Many thanks to Ian Cusack for last night's report.

Percy Main Amateurs deservedly took all 3 points from a rip-roaring, end-to-end, thrill fest against Whitley Bay on Wednesday night. The impressive attendance, including a high percentage of Main fans, were treated to a feast of penetrative attacking play by the visitors, whose front three of Taylor, Rowan and Devine tortured the beleaguered Bay back four for most of the game. Indeed, the final score of 1-2 in PMA’s favour was no reflection on the number or percentage share of chances created. Frankly, if The Main had doubled their goal tally, it would have been a more realistic representation of a simply scintillating second half.

In truth, the game began with Bay in the ascendancy. With less than 60 seconds on the clock, Zack Fisher shaved the post for the home side, though Rowan came close to giving the visitors the lead on 13 minutes when his shot was deflected a fraction wide. Such excitement was out of character for the first thirty minutes, which passed in a subdued fashion. However, proceedings sprang to life when Reece Monaghan in the Percy Main goal had to be alert enough to clutch a deflected McMullen effort. Main roared back with Devine fizzing an effort just over the bar, then Kelly was thwarted by a superb last ditch tackle as he bore down on goal. Monaghan made sure the sides went in level when acrobatically tipping an effort from distance round the post.

If the first half had been enjoyable, the second was little short of a classic as Main remained on the front foot, peppering the Whitley goal with Adam Beattie’s header the closest effort until undisputed Man of the Match Rowan opened the scoring with a deft chip from the right edge of the Bay penalty area. Straight from the kick off it was 2-0 when Beattie executed a perfect low drive to round off a superb counter attack by The Main. From this point it could have been any score, with several chances falling to the Main front men, but opportunities came and went, the score remaining 2-0. Percy Main could have feared the worst when Collins bundled the ball home to halve the deficit with 6 minutes remaining, but the brave Villagers held steadfast and firm for an excellent win that was a superb advert for Northern Alliance football.