davis and Ben Riding also returning to the bench.
Whickham started the match the livelier of the two sides, with experienced goalkeeper James Winter being forced into an incredible save to deny Scott Robson’s goal-bound header in the 23rd minute.
As the first half drew to a close, the Lang Jacks were temporarily reduced to 10 men as Conor Newton was sin-binned for dissent, however, Ryhope were unable to make the extra man count.
On 61 minutes Pearson made two changes for the visitors, these had an instant effect on the game as Southern was able to head the ball in off the back post after getting on the end of a deflected Denver Morris cross after it bounced off the bar.
As Whickham searched for an equaliser both teams struggled to find the cutting edge in a game of missed opportunities.
As Ryhope themselves had been reduced to 10 men, again as a result of the sin bin, with 8 minutes remaining they were awarded a penalty as last man Milburn was sent off after challenging James Ellis in the box. Ellis coolly slotted the penalty into the bottom left corner to grab his 11th goal of the season.
After the game, manager Gary Pearson, admits that his side deserved the victory despite neither of the sides having their greatest game. Pearson praised his side’s pressing and was grateful for having substitutes that once again demonstrated that they could change a game and add an extra spark.
Pearson highlighted the importance of the fantastic Winter save in the first half to keep his side level going into the second half and praised the goalkeeper’s crucial contributions to the game.
Looking to Colliery Welfare’s next game, they face Billingham Town at home on Tuesday night hoping to build on an impressive away victory and to climb further in the table.
