29th November 2003

Attendance - 251

Team - d campbell, obern, gildea(nicholson 35), hall, reed, dixon, ure, robinson, ormerod, sheeran, veart subs not used- swales, mctiernan, p campbell, clementson

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Scott Nicholson's dramatic 94th-minute strike earned a replay for Whitby in an FA Trophy second round clash that nearly ended in the first five minutes at a windswept Turnbull

As gale-force winds battered the seaside ground and Bradford keeper Matthew Boswell struggled to kick the ball out of his own penalty area, referee Mr Grunnill, from Hull, spoke to both managers but agreed to carry on.
The official appeared to shout: "I'll give it 15" as the prospect of an early abandonment in this all-Unibond Premier League Yorkshire derby seemed a real possibility.

Harry Dunn was forced into one change from the side that ran riot with five goals at Radcliffe, with defender Brian Linighan on holiday and Adam Reed made his return to the side.
The visitors included former Newcastle United left-back Carl Serrant, with ex-Whitby midfielder Andy Wright on the bench.

Whitby, with the wind behind them, were first on the attack, forcing a succession of corners with Craig Veart, Alex Gildea and Ben Dixon all coming close to putting the Blues in front. Avenue had forward Andy Hayward to thank for clearing a vicious Veart corner off his line and defender James Stansfield almost put through his net, as he did in the FA Cup against Bristol City, with a headed clearance that the wind blew goalwards but Boswell did well to clutch.

On 15 minutes, Boswell totally miskicked with the ball rolling to Gildea 25 yards out, but the former Port Vale keeper reacted quickly to smother Gildea's instinctive low drive.
Moments later, the Blues came agonisingly close when Sheeran's goalbound effort was clawed wide superbly by Boswell and from the resulting corner, Lee Ure's breathtaking volley only dipped low enough to strike the Bradford crossbar.

At the other end, Bradford's first foray into the Whitby half saw Hayward slice across goal with Campbell at full stretch after some neat interplay left the Blues defence.
However, it was the Seasiders who found the back of the net on 24 minutes when Veart's vicious inswinging free-kick was headed home by defender Tony Hall, only for the assistant on the far side to flag for an apparent offside.
On 36 minutes, some neat play from Gildea released Robinson who drove wastefully into the side netting from 12 yards.

It was to be Gildea's last action of the match as minutes later he was clattered by Maxwell and limped off the field with what looked like an ankle or shin injury. Whitby looked to even up the midfield battle with substitute Scott Nicholson taking the field.
The visitors had their best spell of the match towards the end of the half. Danny Walsh's 20 yard piledriver struck Campbell's right hand post with the keeper beaten, then Whitby's number one reacted superbly to block two close range efforts from Maxwell.

At the other end, Boswell matched his opposite number with an excellent low save from Sheeran's close range drive and followed up to smother Ormerod's turn and shot.
In the final minute of an exciting first half, Sheeran raced clear and chipped Boswell only for the ball to land just the wrong side of the keeper's right hand post for the home side.
Possibly the best 45 minutes of football at the Turnbull Ground this season somehow ended goalless, the wind had died down significantly by the half hour mark and this made for an excellent contest.
Five minutes into the second period, Ure had the ball in the Bradford net again but once again the effort was ruled out for offside, with the linesman appearing to be correct on this occasion.
Bradford then flew up the other end, and as Walsh surged into the Whitby box, only a combined effort from Hall and Campbell prevented the former Rotherham striker from putting the visitors ahead.

The West Yorkshire side were now in the ascendancy and on 55 minutes Campbell did brilliantly to palm away Maxwell's goalbound header. The hour mark saw Hayward and Oleksewycz have successive efforts blocked on the Whitby line by Campbell, as the scoresheet incredibly remained blank in a very open Yorkshire derby.
At the other end, Whitby came close on 69 minutes when Nicholson's rasping 30 yard drive flew narrowly wide of Boswell's right hand post. There was uproar three minutes later when Ure jumped to avoid Benn's weighty challenge on the edge of the Bradford box, only for the referee to book the lively Blues forward for diving.

The same linesmen who had disallowed two Whitby goals and had an excellent view of the incident, flagged for the alleged offence. There were angry shouts from the crowd towards Bradford substitute Simon Collins who informed the assistant Ure dived as he passed him jogging down the touchline, and seemed to influence the decision.
Undeterred, the Blues kept up the pressure and won yet another corner with ten minutes left on the clock. Veart swung over a teasing cross and Hall rose majestically but headed the ball powerfully against Boswell’s right hand post, as Whitby hands were clutched to heads yet again.
The visitors, in their red and yellow Galatasaray meets Power Rangers colours were still a danger and won a free-kick in a dangerous position with 88 minutes gone. Their wash a hush around the ground as Hayward stepped up and rifled the ball past Campbell’s despairing left hand and into the Whitby net.
The Blues, to their credit, rallied and with time in hand for several stoppages still believed they could rescue the tie. In the first minute of added time, Ure was downed once again just outside the Bradford box- this time Benn finally got his name in the referee’s notebook, albeit probably an hour too late. Veart’s pinpoint free-kick was then hooked over with his back to goal from 12 yards by Ben Dixon.
Moments later, Ure raced down the left flank, beating two men he skipped along the touchline before pulling the ball for Nicholson to strike emphatically across Boswell and into the bottom right corner of the Bradford net.

An excellent comeback just in the nick of time but it wasn’t over just yet and the visitors could and should’ve won it after great work from Hayward set up Benn, but the burly midfielder wasted a great chance blasting high and wide into the night sky and off towards that choppy North Sea.
The final whistle brought to an end a highly entertaining match. the battling Whitby players were applauded from the field by the hardcore ‘Kop’ supporters, though the assistant with the chequered flag Mr Ingham and the inept referee were accused of favouring the visiting side.
All roads now lead to Bradford’s Horsfall Stadium for tomorrow night’s replay. Hopefully, Gildea may be fit to return and a stronger referee will protect skilful players of his ilk, such as Ure from cynical defenders. We can only hope.