12th November 2003

Attendance - 273

Team - Campbell.D, Obern, Williams, Hall, Linighan, Dixon, McTiernan (sub Gildea 78), Robinson, Ormerod (sub Nicholson 89) Ure, Veart (sub Campbell.P 78)

Report - by BJM

After suffering an early goal, Whitby fought back to win a scrappy north east derby against their old foes Blyth Spartans at the Turnbull Ground. Whitby welcomed back David Campbell in goal after his long injury lay-off as well as Alex Gildea & Scott Nicholson making their return via the subs' bench. Two other familiar faces on show, though in the famous green & white of Blyth, were Michael Laws & Jamie Burt who both ended the game with their names in the referee's notebook. Laws, Blyth's skipper, was pumped up from the start and Burt showed the skill and determination so sadly lacking from his second spell at Whitby earlier in the season.

The visitors took the lead in the 6th minute after a lightning counter attack from a Whitby free kick. Campbell made a super save to concede a corner but from the kick Burt was on hand at the back post to scoop the ball home. In an otherwise dire first half, Whitby's only effort on goal was from Anthony Ormerod who brought a good save out of Craig Turns when his deflected drive was held at the second attempt.

Harry Dunn's half time pep talk must have woken the Blues from their post-FA Cup hangover & they should have taken the lead in the 46th minute after McTiernan's low left wing cross evaded all three incoming Whitby players as well as Turns to roll past the open goal. An even better chance went begging 3 minutes later when Robinson somehow managed to blaze the ball out of the ground from 8 yards with the goal at his mercy. The Whitby skipper's blushes were spared however in the 55th minute when Williams seemed to spot Turns off his line. The full back's lob from over 20 yards caught the keeper napping as the ball skimmed the underside of the crossbar before dropping into the back of the net.

Blyth rallied & forged forward for the goal to retain the lead but Campbell denied Burt twice in quick succession to keep the scores even. Whitby turned the game on it's head in the 80th minute after a mix up between Laws & Turns let the diminutive Lee Ure sneak in between them both to steal the ball. The nippy forward strode past them both before stroking the ball into the empty net to make it 2-1 to the Blues.

In past games this season Whitby have taken the lead in games but thrown them away at the death but this was to be a different story as they fought hard to keep the errors at bay for the closing minutes to hang to three desperately needed points.

The second half display just about earned the Blues the points & now it's up to them to build on this performance, forget the recent cup glory & continue battle onwards and upwards in the Unibond League. One burning question has to be asked.. Where were the 700 fans that managed to find Hartlepool's ground yet seem to have trouble finding the Turnbull?