FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round

2nd October 2004

Attendance - 374

Team -Escritt, Williams, Veart, Farthing, Linighan, L Gildea(McTiernan 80), Bishop, Nicholson, Ormerod, Robinson, A Gildea(Campbell 13). Sub not used: Jackson.

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Whitby's first home defeat under Dave Logan coincided with their biggest crowd of the season, however, all optimism was washed away with the afternoon rain on the North Yorkshire coast today. Blues fans should have known what was coming when they were denied a clear penalty after Scott Nicholson was pulled to the ground by his shirt, instead Nicholson was booked for diving. Liam Gildea was booked for complaining. Graham Robinson then had a goalbound drive clawed wide by the Mossley keeper had Whitby made all the early running. It almost seemed inevitable when the visitors led with their first attack, netting from close range to send their decent support into raptures. The Blues were then continually thwarted by a flag-happy linesman and the poorly sighted referee. As Whitby, pushed forward led by Nicholson and Ant Ormerod, Mossley promptly countered, netting a close range second. Things went from bad to worse as Neil Bishop was sent-off after retailiating against a two-footed lunge from behind. The wind went out of Whitby's sails and Mossley should have had a penalty of their own when Williams tripped their number ten. Then seconds later, Nicholson was fouled from behind and predictably, the Spennymoor based official waved play on. Whitby ran out of ideas, but were behind from the start with some awful decisions made by the officials and the loss of the influential Alex Gildea inside 15 minutes who were given a frosty reception as they left the field.