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Whitby Town - Season 2004/05 Review
Following the disappoinment of losing out in the play-offs for the Conference North, Whitby Town started the new campaign expecting a better season against teams that were in effect at a lower level last season. Manager Harry Dunn brought in few new faces and the lack of an out and out goalscorer seemed clear from the start.
A first day at Lincoln United was followed by a run of 4 games without a win culminating in a dismal 4-1 home reverse at the hands of Burscough. The performance that poor and the crowd that low and disgruntled that drastic action was taken and Dunn was sacked.
Harry Dunn is the most successful Whitby Town manager that there has been. He won the Northern League, Unibond Division One and the FA Vase in 2 season from 96-97 to 97-98. But since the break up of that successful side the performances slipped and the team became disheartened, crowds slipped to around 250 and only brief FA Cup glory kept the wolves from his door.
There was a lot of speculation as to who would be replacing Dunn and the man that startedout as caretaker manager, David Logan eventually won the job on a permanent basis. After a defeat away at Leek Town, Whitby won their next three games, before another defeat away at Spennymoor. The FA Cup run was halted at the second round stage with a poor defeat to an average Mossley team.
At this point, Logan didn't look likely to be handed the job, but his team then set off on a club record equalling 19 match unbeaten run. From October 6th until January 19th the side powered there way up the table and into the next rounds of the FA Trophy, North Riding Senior Cup and the UniBond League Challeng Cup.
The defeat on January 19th was at the hands of Hyde United in an FA Trophy replay. In a game that Town had dominated, Hyde had one chance and scored.
Town then suffered back to back defeats in the league to Radcliffe and Burscough again, but once again Logan picked the team up and motivated them on another marathon run undefeated. This time it was 15 games and the team looked certain for a play-off spot and even automatic promotion.
Success whoever, brought disaster and April saw the team forced to play catch up with 12 games in 28 days including a UniBond League Cup Finl against Matlock Town.
Something had to give and tired displays against Ossett Town and Emley saw any hope of the title go up in smoke. The Cup final was also lost after extra time as the season looked likely to implode.
Yet again Logan worked his magic and the side bounced back from a defeat to title challengers Workington to play the same side off the park 3 days later and ruin any chance they had of winning the league.
Whitby Town finished in 4th place in the league and lost only game against the other sides in top 5 all season.
The league however was marred by wrangling, Court action arguments over the record of Spennymoor United who failed to complete the season. Whitby were due to face Workington in the play offs before the FA overturned a UniBond ruling. This mean't that Town were to play Farsley Celtic until that game was cancelled due to court action by Farsley.
All Dave Logan could do was sit and wait to find out who we were to play in the play-offs and when.
When Farsley's appeal had been heard and rejected by the high court Town travelled to Farsley for their play-off match, and once again were denied by the heroics of goalkeeper Paul Cuss. Earlier in the seaon whilst playing for Emley, Cuss had made a string of top drawer saves to deny Whitby all three points. In the regular time he produced a similar performance to deny Town a place in the final as they sucumbed in extra time to a solitary goal.
Special mentions must go to Danny Farthing, a summer signing from Goole Town was superb all season long and missed only one match all year, the game that cost Harry Dunn his job. Also veteran goalkeeper David Campbell who was back to his scintilating best and won more than a few game for the team with his bravey and reactions. If there is a better goalkeeper in the league,I have yet to see him.
Harry Dunn's legacy will be the succesful period that propelled Whitby Town to the highest offical level that they have ever played at. Harry will always be a friend of Whitby Town and will be loved and cherished by the Blues fans for ever more, but it is now Dave Loagn's time, and from what we have seen so far, there is plenty to come.
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