Complex sentence: In 1987--88, Whitley Bay were looking likely to become champions of the Northern League for most of the campaign, but a bad run of injuries halted Whitley Bay's chances and later prevented them from winning the league.
Split into simpler sentences: In 1987--88, Whitley Bay were looking likely to become champions of the Northern League for most of the campaign. Unfortunately a bad run of injuries halted Whitley Bay's chances and later prevented them from winning the league.