UniBond Premier Division

2nd April 2005

Attendance - 139

Team - Campbell, Obern, Veart, Farthing, Linighan (Johnson 45), Gildea.A, McTiernan, Nicholson (c), Wilkinson, Ormerod (Gildea.L 45), Richards Sub not used - Escritt

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Whitby Town strengthened their promotion hopes after Scott Nicholson and Liam Gildea goals secured a narrow victory in Preston on Saturday. The Blues could top the league by the weekend, depending on the status of local rivals Spennymoor.

Without full-back Graham Williams, manager Dave Logan moved teenager Mark Obern onto the right of defence and was able to recall the experienced Brian Linighan. Fit-again Hartlepool loanee Jack Wilkinson replaced Liam Gildea up front.

Bridge were without a league win in ten and sit fourth-bottom just inside the relegation trapdoor. However, the combination of the sun-baked uneven surface and three matches in five days made for a difficult afternoon in the Red Rose county for the Yorkshiremen. And it was the home side who settled better with Peter Wright driving well wide from the edge of the box on 13 minutes.

Whitby keeper Dave Campbell saved with ease from Cooper's tame drive on 27 minutes, but moments later, the veteran keeper was really tested- Wright found space around 12 yards from goal and hit angled shot, that Campbell just pushed wide at the last second.

At the other end, the Seasiders finally threatened on the half hour mark. Burly skipper Scott Nicholson's uncharacteristic mazy run took him inside the box, but Bridge's Andy Banks reacted quickly to smother at the 12-goal top-scorer's feet.

Bridge fired another warning shot over the Whitby ship, when James Sheppard's falling volley flew just over the top from 16 yards.

Richards hammered well over the crossbar and into the leafy suburban homes behind the ground on 42 minutes, but Whitby were to grab the lead in impressive fashion just before the break.

Dead-ball wizard Craig Veart beautifully lobbed a free-kick into the Bridge box for Nicholson to volley sweetly across Banks and inside the far post from 12 yards for the breakthrough on 44 minutes.

But just as Whitby grabbed the lead, it was snatched from their grasp in first-half injury time. Sloppy marking saw a loose ball fall perfectly for Cooper to hammer an angled drive past Campbell from 10 yards for the leveller- a bitter spill to swallow seconds before the interval for Whitby.

Logan made two suprise changes during the half-time break, with defender Linighan and forward Ant Ormerod making way for strike pairing Liam Gildea and Steve Johnson. Within five minutes of the restart, Wilkinson's powerful swerving effort was well saved low down by Banks. And within seven, Whitby led through Gildea. A long ball out of defence bounced awkwardly in-front of the Bridge backline and Gildea was able to cut in from the left, round Banks and slot into the far corner of the net from a difficult angle for 2-1.

Tempers flared throughout the second period, with Obern and Bridge's Chris Ward going in the book after a clash against the near touchline. Gildea was finding it hard to stay out of the action, with McAuley and Allen's overly close marking pushing the combative forward to boiling point.

Gildea then showed the better side of his character, when his terrier-like efforts created an opening on the edge of the box, but the forward lost his balance at the crucial moment, preparing to pull the trigger from 12 yards but tripping over the ball at the vital second. Eleven minutes from time, and Gildea linked up well with McTiernan before unleashing and searing drive that Banks did brilliantly to parry and catch the rebound from point blank range.

The home side brought on substitute Dave Campbell, but it was his namesake in the Whitby goal who stole the limelight on 83 minutes with a superb reflex tip-over from Wright's ferocious 20 yard bullet. The home side, having struggled to create anything for the entire half, now laid siege for the final five minutes.
On 89 minutes, Bridge won the first of a string of corners and should've levelled when Campbell's far post diving header somehow flew over from less than six yards out. A minute later, and Whitby could've ended the contest and saved the trauma to come, when Gildea broke superbly and squared for Johnson, whose 18 yard drive struck the outstetched legs of Banks and Bridge survived.

The visitors were left fuming when four additional minutes followed after the original 90. And this added time should have proved crucial. Another close range header from a corner, this time from Wright was deflected over by the Whitby defence lining the goalmouth.

Then with at least 93 minutes gone, yet another cross eluded the desperate Seasiders cavalry only for the towering McAuley to head over from a yard out. A collective sigh of relief soon folowed as referee Mr Scregg finally brought the contest to an end. A man with a Whitby accent asked cheekily as the players and officials left the field: "What time do you make it referee?".

After twelve matches unbeaten, lets hope it's time Whitby gets behind it's football team and cheers them onto promotion, because after three matches in six days and all their efforts of the last eight months, those lads deserve it!

However, after enjoying a fine ground albeit sparsely populated and some fine Lancastrian hospitality I hope time won't be called on Bamber's Premier Division status just yet.