UniBond Premier League

21st October 2006

Attendance - 356

Team - Campbell, Reid, Brumwell, Appleby, Farthing, Robinson(Nogan 55), McTiernan, Drinkall(Claisse 52), Raw(Richards 20), Brunskill, Ormerod.

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Whitby Town's Unibond League Premier Division status told after a comfortable 3-0 victory over First Division Shepshed Dynamo in the first qualifying round of the FA Carlsberg Trophy on Saturday.

Watched by a 356-strong Turnbull Ground crowd, just one shy of Town's highest of the season, Blues' player-manager Lee Nogan made three changes from the side that drew 2-2 at Ossett Town in midweek. Centre-half duo Danny Farthing- back from a one-match suspension- and fit-again Matty Appleby, were joined by recovered stomach bug victim Ant Ormerod as injured defenders Neil Wilkinson and Aron Wilford plus Nogan himself, made way. Left-winger Karl Richards was named among the subs, his first appearance on the teamsheet since twisting his knee at Kendal Town back in August.

Kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes with the visitors arriving late due to an accident near Helmsley which forced their team coach to follow diversions. With this in mind, it was no suprise the game started slowly, but it was the home side who showed first with James Drinkall sidefooting an angled 18-yard drive drive across goal, but wide of goalkeeper Jonathan Noon's left-hand post.

Whitby suffered a blow inside 20 minutes when striker Tom Raw suffered what appeared to be a recurrance of his old hamstring trouble and left the field- this meant an earlier than intended return to action for the popular Richards.

Within moments, Dave McTiernan was afforded an age to turn and fire goalwards in the Shepshed box, but defender Micky Betts managed to charge down the effort. Pete McGurk's side didn't learn their lesson though and a minute later Phil Brumwell overlapped down the left and pulled the ball back into the crowded area where 11-goal Danny Brunskill was allowed to execute his trademark turn and shot from close range for the opening goal.

Farthing nodded a Richards corner wide from 12 yards out on 25 minutes as Whitby threatened at will. But the match was almost turned on it's head seconds later when Shepshed skipper Andy Bourne forced Tom Reid to sidefoot a goal-bound drive off his own goal-line. Town keeper Dave Campbell, then saved well low down from a quickly taken free-kick.

On 32 minutes at the other end, Graham Robinson's low cross from the right found it's way to the unmarked Richards, but the former Hartlepool United winger hampered by a slight bobble, scuffed wide from point blank range.

The newcomer was far from shaken however and made impressive amends two minutes later. Dynamo's static defence was again all too easily exposed, as Richards escaped the offside trap and raced from just inside the away side's half chased by three defenders before despatching calmly past the onrushing Noon from the edge of the area for 2-0.

As Whitby took their foot off the gas going into the break, Bourne and Nick Hawkins failed to extend Campbell from decent positions- scuffing poor efforts well wide in quick succession.

Town were barely out of second gear for the first half, but things were to change as Nogan introduced young midfielder Tom Claisse for Drinkall soon after the interval. And the move proved a masterstroke as Claisse lived up to his name and became the second sub to find the net with an amazing strike completely out of the blue. With 54 minutes gone, the former Bradford City prospect hammered a 30-yard piledriver into the top right corner of the net which drew gasps from the crowd and a look of disbelief from a dumbstruck Noon.

Worryingly, Robinson appeared to have suffered a relapse of his knee problems as he limped off in obvious pain around the hour mark, the assistant manager replaced by the gaffer himself.

Whitby should've added a fourth on 65 minutes when Town found themselves 3 on 2 in their favour. Nogan released Ormerod who hesitated before playing in Brunskill- but the big Town marksman drove straight at Noon from 12 yards.

Ten minutes from time and Nogan could've become the third goalscoring substitute of the afternoon but the former Welsh International's low drive was comfortably saved by Noon.

Moments later, and Richards once again broke with ease down the left and appeared to be held back by a visiting defender in full view of the referee. But the official, Mr Wilson of Selby, who otherwise had a very good game, waved play on.

Whitby kept on the onslaught with the away side, themselves missing suspended top-scorer Darryll Thomas and with a long injury list, saw nothing come of their quickfire introduction of all three subs late on. Bourne's tame attempted chip which Campbell caught with the ease on the hour mark was the sum result of their endeavours after the break.

And while Town were never truly pushed at any point over the 90 minutes, some neat, confident build-up play and some cracking goals will raise confidence in the weeks to come, as well as the bank balance with £1,350 in the club coffers thanks to the day's victory. Richards will also be delighted after collecting the deserved man of the match award and looking fresh as a daisy despite a seven week spell on the sidelines.