Friendly

24th July 2004

Attendance -

Whitby Town: Escritt, Atkinson(Veart 45), Lynch, Obern(Linighan 45), Williams, Nicholson, P Campbell(McTiernan 45), Robinson, Sheeran(Wise 45), Johnson(L Gildea 45), Bishop(Jackson 72).

Report - by Andrew Snaith - A brilliant 89th minute curler from Liam Gildea gave Whitby their first silverware of the new season and a 1-0 win over Scottish League side Gretna at the Turnbull Ground on Saturday. Graham Robinson held the Mick Skinner Trophy aloft in a small post-match presentation, the first Whitby captain to lift a cup for seven seasons. But the Seasiders were indebted to Gretna for some poor finishing and debutant Stokesley goalkeeper Ben Escritt for some fine saves. the Blues also featured newcomers Chris Lynch, a left-sided defender/midfielder from Thornaby, Neil Bishop a tough-tackling 22 year-old midfielder signed from Spennymoor United and 20 year old York City trainee Stuart Wise. On nine minutes, beanpole striker Kenny Deuchar should have put the visitors ahead but conspired to fall over the ball from two yards and Whitby cleared. Ex-Carlisle man Richard Prokas then saw his close range effort charged down from point blank range. For Whitby, Robinson came close with a strong run before being poleaxed as his 10 yard shot was blocked. Andy Smith headed straight at Escritt after the break, and at the other end, more good work from Robinson saw the South African lash narrowly wide from the left edge of the Gretna box. Whitby made five changes at the break, and two more later on in the match but it was the Scots who were looking much the better side. Both sides could've been down to ten men had this been a competitive fixture, after Deuchar and Scott Nicholson clashed in the Whitby box. On 86 minutes, only a brilliant reaction tip-over from Escritt denied Smith and kept the scoresheet blank. The Blues then landed a sucker punch when Gildea beat Aitken before cutting in from the right and curling a majestic shot round keeper Mathieson and inside the far post. The borders side were not finished however, and Escritt again came to Whitby's rescue with an even better reflex save to somehow deny Smith and Gretna for a second time. Despite a morale-boosting first pre-season victory and some useful showings from the likes of Bishop and Escritt, Whitby sat a long way back and Harry Dunn must still be chasing that elusive 20 goal a season frontman.