Having fought out a goalless draw on Saturday in Derbyshire, the sides locked horns again in the north east and served up a treat in their First Round Qualifying replay with nine-man Whitley ultimately emerging triumphant 4-2 on penalties after extra time.
Whitley raced into a two goal lead before the break courtesy of strikes from Adam Shanks and Sam Norris but Joel Purkiss reduced the arrears for the visitors before Shanks picked up his second caution and left the field.
Whitley Bay 3-3 Matlock Town
(Whitley Bay won 4-2 on penalties)
The Emirates The FA Cup
First Round Qualifying Replay
Tuesday 15 September
Hillheads Park, Whitley Bay
Winning clubs receive £3,000
He was followed shortly by Robbie Williamson who was dismissed for a rash challenge.
Matlock, ranked two divisions higher than their opponents, forced the tie into extra time when Danny Holland equalised, and they looked to have secured the victory through substitute Jack Siddall.
Brave Bay, four times FA Vase winners, would not give up and Chris Reid headed home a dramatic late equaliser in the 120th minute before goalkeeper Andy Jennison saved two in the shoot-out to seal a memorable triumph.
“You won’t see many games like that,” an ecstatic boss Atkinson told WhitleyBayFC.com.
“What a cup tie. These are the sort of days that Whitley Bay are famous for.”
The ovation that greeted the players as they left the pitch was reminiscent of those that followed Whitley’s FA Vase semi final wins against Barwell and Poole Town in recent years.
Whitley Bay boss Paddy Atkinson
And it was the never-say-die attitude of his side that left the boss and the home support delighted.
“In the last ten minutes, the energy was tremendous, we created chances, and what a goal,” added Atkinson.
"We’ve got a tremendous team spirit and that was what made the difference.”
The result earned the £3,000 from The Emirates FA Cup Prize Fund and sealed a home tie with Congleton Town on Saturday 26 September.
