29th October 2003

Attendance - 784

Team - Clementson, Obern, Williams, Linighan, Hall, Dixon, P Campbell, Robinson, Ormerod(Ure), Browne, Veart. Subs not used: Reed M, Swales, McTiernan, D Campbell.

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Whitby Town face a North East derby with Division Two Hartlepool United after scraping past Dr Martens League Bromsgrove Rovers 2-1 at the Turnbull Ground on Wednesday night in the final qualifying round of the FA Cup.
The Blues booked their trip to the Cleveland Coast on Saturday 8 November in front of the highest crowd since 2001’s visit of Plymouth- 784. Former Middlesbrough striker Anthony Ormerod was the hero with the winning goal in the second half after Brian Linighan cancelled out Steve Pope’s opener for the Dr Martens League Western Division side.
The Seasiders made one change from the side that drew 2-2 in Worcestershire on Saturday, with defender Mark Obern replacing the injured Adam Reed. The visitors, unbeaten in ten matches and yet to lose all season on their travels, were unchanged.
But it was the hosts who started the stronger, going close inside the second minute when Graham Robinson’s flick-on was hooked wide on the turn by Gary Browne. Five minutes later, the same two players linked up when Browne was allowed space to cut inside and fire a low shot narrowly wide from 25 yards.
However, the visitors soon had the lead albeit against the run of play. A seemingly innocuous free-kick was conceded 30 yards out, but James Dyson who netted from a set piece on Saturday, looped over a testing ball that Steve Pope nodded emphatically past Clementson from close range for the opening goal. Within four minutes later, Whitby looked in grave danger of going further behind when the tricky Mark Atkinson was scythed down just outside the box. Fortunately for the Blues, Dyson was unable to recreate his second minute strike from the first tie from an identical position, hammering the kick high over the crossbar.
Whitby worked hard to try and get back into the game but limited themselves to a bland long ball game which the visitors seemed well equipped to handle. However, after a period of pressure, Craig Veart swung over a pinpoint cross only for Anthony Hall’s goalbound header to be deflected wide off Pope’s shins as he stood on the goal-line. Ormerod and Browne had speculative efforts from distance before a good passing move saw Paul Campbell fire a low drive across and six yard box and past keeper Wyatt’s far post.
Browne came agonisingly close to levelling the scores on the half hour mark when yet another fizzing low 25 yard drive was a coat of paint away from Wyatt’s right hand post with the keeper beaten. Whitby kept the pressure on and had the breakthrough five minutes before the break in controversial fashion. Yet another Blues corner saw Veart’s kick spark a scramble in the Bromsgrove cross with Linighan unmarked six yards out to slam the ball through a ruck of players and past Wyatt, only for defender Benton to hack clear. However, despite Wyatt’s protests, referee Mr Gate ruled the ball was already over the line and gave the goal. Wyatt continued to run his mouth and found himself in the referee’s book much to the amusement of the home crowd.
Meanwhile at the other end just before the interval, Benbow’s low drive from close range was blocked by Hall to concede a corner. The resulting kick was eventually hacked clear as the half time whistle blew.
The first action of the second half should’ve seen Whitby take the lead on 52 minutes. Overlapping right-back Obern’s perfectly weighted through ball released Campbell in the Bromsgrove six yard box, but the former Darlington man rushed his shot, slamming the ball against Hillman’s legs from point blank range allowing Wyatt to gather.
Eleven minutes later, the Blues squandered another good chance when Robinson’s perfect through ball released the normally reliable Ormerod but his 18 yard drive flew just over the crossbar. The Seasiders continued to have the better of the play but the visitors looked more than dangerous on the break especially with 18 year old Atkinson’s scorching pace. However, the home side completed their comeback when Ormerod’s expertly timed run was neatly picked out by Veart and the former England Youth international flew into the Rovers box and coolly slotted low past Wyatt from 12 yards.
But as expected the men from the Midlands were not going down without a fight, literally at times as Atkinson’s late sliding challenge on Clementson after the Whitby keeper collected an over-hit low through ball sparked a shoving match between several players from either side. Eventually Benbow was the lone man shown the yellow card. The same man came close to levelling the scores moments later when he headed over Jackson’s left wing cross from close range.
On 81 minutes, the same man headed over again this time from Steve Hillman’s deep looping cross also from the left.
Bromsgrove continued to press and two minutes later Atkinson’s goalbound effort was hacked off the line by Veart, but the linesman on the far side of the ground had already flagged for a Whitby free-kick as the majority of the crowd breathed a collected sigh of relief. As time ticked away and Whitby continued to sit back, Rovers managed to bundle the ball past Clementson and into the net only for Mr Gate to spot a push on the former Gateshead goalkeeper from big target man Benbow as he rose to meet Jackson’s cross.
The home faithful got their breath back again and looked at their various timepieces willing the seconds tick away a little bit faster.
Harry Dunn introduced the pacey and highly popular forward Lee Ure as Ormerod left the field to a deserved ovation with just two minutes to go. Bromsgrove continued to press with Whitby limited to hacking the ball towards either corner flag at the visitors end. The fourth official indicated four minutes of injury time were to be played- understandable as both physios were regular on-field visitors.
Whitby won a corner and the crowd groaned and bit their nails as the kick was took short, only for Ure to be dispossessed on the edge of the box. Rovers tore forward like piranhas tasting blood with Atkinson sprinting towards the Whitby box only for Hall and Williams to finally force the ball into touch.
The excitement even got to PA announcer and devoted Whitby fan Ken Dean as he struggled to identify Bromsgrove’s third substitute "I think it was number 14, but i'm not quite sure" he announced before finally confirming the change alongside the name of the day’s raffle winner. Bromsgrove continued to press but began to lose their heads kicking out in frustration as their brave FA Cup run came to an end, two more Greens were booked before Mr Gate ended the match with three shrill blasts of his whistle. The crowd roared it’s appreciation, applauding both sets of players off the field with individual compliments shouted to each battling Whitby player as the men in Blue trooped off the field exhausted but victorious.