27th March 2004

Attendance - 307

Team - D Campbell, Williams(Ormerod 47), Veart, Nicholson, Linighan, A Gildea, Appleby, P Campbell(Dixon 45), Wilkinson, Sheeran(Johnson 80), McTiernan

Report by Andrew Snaith - Whitby’s brilliant midweek showings were put in the shade after a 1-0 defeat to mid-table Ashton United on Saturday at the Turnbull Ground.
After earning a shock win over promotion-chasing Barrow on Monday and Wednesday’s equally impressive 0-0 draw with champions-elect Hucknall, there was always the danger of ninth-placed Ashton’s weekend visit being an anti-climax.
And so it proved as the Blues failed to show any of the hunger and craft of earlier in the week.
Strikers Steven Johnson and Anthony Ormerod were rested on the bench, with Liam Gildea only worthy of a place in the stand. Full-back Paul Atkinson was involved in a cup semi-final for North East Counties League Garforth Town. The experienced Brian Linighan replaced Atkinson at the back, with Hartlepool loan strike duo Jack Wilkinson deputising and Andy Appleby returning to partner Mark Sheeran in a strong looking forward line.
However, it was the visitors who started the stronger in a cagey opening with Paul Garvey and Phil Denney testing Campbell from distance, but the Whitby keeper was more than equal to the task, saving comfortably on each occasion.
On 13 minutes, Linighan rose well to head Veart’s cross powerfully over from 12 yards with Ashton’s Kasey Keller lookalike Andy Johnston falling into his own net as he back-pedalled. Two minutes later, Whitby looked to have grabbed the lead when Dave McTiernan’s pin point cross was nodded home from close range by Sheeran, only for linesman Mr Ledgeway to flag for a highly debatable offside- one of a series given against the speedy Blues strikers.
At the other end, Denney’s dangerous low drive from the angle was well caught by Campbell as he sprung forward.
Whitby continued to come forward and the skilful Wilkinson found himself in space but his square ball was just behind Paul Campbell, who turned and blasted over from 12 yards off balance. The Seasiders again came agonisingly close when Craig Veart’s powerful goalbound 30 yard free-kick was brilliantly turned wide by Johnston.
And just to rub things in for the home side, right on the stroke of half-time, lazy defending left Craig Fleury unmarked to rifle home clinically past Campbell from 12 yards as Ashton grabbed an unlikely lead going into the break. After taking some stick from the crowd, the versatile well-travelled forward surveyed the Kop defiantly.
Creative midfielder Paul Campbell looked to have taken a knock and was replaced by defender Ben Dixon with Scott Nicholson returning to his favoured midfield role for the second half. Within two minutes of the restart, the Blues were forced into another change with only forwards left on the bench, Ormerod came on for full-back and skipper Graham Williams.
The Blues never got to grips as they shot towards the Upgang Lane end with the towering Lincoln Adams winning everything in the air for the visitors. And Harry Dunn’s side did their bit to help by repeatedly punting hopeful long balls down the middle of the pitch. The contrast between the break-neck sprinting and incisive creative football displayed in previous matches and the lacklustre slow build-up and lack of end product shown on Saturday was painfully apparent. The match threatened to boil over with a brace of players booked on either side but the entertainment value was barely nil.
The hard-working Manchester side were rigidly organised and it was testament to them that they came closest to finding the net in the second half when local lad Peter Carty drove into the side netting from a good shooting position on 56 minutes.
It was a greater tribute to their dominance that Whitby’s first corner of the second half came in the final minute when Craig Veart’s dangerous cross was cleared over his own bar by Ashton captain Darren Royle. The second attempt was taken short and wasted as Appleby was dispossessed as he waited to cross from the edge of the box.
Referee Mr Simpson blew for full-time, the home faithful shrugged and left shaking their heads as once again Whitby failed to find the net against organised but no more talented opposition. Which Whitby Town side will be at Marine tonight is anyone’s guess but they must improve on Saturday’s performance or their promotion dreams will be left scattered like footballing ashes.