15th November 2003

Attendance - 228

Team - D Campbell, Obern, Williams(Gildea 75), Hall, Linighan, Dixon, Ure, Robinson, Ormerod, Sheeran(P Campbell 84), Veart. Sub not used: McTiernan.

Report -by Andrew Snaith - A poor game was game made poorer for Whitby fans by a late equaliser from visitors Burscough after shot-shy Whitby looked to have secured their second home win in four days at the Turnbull Ground on Saturday.
Anthony Hall had put the Blues ahead in the second half with his first ever goal for the Seasiders, but Steve McNulty’s scrambled strike on 89 minutes sealed a point for the second-bottom Lancashire outfit.
York referee Mr Greenwood had an awful game, making several pivotal errors, while the paltry 228 crowd was the lowest at the Turnbull Ground since 20 March 2002.
The Blues gave a debut to 21 year old on-loan Darlington striker Mark Sheeran, with skilful winger Dave McTiernan missing out.
This bottom of the table clash began in typically cagy fashion, with Sheeran and former Middlesbrough man Anthony Ormerod linking up well but unable to carve out a clear-cut opportunity. On 9 minutes, Lee Ure hooked back across goal for Ormerod to head over the Burscough crossbar from 12 yards after sustained Whitby pressure.
In all honesty, the remainder of the half was remarkably dour with little goalmouth action at either end to engage the unusually small crowd.
On 27 minutes, Marvyn Molyneux’s low angled drive from close range was clutched comfortably by Blues keeper Dave Campbell. Seven minutes later, a very suspect bounce saw Campbell do well to parry Martindale’s seemingly tame long range effort into the air and catch it safely on the first bounce just inside his six yard box.
Moments later, Craig Veart headed Graham Robinson’s flighted ball back across goal only for Ormerod to flick wide when well placed.
That was all she wrote in a woeful opening 45 minutes. The second period took a while to warm up but the Blues were nearly given a rude awakening when Campbell reacted well to touch Crowder’s dangerous low shot round his left hand post.
On 63 minutes, Hall headed just wide from Veart’s looping cross. Six minutes later, the two players combined again- this time the result was different and Whitby were ahead. Veart’s free-kick some 40 yards from goal was flighted perfectly and former Tranmere defender Hall headed home emphatically from point blank range for his and Whitby’s opener.
The Blues continued to have the lion’s share of play but at times looked clueless as to where to put the ball in attacking positions- the supply line from the midfield appearing to be virtually non-existent.
The overwhelmingly passive crowd finally came into the match on 75 minutes when an x-rated two footed lunge on Graeme Williams left the Whitby midfielder in a heap on the ground. Williams had collected the ball in a fairly innocuous position just inside the Burscough half when Molyneux ploughed needlessly through the former Aston Villa trainee driving his studs into Williams’ leg. The match was held up for nearly ten minutes as St John’s Ambulance representatives and match stewards stretchered Williams from the field after treatment from club physio Greg Henderson. Unbelievably, despite being a matter of inches away from the clash, referee Mr Greenwood from York, managed to miss the challenge and failed to consult either of his assistants. Instead deciding on giving a drop-ball with no action taken against Molyneux. Alex Gildea took Williams’ place in Town’s midfield.
However despite this setback, the Seasiders should have put the result beyond doubt on 81 minutes. Ormerod broke quickly down the left flank and put over a glorious low cross that Sheeran somehow sliced wide from just six yards.
Three minutes later, the young striker was replaced by midfield man Paul Campbell as Whitby looked to close up shop and hang on for the three points.
However, as often is the case when the Blues go into defensive mode, this only served to encourage the visitors who earned only their second corner of the match with a minute left on the clock. The set piece was swung over, an almighty scramble emerged as Campbell blocked two efforts from Martindale and McHale before skipper McNulty forced the ball home on the line for an unlikely leveller.
Whitby huffed and puffed in the seven or eight minutes remaining of added time after Williams’ injury but were unable to find a way through despite some sterling work from the outstanding Ure on the right flank. It proved too little too late as Burscough clung on for a point and even threatened a late winner as Whitby threw men forward at the death.
The aftermath to the final whistle saw all three match officials escorted from the field by Whitby’s team of stewards as irate supporters vented their frustrations on the unfortunate trio and the posturing Burscough team.
On reflection, whatever the weaknesses of the officials, who all looked out of their depth for much of the match- the Seasiders were not at their best with decent football at a premium. Supply lines were drier than a summer in Cairo with only Ure’s pace and skill providing an outlet when the Blues finally used the flanks.
On this performance, the Blues are going to be very lucky to qualify for the Conference Division One North next season, stand or no stand!