11th October 2003

Attendance - 253

Team - Clementson, O'Bern (Reed 78), Williams, Hall, Linighan, Dixon, P.Campbell, Veart, Ormerod, Ure, Browne (Johnson 74). Subs not used Swales, McTiernan, D.Campbell.

Report -Whitby travelled to Cantilever Park, Warrington for their FA Cup third qualifying round tie on Saturday. Warrington Town had already put two Unibond sides out of the competition with a 6-1 drubbing of North Ferriby and 2-0 away win over Spennymoor.
Whitby, in all white, lined up without Jamie Burt and Graeme Robinson on a bobbly pitch next to the Manchester ship canal.
Whitby's first effort came in the second minute when Antony Ormerod's 18 yard shot was off target. Good work by Lee Ure down the right hand side enabled Craig Veart to lay the ball off to Graeme Williams who shot over the bar from 20 yards.
The game became bogged down in a mid-field battle and, despite Whitby's superiority, the blue's were unable to create any notable opportunities. Ure fed Ormerod in the 20th minute but it was easily dealt with by the Warrington defence. Warrington had their first opportunity a minute later, when Graham Mitchell cut in from the left hand side but his shot was easily gathered by Adam Clementson when he should have done better. Mitchell again did well in the 25th minute when his excellent turn fooled Mark O'Bern but his cross was cleared well by Tony Hall in the Whitby defence.
The closest the Blues cam to scoring was when a Craig Veart free kick fooled everyone in the box but bounced wide of the far post when a touch would have been enough. Some good work from O'Bern found Ben Dixon in space but the big defenders cross was again easily dealt with by the home defence.
Warrington came back strongly with two efforts in two minutes from the Mitchell brothers. Firstly Graham had a shot cleared by Brian Linighan then Phil's excellent turn and shot was well held by Clementson.
Ormerod cam close minutes later when his goal bound header from Ure's cross was defelected wide but the corner came to nothing. The half petered out with Linighan denying Graham Mitchell again when he was well placed.
The second half started with Whitby looking like they had listened to Harry Dunn's team talk but Lee Ure wasted a golden opportunity in the 47th minute when he blazed over the bar with just the keeper to beat, after being delightfully put through by O'Bern.
Some excellent football from Town saw a move involving Veart, Ormerod and Ure result in Ure's shot being deflected over the bar. At this stage it looked likely that Whitby would find the breakthrough and in the 57th minute it nearly came. A Veart free kick was floated into the box and Brian Linighan rose highest but his header hit the bar and was cleared by the home defence.
Warrington had a couple of half chances when Graham Mitchell tried a cheeky lob over Clementson and then Bermingham's free kick curled over the bar.
Whitby's on loan striker Gary Browne, came close to breaking the deadlock on two occasions in two minutes when his header was clutched under the bar by the home keeper McCormack and his cross shot was easily dealt with by McCormack again.
There was little action until the dying minutes when Whitby came close twice with first Linighan and then Paul Campbell having efforts blocked during a ding dong in the home penalty area.
The referee's whistle blew to the relief of most of the crowd giving Whitby another opportunity on Wednesday evening at the Turnbull.
Whitby Town Man of the Match - Anthony Ormerod - Never stopped running despite a lack of service.