UniBond Premier

25th March 2005

Attendance - 428

Team - Campbell, Williams, Veart, Farthing, Linighan, Nicholson, McTiernan, A Gildea, Ormerod, Johnson(L Gildea 60), Richards(Atkinson 84). Sub not used: Obern.

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Whitby are just a point behind third-placed Farsley after another hard-fought victory extended their unbeaten run to nine matches on Good Friday. It was the Seasiders' third straight 2-1 win, and ended Guiseley's own 11-match stretch without defeat. It was watched by 428 supporters- the Turnbull Ground's highest crowd of 2005 and proof that manager Dave Logan's plea for the town's support is being heeded.

Logan welcomed back experienced defender Brian Linighan, but lost the services of Graham Robinson, who is away with Middlesbrough's Youth Academy in Italy, and striker Jack Wilkinson who injured himself playing for Hartlepool's Youth side in midweek.

Winger Dave McTiernan and striker Steve Johnson returned to the starting line-up, with Mark Obern dropping to the bench.

Both sides featured plenty of tall, powerful players with the even combination cancelling each other in the early stages. Eventually, Whitby settled first and came close on 13 minutes when Hartlepool loanee Karl Richards drilled 20-yard drive was deflected wide by Guiseley's sliding midfielder Richard Chattoe.

Ten minutes later, and the Blues led after a good spell of pressure finally told. Johnson deftly flicked on Linighan's long ball and former Middlesbrough striker Ant Ormerod did the rest- expertly chipping over keeper Lamb from the edge of the box and into the top right corner of the net.

Veteran full-back and dead-ball wizard Craig Veart came close to extending the Blues' lead on 33 minutes with a fierce 20-yard free-kick that was on target but deflected wide by a brave defender.

Guiseley slowly began to make headway towards the end of the half and legendary goal-getter Simon Parke fired a warning shot a minute before the break, with a 25-yard potshot flying well wide. Even so, it was still a shock when the visitors levelled right on the stroke of half-time. But it was a familiar story for Whitby when Parke's determination won a corner, which went deep to the far post for big defender Lee Connor to nod powerfully across Dave Campbell and inside the opposite corner.

The away side, unbeaten since a January reverse to resurgent Gateshead, began the second period as they ended the first, with Parke coming close on 55 minutes, but heading straight at Campbell from close range.

However, this time it was hard-working Whitby's turn to strike against the run of play. Within two minutes, play surged to the other end with Ormerod's twisting and turning to win a corner for the home side. And when Veart swung a trademark inswinging ball towards the far post, it was de ja vu' as much-sought-after defender Danny Farthing directed a perfect header into the same corner Connor found moments earlier for 2-1.

Johnson, who run himself into the ground for the first hour, gave way to the equally determined Liam Gildea as Logan replaced one young forward for another, going into the last 30 minutes.

McTiernan was unlucky not to test the the Guiseley keeper on 67 minutes when his well-directed header struck the back of Gildea's leg and the visitors cleared. Five minutes later and Lamb was finally called into action, having to react quickly to end Ormerod's mazy run with a crisp slide tackle.

At the other end, play-off chasing Guiseley showed they were still in the contest when Parke suprised everyone, when he turned and swung his left-leg nonchalantly at the ball from 12 yards and the resulting effort scraped the outside of Campbell's left-hand post.

Whitby were sitting back to try and protect their precious one-goal lead, with Gildea and Ormerod frequently the only men in the visitors' half. Yet another long ball out of defence found Gildea, whose sheer bloody-minded efforts took him past two defenders and fire a low goal-bound effort that Lamb pushed round the near post at full stretch.

21-year-old Lamb has honours for the West Riding of Yorkshire and it was easy to see why when he reacted brilliantly to tip over Scott Nicholson's goalbound effort from Veart's chipped pass.

With six minutes remaining, Malaga-bound full-back Paul Atkinson replaced Richards to try and stifle the game further. Guiseley reacted with a double change seconds later, forward Kieron O'Brien and ex-Blackburn and Burnley midfielder Dave Henry, replacing Chattoe and defender Steve Ball.

It almost paid dividends as, in previous weeks, the Blues put their fans through hell as the match concluded. Three minutes injury time seemed to last an eternity and Farthing nearly turned villain, deflecting a low pot-shot inches wide in his own six-yard box And the relief was deafening around the ground, when Henry sent Guiseley's last chance swerving wide of the mark from the edge of the area.