3rd January 2004

Attendance - 501

Team - D Campbell, Obern (Williams), Gildea, Reed, Hall, Dixon, Linighan, Robinson(McTiernan), Ormerod, Nicholson(Swales), Veart.

Report - Whitby travelled to leafy Cheshire on the back of a mini run of form that had seem them go unbeaten in four league games, with only one loss in ten matches in all cometitions. Their opponents Altrincham on the other hand were struggling and had not won for four matches.
Those statistics were turned on their heads though as the home side ran out easy winners in the end.
Altincham went close in the open stages when Scott headed over following a corss from the left. This woke Whitby up and they responded with some ecellent football. Anthony Ormerod's work rate and skill set up Alex Gildea who, with the goal at his mercy, sliced wide from 8 yards. It was a miss that would prove costly.
David Campbell in the Whitby goal misjudged a home cross soon after, the ball was cleared, and theat was Campbell's only error of the match.
The opposition keeper Stuart Coburn then produced a first class save to keep out Craig Veart's 20 yard free kick. This was followed up a minute later by a counter attack from Ormerod. He outpaced the centre half and with Nicholson bearing down on goal, his shot come cross eluded everyone and fizzed inches wide of the mark.
Altrincham were forced to make a change when the influencial Barry Shuttleworth was stretchered off with a suspected broken ankle after a tackle involving Nicholson.
Talbot headed over for the Cheshire side in the 21st minute following good work from Scott.
Nine minutes later, Whitby though they had gone 1-0 to the good when Veart's cross was nodded on and Nicholson in acres of space made no mistake, only to be flagged for offside.
Alty took the lead five minutes later when Anthony Hall was wrong footed by Peter Craney 20 yards out. The midfielder then curled a left fotted shot inside Campebll's post to make it 1-0. Whitby had a solid penalty appeal turned down when Nicholson appeared to be pushed in the box when well placed.
The killer blow for Town came in stoppage time in the first half. Veart was adjudged to have held the home player, although the referee only gave the foul after the crowd's reaction! Craney stepped up 25 yards out and this time with his right foot he scored directly, the ball going in off both posts. The second half started with Whitby needing an early breakthrough, and they nearly got it after 47 minutes but Veart kicked fresh air when well placed 8 yards out. That was a turning point for Whitby who were then under enormous pressure for the next 15 minutes.
Alty nearly went 3up when a fine cross from the left was spooned ide, but almost immediately it was three when Lunt's downward header header was saved but he managed to poke home the rebound.
Ten minutes later, after another sustained bout of pressure it was 4-0 to the home side. Whitby lost possession in the middle of the park, Alty played some nice football to find Hallows in space down the right and he clipped the ball in past Campbell.
Campbell made an excellent save to deny Hallows two minutes later, and Coburn got down well to stop Vearts fierce 25 yard effort. Harry Dunn made his substitutions to little effect and the game petered out to remain at 4-0.
Overall this was a very disappointing performance from Whitby, who missed great chance to move up the table. Next weeks game at struggling Vauxhall Motors could prove crucial in the battle to join the new conference division next season. Man of the Match - David Campbell - Dominant in the air, excellent handling and didn't deserve to concede four goals.