FA Trophy 2nd Round

27th November 2004

Attendance - 410

Team - D Campbell, Atkinson, Veart, Farthing, Linighan, Nicholson, Ormerod(McTiernan 60), Scaife, Johnson, L Gildea(Robinson 80), Bishop. Subs not used: P Campbell, Williams, Escritt.

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Whitby Town snatched a late victory over Conference North strugglers Stalybridge Celtic on Saturday in Greater Manchester to enter the lucrative third round of the FA Carlsberg Trophy.
Neil Bishop's 87th minute strike was enough to preserve the Blues 12-match unbeaten run under Dave Logan and make a big tie with the likes of Scarborough, York City or Carlisle a possibility.
Logan stuck with the eleven that came so close to ending promotion rival Hyde United's unbeaten run the previous week, also in Manchester's Tameside district.
Despite their higher division status, Bridge's sandy, patchy playing surface was of an infinitely lesser standard than the lush Turnbull strip, and initially the Seasiders struggled to find their feet. Celtic held most of the play and came close when Kevin Parr headed Ben Smith's right-wing cross straight at grateful Blues keeper Dave Campbell.
The scrappy conditions baring closer relation to Tate Hill Beach than any grassed pitch, sapped any chance of flowing football in the opening. Bridge continued to run the play, using the flanks well and employing the long ball up to their tall forward line.
After a string of Celtic corners, Campbell was called on to prevent a certain goal on 17 minutes. Nick Scaife was caught in possession in his own half of the field and Parr worked an opening before forcing Campbell to push wide a goalbound low drive from 20 yards.
This stung the Yorkshiremen into action as Scaife himself fired a 25 yard piledriver that was always going away from goal, into the crowd. In the five minutes before half-time, the Seasiders fought back into the match with Steve Johnson causing problems down the left.
The pacey striker's low drive was blocked by Terry Bowker's sliding challenge, with Liam Gildea's follow-up also charged down. Scaife had another effort fended away by Bridge keeper Phil Prisetley as Whitby ended the half on top.
This was a sign of things to come as the Seasiders began the second period in the exact same vein. And they almost led within three minutes of the restart when Scaife's determined run down the right wing took him past two defenders and culminated in an awkward low drive forcing Prisetley to parry wide.
The Bridge keeper's kicking then let him down seven minutes later, when Bowker's dangerous backpass was scuffed straight to Scott Nicholson whose deft chip dropped inches wide.
At the other end, Hayward lashed another free-kick straight into Campbell's body after Parr was tripped just outside the Whitby box.
With half an hour still remaining, highly-rated forward Anth Ormerod made way for youngster Dave McTiernan, making a straight swap on the right wing. Straight away, Whitby pressed, with Nicholson's solo run down the right halted on the edge of the box as the combative midfielder tried to shape an opening.
Minutes later, and Johnson cut in from the left and drove a low angled drive across goal that was cleared as far as McTiernan whose first-time punt was easily caught by Prisetley. In a definite attack-minded change, Celtic introduced Calcutt and Wharton for Bonsall and Smith.
But all the action was at the other end, as Johnson continued to find acres of space on the left. More pressure led to Craig Veart's neat 25-yard free-kick clipping the top of the Stalybridge bar as Priestley could only turn and watch.
A brilliant Bishop through ball then set up Gildea whose attempted shot from the edge of the box rolled wide but the former Scarborough forward was adjudged to have been upended. The free-kick came to nothing but Whitby continued to press.
With ten minutes left, former skipper Graham Robinson returning from a toe injury replaced Gildea and nearly had an assist from his first touch. Nicholson's long ball was flicked on by the South African sub for Johnson to race clear and drive goalwards, only for Prisetley to push out a stronger right hand to deflect the goalbound ball wide.
Ex-Bradford Park Avenue duo Dean Calcutt and Andy Hayward then both came close for Celtic. Calcutt's excellent run and shot was driven just past Campbell's right-hand post, then moments later, Hayward blazed a powerful shot wide from 20 yards.
But Whitby looked for all the world to have sewn things up five minutes from time when Robinson crossed for Johnson to head emphatically goalwards, however Prisetley got back again to tip over the bar at full stretch.
The keeper's weak kicking again almost resulted in a Whitby goal, again Nicholson was picked out on the edge of the box but Prisetley was able to block low down.
To their credit, Dave Logan's side swept forward with unswerving confidence right to the end, and just as the tie headed for a replay, they claimed victory. With just two minutes remaining, Robinson's driven left-wing cross was deflected goalwards by Nicholson and the loose ball fell perfectly for Bishop to stab home at the near post into the opposite corner for a deserved winner.