20th March 2004

Attendance - 169

Team - Team: Campbell, Nicholson, Williams, Linighan, Hall, Campbell,P., Gildea A, Robinson, Ormerod, Sheeran, Veart. Subs: Reed, McTiernan, Gildea.L

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Whitby came back from a goal down to claim a point amid 70-mph winds at second-bottom Burscough on Saturday, but should have grabbed all three after dominating the second half.
The Blues failed to make use of the ferocious wind battering the small West Lancashire town before the break, allowing Gary Martindale to grab the lead for the home side- Craig Veart levelled with a free-kick on 68 minutes.
Harry Dunn made two changes from the side that battled hard without reward at Hucknall in midweek. Full-back Graham Williams returned after injury and midfield man Paul Campbell made his first start for the club since November, after a spell at Northern League Shildon. Ben Dixon missed out with flu and fellow centre-back Adam Reed dropped to the bench.
The Seasiders appeared to employ a 4-4-2 formation, with Nicholson, Linighan, Hall and Williams in defence, Campbell, Robinson, Gildea and Veart across midfield. Mark Sheeran and Anthony Ormerod led the forward line.
Despite playing with the wind at their backs, the Blues found it hard to get the ball down and the closest they came early on was Ormerod’s poke goalwards that his Sheeran and blew well wide.
At the other end, Seasiders keeper Dave Campbell collected at Martindale’s feet after Eaton elected to pass despite working an excellent opening for himself.
On 10 minutes, Whitby captain Graham Robinson burst clear but Boswell collected well at the South African’s feet. Five minutes later, Ormerod’s opportunist turn and shot flew just over the crossbar.
Whitby had their best spell of play on the half hour when Alex Gildea’s vicious angled drive was well parried by Boswell and hooked clear by White. Moments later, Paul Campbell’s testing effort was pushed round his right hand post by the Burscough keeper. Ironically, though, within minutes it was the team in Green who opened the scoring against the run of play when Jeff Underwood burst down the right and put over a pinpoint cross that was turned home on the volley by the unmarked Martindale from little over six yards out.
The Blues came agonisingly close to finding the net themselves on 35 minutes when Gildea’s dipping strike was heading for the roof of the Burscough net, before Boswell adjusted brilliantly to tip the ball over the bar.
There was a huge appeal for handball from the Blues as a ball into the box struck Burscough’s John Bluck, but referee Mr Scregg from Liverpool saw nothing amiss. The roaring wind reached it’s peak towards the end of the half, with the increasingly frustrated Boswell seeing a goal-kick blown out for a Whitby corner. However, it was the FA Trophy holders who preserved their narrow lead going into the half-time break.
The second half opened with the men from North Yorkshire attacking Boc Gases Stand end with vigour. Only a minute in, Gildea was unlucky to run from inside his own half, only to see his final ball sail wide. Three minutes later, and Veart’s 25 yard free-kick swerved millimetres wide of Boswell’s left hand post.
Whitby were monopolising possession and other excellent passive move saw Ormerod, Sheeran and Robinson combine, only for the Blues skipper to shin weakly, with the ball rolling into Boswell’s clutches.
But the Blues weren’t denied for long, although their equaliser owed as much to good fortune as breath-taking total football. Craig Veart won a free-kick against the touchline, some 35 yards from goal. The former Hartlepool trainee sent over a dangerous arcing ball that somehow eluded everyone in the crowded Burscough box and nestled in the bottom left corner of the net, with Boswell and his defence scratching their heads.
The loss of third-generation star Liam Blakeman early in the second half seemed to wound the home side and they never threatened Dave Campbell in the Whitby goal.
From then on, Whitby never looked back and peppered the Burscough goal, with some superb short passing rendering the sharp breeze impotent for the remainder of the match. On 75 minutes, Tony Hall’s back header caused chaos in the Burscough box, with Gildea’s close range drive blocked with his legs by Boswell and as the ball flew up in the air, Brian Linighan headed over from point blank range.
The final five minutes saw two golden opportunities go begging for the desperate Blues. Ormerod saw his love drive partially blocked by Boswell, with the former Port Vale keeper somehow gathering the loose ball in a crowded six yard box. Ormerod then set up the best chance of the match as he skipped through umpteen challenges to play in Sheeran, who one-on-one with Boswell, curled across goal but wide of the far post with victory standing in the Boc Gas stand and flashing him a cheeky smile.
That was to be the Blues last chance- in the often farsical conditions, it was testament to both sides that the game was so entertaining, with Harry Dunn’s side probably wondering how they didn’t grab a precious win to aid their quest for a top 13 place. Hopefully they can weather the onslaught of the top two sides in the league this week, at least with the knowledge that top club Hucknall were held 1-1 by Whitby’s play-off rivals Radcliffe Borough on Saturday and that promotion-chasers Barrow lost three matches on the bounce recently. A pointless few days could see the Whitby ship blown completely off course.