Team - Campbell, Leeson, White, Hassan, Burgess, Cornforth (Craddock – 52), McTiernan, Batchelor, Hackworth (Davis – 86), Beadle, Scott Subs not used: Southern, Hodgson, Courtney
Report - by Andy Baxter - A healthy sized crown enjoyed a thoroughly entertaining match on a lovely Spring evening, between 2 teams who battled hard for the entire game. But in the end as far as Whitby Town and their Manager Tommy Cassidy could say .... it was really “Rough Justice” as they so desperately needed points at the bottom end of the table while their opposition were looking to move in to a play off slot.
Whitby came out strong and enjoyed the lion’s share of the early encounters, but it was FC’s Mike Norton who had the first notable effort from inside the Whitby box, when his cross come shot flew across the goal, invitingly for someone to add just a small touch to score. But Whitby replied 5 minutes later when the ball found Chris Batchelor 15 yards out, but he uncharacteristically sliced his shot harmlessly over the bar. Whitby continued to push forward and a long through ball to Tony Hackworth saw him through on goal with only keeper Ashton to beat but the ex Leeds player tried to lob the ball over the advancing keeper and in doing so, it went way over the bar and empty net, much to the delight of the many travelling fans.
Both teams continued to play some attractive attacking football and half way through the half, FC Utd’s Norton tried his luck from 35 yards with a long bouncing effort which saw Whitby keeper Campbell save but a little uncomfortably for some of the home supporters who took a sharp intake of breath as he did so. Minutes later Jerome Wright took a free kick on the right side of the area which ended back at his feet, so he looked up and hit a thundering low shot which keeper Campbell not only saved superbly at full stretch but somehow managed to regain his balance to deny the follow up from Simon Corden. Although Whitby had their moments going forward, far too many times they were getting caught offside by the FC Utd defence who excellently executed the off side trap. The visitors then lifted a gear in the final 10 minutes of the half, forcing the Whitby rear guard to continual bombardment, but Whitby’s Man of the Match, Kevin Burgess and colleague Ibby Hassan were resolute in their defending and staved off any breakthrough from the visitors. Hackworth had another effort at the end of the half but again it flew yards wide of the target.
Whitby enjoyed the first effort of the second half with a shot from Jimmy Beadle going a couple of feet wide and moments later, a free kick to the home side saw Kevin Burgess turn in the area and shoot narrowly over the bar. Whitby then substituted Joe Cornforth, who had received a knock in the first half, with Darren Craddock who had returned to Whitby Town for this match. The visitors really should have taken the lead in the 61st minute when a corner found the head of the unmarked Ben Deegan but his free header went wide with the goal beckoning. FC Utd continued to pile on the pressure in search of a goal and whilst they were winning everything, the home side really were on the back foot, frantically defending the visitor’s onslaught. Whitby then came close themselves, following a neat build up which ended with Hackworth chesting the ball in to the path of the incoming Beadle who unleashed a piledriver which brought out a top class save from FC Utd’s keeper, Ashton, at full stretch.
Minutes later at the other end, Deegan again collected the ball and turned past his man, only to see his poor shot fly wide. With 15 minutes remaining and both teams having had chances at both ends, another lovely inter passing move by Whitby saw a cheeky back heel from Beadle find Batchelor but his shot was denied by a saving tackle from United’s Man of the Match, David Chadwick.
The visitors then won a corner 2 minutes later and the resultant cross found Mike Norton whose header at the near post found the back of the net. Whitby retaliated from the re-start with another attack and Hackworth had a shot blocked, only for the ball to be cleared back to the other end where a one-two between Corden and Deegan ended with an off balance shot thankfully going wide for the home supporters.
But Whitby deserved, and really should have squared the match in injury time as substitute Ashley Davis had a shot parried by the keeper in to the path of Dave McTiernan who frustratingly headed over with the empty goal awaiting.
After the game, a dejected Tommy Cassidy said “We deserved something from this game but they got the winning goal. I feel really sorry for the Whitby lads as they battled so hard tonight and we had our chances to grab something, at least a draw which I’m sure everyone would have agreed would have been a fair result. The luck just wasn’t with us again but there were lots of positives and I can’t fault my lads tonight”
