Advantage Whitley Bay

Whitley Bay 2-1 Lowestoft Town
The FA Carlsberg Vase
Semi-Final first leg
3pm, Saturday 28 March 2009
Hillheads Park,  Whitley Bay FC
Winners will receive £7,000 from The FA

Whitley Bay's players have moved one step closer to walking out at Wembley in The FA Carlsberg Vase Final, after a 2-1 Semi-Final first leg victory over Lowestoft Town at Hillheads Park.

Second-half goals from Paul Chow and Lee Kerr put the Seahorses two ahead before Jamie Godbold pulled a goal back for Lowestoft to perfectly set up next Saturday's second leg.

A bumper crowd of 2,907 braved a blustery afternoon in Whitley but had to endure a scrappy first period as neither side could take control of proceedings.

Something had to give after the break and bold half-time substations from Bay manager Ian Chandler proved the difference.

Whitley threw caution to the wind, playing three up front, and were rewarded for their attacking intent when Chow headed home on 60 minutes.

The home side doubled their advantage when Kerr confidently converted a 75th minute penalty.

Whitley looked well placed for the second leg at two goals to the good, but Godbold ensured the tie remained finely balanced with a superb 81st minute volley.

Whitley manager Ian Chandler said: "We're very happy and it was probably a fair result in the end.

"We switched to three up-front at the break and it changed the game. The result will stand us in good stead and ensure that there will not be a chance of complacency setting in."

Lowestoft finished the game with ten-men after a red-card for Carl Poppy midway through the second-half, but the full-back will be available for the second leg.

"It was a high tackle and possibly dangerous so I think it was the correct decision," continued Chandler. "I'm desperately trying to get a fit team together for next week as the injuries have really hit us.

"Lowestoft are good value to be at this stage in the competition so we know we will be in for a tough game."