30th January 2004

Attendance - 527

Team - Campbell, Obern, Craddock, Reed, Hall, Dixon, Linghan, Williams (Nicholson), Ormerod, Appleby (McTiernan), Gildea. Sub not used : Swales

Report - Whitby Town were looking for a shock result against a Gainsborough Trinity outfit who had the best home record in the UniBond Premier division. And they nearly pulled it off, surrendering a two goal half time advantage.
It was a testiment to the groundstaff at Northolme who managed to prepare a superb playing surface that did not cut up despite the torrential rain and snow of the last week.
The game started tamely with Trinity going close after 4 minutes when a whipped free kick from the left hand side from Staton failed to find a home head. Whitby's Anthony Ormerod tried his luck from 25 yards but the shot drifted wide.
David Campbell was brought into action after 13 minutes making a superb save from the dangerous Lee Ellington, who shot in space from 18 yards. From the resulting corner Grant blazed wide when he should have done better.
Four minutes later Whitby took the lead with their first real goal mouth action. A corner from the left from Ormerod saw Brian Linighan and Tony Hall play head tennis, before the ball bounced kindly for Linighan to shoot home from 8 yards with the outside of his right boot. Gainsborough always played neat football and after Hall had cleared for a corner the Whitby defence allowed a free header inn the box, but the effort was wide again.
Ten minutes after taking the lead, Whitby doubled the advantage when Ormerod fed Andrew Appleby down the middle. The Hartlepool youngster outpaced the defender but his finish was superbly stopped by Norton in the home goal. The ball fell back to Appleby and from the narrowest of angles he fired the ball into the roof of the net to make it 2-0.
Ellington should have done better with a header with 3 minutes to half time, before Campbell made the save of the match with a superb reflex save froma powerful header. The home goalkeeper Norton was that impressed he enquired as whether we had "Lev Yashin in net"!!

The second half saw Gainsborough try to sieze the initiative and Hurst should have scored in the 51st minute but his shot was skied over the bar.
Soon after Darren Craddock whipped in an excellent cross from the left but before Ormerod could score it was cleared by the home defence. From the resulting corner Jock Williams 18 yard effort flew wide.
Appleby, who had started to cause the home defence some problems, nearly got his second when he was set free down the left channel. He cut inside a curled an effort inches over the top right hand corner.
Just before the hour mark, Gainsborough were handed a lifeline when Ellington turned and crossed for Byrne to score at the far post with the Whitby defence appealing for offside.
Appleby did well again soon after, when his shot was tipped wide by Norton.
With 71 minutes played, Gainsborough were awarded a fortunate looking penalty when Campbell was adjudged to have pulled Ellington down in trying to clear a cross. Despite no appeal from the home side the spot kick was awarded and Ellington beat Campbell to make it 2-2.
Whitby hit back, and looked confident of scoring again when Ormerod made another marauding run down the left hand side and his cross was just tipped wide of the on rushing Appleby who had the goal at his mercy.
Byrne blazed over for Trinity when well placed and the tricky Grant hit an effort across goal. Staton's free kick was cleared at the second attempt with a minute left before the game petered out for a fair draw.

Man of the Match - Dave Campbell - Made two outstanding saves and edged out Andrew Appleby who looked sharp and lively up front.