UniBond Premier Division

24th April 2004

Attendance - 292

Team - D Campbell, L Gildea, Richmond, Reed, Linighan, Dixon, P Campbell, Robinson, Sheeran(Johnson), Appleby, McTiernan(Williams). Sub not used: Obern.

Report -An 80th minute header condemned Whitby to their third straight defeat on Saturday, but other results were helpful as the Blues held on to 15th place to improve their play-off hopes.
Harry Dunn rung the changes for the Seasiders final Unibond League Premier Division encounter, with top scorer Craig Veart, striker Anthony Ormerod and midfielders Scott Nicholson and Alex Gildea all rested- Tony Hall continued his three match suspension. Shildon midfielder Danny Richmond made his debut on the left, with forwards Mark Sheeran, Andy Appleby and Graham Robinson returning to the side.
Before the match, Droylsden were presented with the Unibond League’s runner-up trophy, and the visitors were so polite they presented Whitby with the opening goal inside three minutes. Mark Sheeran’s through ball was deflected into the path of Dave McTiernan who rifled across Paul Phillips and inside the far post for the early breakthrough.
The Bloods’ David Cameron had the ball in the net at the other end two minutes later, but the linesman’s flag crushed any Droylsden celebrations, however it was to be an ominous warning of things to come for the Blues.
Whitby keeper Dave Campbell almost spilt Darren Wright’s awkward low free-kick, before eventually falling on the loose ball, then redeemed himself by gloving over Cameron’s instinctive 25 yard drive.
Campbell’s opposite number got a big slice of luck on 28 minutes when Appleby raced onto Robinson’s high ball but the Hartlepool teenager’s first time shot ended with the ball stuck between the relieved Phillips’ legs.
The play was soon back at the Whitby end, and their number one was again called upon on 32 minutes, pulling of a superb reflex save to tip over Cameron’s bullet header.
Though Cameron was not to be denied and slotted home clinically from close range after an almighty scramble in the Blues box. Wright’s half-volley across goal was missed by all on 40 minutes, before the miss of the match from Gavin Salmon just before the interval. Former Scarborough relegation victim Steve Brodie laid across goal for Furlong at the far post, but the experienced forward somehow missed the ball completely with an empty goal staring him in the face.
The second half saw both sides equally flaccid in front of goal, with chances few and far between. Whitby won a free-kick just outside the visitors box on the hour, after substitute Carl Ruffer upended Sheeran. But Paul Campbell’s tame flighted effort only threatened the Georgian windows behind the Promenade goal.
Two changes in quick succession then saw Sheeran and McTiernan make way for the lively Steve Johnson and the workmanlike Graham Williams- exactly a month since his last appearance.
As the game did more ebbing than flowing, the visitors stunned the 292 crowd by grabbing the winner on 80 minutes. Whitby showed their Dracula-like fear of crosses as Cameron, who spent most of the match on the ground, rose highest to deflect Brodie’s flighted ball into the very top right corner of the Whitby net, with Campbell completely helpless.
The Blues best chance of the half was fashioned by the silky skills of ball-playing centre-half Ben Dixon, the former Lincoln striker jinked past two men before rifling just wide from 18 yards.
The Bloods came close a minute from time when Whitby’s defence nearly heamorraged a third from a deep cross, but Droyslden skipper Garry Burke, despite his Monica Seles style grunt could only head wide from close range.
Elvis will have more than likely strapped on the sequined flares and danced his quiff off on the bus home!
Roll on Tuesday!