UniBond Premier Division

2006

Attendance - 80

Team - Campbell, Reid(Wilkinson 63), Brumwell, Appleby, Farthing, Wilford, McTiernan(Drinkall 72), Claisse(Richards 65), Raw, Brunskill, Ormerod. Subs not used: Norton(GK), Nicholson.

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Whitby Town's FA Trophy interest again ended at the second qualifying round stage over the weekend, despite leading at half-time, and playing against ten men for the final fifteen minutes on Woodley's artificial turf.

Lee Nogan's men were unchanged from the side that eased past Grantham Town 3-1 in the league last weekend. Their First Division hosts, who hammered the Blues' Premier Division promotion rivals Marine 6-1 in the last round, rotated their squad, bringing back highly-rated young striker Mario Sergio-Daniel.

However, it was the Blues who struck first inside four minutes when top-scorer Danny Brunskill ran from deep and forced his way into the Woodley penalty area. The big ex-Spennymoor forward cut along the touchline before firing low across goal, for Dave McTiernan to appear at the far post and poke home from point blank range- a carbon copy of his strike seven days earlier.

Moments later, Tom Raw had a great chance to double Town's lead after seizing on Lee Wright's weak back header, but keeper Liam Higginbotham did well to block Raw's fierce drive from the edge of the box.

The Greater Manchester side first showed on 15 minutes it was former Man United youngster Luke Horrocks who struck a ferocious 30-yard strike narrowly wide of Dave Campbell's goal.

Moments later, left-back Ashley Crank was very lucky to escape a booking after a very late challenge left McTiernan prostrated on the third-generation playing surface at Lambeth Grove. Defender Aron Wilford then headed a right-wing corner narrowly wide as Whitby nearly extended their lead.

On 26 minutes, a loose ball found it's way to Brunskill on the edge of the area, and the Seasiders' leading marksman connected well with a 25-yard volley on the turn, but fired just over the crossbar.

Ex- Manchester City and Bury prospect Daniel Douglas-Pringle then threatened for the home side on 27 minutes running onto a through ball and lobbing Campbell from 18 yards, but the ball landed on the roof of the net, rather than inside it- to the confusion of at least one Woodley fan.

As it was, the sparse home contingent, outnumbered by the 40 or so travelling supporters, were soon able to celebrate properly, ten minutes before the break. Sergio-Daniel recieved the ball on the right edge of the box and drilled an angled drive through a ruck of players, including the unsighted Campbell and inside the keeper's right-hand post.

Two minutes later at the other end, Mark Phillips was booked for sliding through the back of Raw, and from the resulting free-kick, Danny Farthing headed against the post from close range, but the whistle had already gone for the Whitby defender's climb on his marker.

Sergio-Daniel's weak effort from distance was comfortably saved low down by Campbell, but it was the visitors who ended the half the strongest.

Brunskill released Raw, only for Higginbotham to make another good parry, the ball coming out to Ormerod whose 18 yard drive was deflected wide. But Town continued to push forward, winning a free-kick against the left touchline level with the penalty area. Midfielder Tom Claisse whipped over the perfect inswinging cross, and with Wilford even poised unmarked next to him, it was Brunskill nodded home one of the easiest of his 13 goals from close range, a minute before half-time.

Ex-Rotherham midfielder Chris Curley fired well over Campbell's crossbar in the opening stages of the second half, before the home side grabbed a deserved equaliser on the hour. A neat move involving several players resulted in Sergio-Daniel slotting home comfortably from 12 yards for 2-2.

Three minutes later, and pacey winger Adam Morning read the ball's bounce better than Farthing and surged forward but slid a low effort past Campbell, but wide of the keeper's left-hand post.

Whitby had already introduced Neil Wilkinson for Tom Reid in a straight swap at right-back, and moments later, sacrificed Claisse, to introduce left-winger Richards.

But it was the home side who were firmly in the accendancy, again using their searing pace on 66 minutes when Morning's low cross was slid home by Daniel Douglas Pringle in similiar fashion to McTiernan's strike.

Whitby's second goalscorer then made way for midfielder James Drinkall, as Nogan played his final card for the last 18 minutes. On 74 minutes, Raw flicked on for Brunskill to fire straight at Higginbotham from the edge of the area.

However, Whitby recieved a real break seconds later. The break almost being Ormerod's leg, after Crank executed another ridiculous challenge, this time going in two-footed on the former Middlesbrough man. Referee Mr Street had no hesitation in showing the former Stockport County man a straight red card for the foul on the halfway line.

Town nearly took advantage of their advantage straight away when Higginbotham punched away a corner, only another cross to come in and the unlucky Farthing to strike the woodwork for a second time, this time jeading against the Woodley crossbar.

Fellow centre-half Wilford nodded over under pressure from the Sports defence on 82 minutes, before turning provider five minutes later. The versatile former Scarborough man crossing from the left for Brunskill to head a great chance wide from 12 yards.

Brunskill drilled a speculative low drive straight at Higginbotham with two minutes remaining, and despite four minutes of injury time being added, Raw's half-volley over the bar from 20 yards proved Town's last shot on goal. Woodley deservedly claiming £2,000 and a place in the final qualifying round after a battling performance belying their man disadvantage and inferior league standing where superior fitness probably told in the end.