UniBond Premier

29th April 2006

Attendance - 315

Team - Campbell, Atkinson, Brumwell, Farthing, Wilford, Radigan, Yalcin(Richards 63), Barber, Ormerod(Claisse 73), Brunskill, Thornton(McTiernan 63).

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Subsitute Dave McTiernan’s 68th minute strike proved to be the winner in what eventually turned out to be a meaningless final league game with only pride at stake on Saturday.

With Whitby 12 points adrift of a play-off place and Leek comfortably safe from relegation, news filtered around the Turnbull Ground that second-placed Frickley Athletic had failed a ground inspection. If Athletic were to be thrown out of the promotion competition, this may have thrown Town a play-off lifeline, however the league have subsequently ruled that the play-offs will continue as usual, though if Frickley win and still haven’t rectified their ground- the beaten finalists will be promoted to the Conference North.

However, Blues fans, players and officials didn’t know that and the encounter took on a new perspective in the North Yorkshire sunshine. Whitby manager Dave Logan made one enforced change from the side that ironically ended Frickley's championship hopes on Wednesday, with on-loan Mark Barber replacing the injured Scott Nicholson, in a like for like swap in midfield. Leek player-manager Mark Cartwright’s in-form side had lost just once in their last fifteen outings, and inflicted a 3-0 defeat on the Seasiders on home turf as recently as last Monday.

But you wouldn’t have known it on two minutes when Danny Brunskill’s strike on the turn was parried across his own six yard box by Scott Davies, but the two Whitby players arriving at the far post couldn’t get a touch between them and the ball flew wide.

Barber fired straight at Davies from the edge of the box on 13 minutes. Moments later Leek’s pacey 21-goal top scorer Alan Nagington somehow got between Darren Thornton and Paul Atkinson down the right flank and cut inside the Blues six yard box only for Aron Wilford to execute what had to be a perfectly-timed sliding tackle near the byline. Within seconds, Whitby’s prime goal-getter Brunskill headed Thornton’s pin-point left-wing cross wide of Davies’ left hand post.

The 19-goal Marske marksman who was to clean up at the Blues presentation night after the match nearly presented the crowd with the opening goal then muscled his way into the Leek box only to try a deft chip that landed just over the visitors’ crossbar.

More fine hold-up play from Brunskill then saw him exchange a one-two with Phil Brumwell, only for the former Darlington defender to shin tentatively straight at Davies from a central position just inside the area.

As half-time approached, the away side- competing with champions Blyth Spartans for team of the month after a string of eight straight away wins- threatened once again but 23-year-old midfielder Anthony Danylyk hammered a 25 yard effort high over Campbell and much of Upgang Lane.

Two minutes into the second half, the unfortunate visitors- who were already without five first-teamers mirroring Whitby’s player crisis in the clubs’ first meeting last week- lost ex-Port Vale winger Ryan Brown to injury, with Dan Booth his replacement.

Dave MacPherson, who was lucky to escape at least a booking after a clash with Thornton in the first half- then scuffed a tame effort straight at Campbell as the away side battled to reverse the flow.

However, it was a double substitution for the hosts that proved the turning point just after the hour mark. McTiernan and Karl Richards, who was making his return from a groin injury, replaced Thornton and the ineffectual Levent Yalcin.

Danny Farthing’s clearing header as far as the edge of the Whitby box was fired high over the Blues’ crossbar by Hawthorne and while, seconds later, McPherson beat McTiernan down the left and centred for Booth to scoop just over, it was the Seasiders who finally opened the scoring within five minutes of their twin change.

Barber’s outswinging free-kick from deep found Aron Wilford at the far post who thoughtfully crossed low for the unmarked McTiernan to connect with a trailing leg from point blank range and divert the ball past the helpless Davies for 1-0.

As Leek fought back, Campbell spilled a routine catch from a deep inswinging corner from the right and frightened the home support by following the loose ball to the edge of his area- a deep ball back in was eventually headed clear by Wilford.

It was then Farthing’s turn to nod clear, beating Nagington in the air after Danylyk took on Atkinson down the left and flicked the ball invitingly toward the near post.

Whitby could and should’ve put the game to bed though with 20 minutes remaining when Atkinson’s long ball was headed back by Brunskill, only for Ant Ormerod to fire wastefully high and wide from six yards out.

At the other end, the impressive Danylyk fired straight at Campbell, before Neil Radigan stuck out a leg to trip McPherson just outside the Blues box. Danylyk then executed a swerving free-kick over the three-man Whitby wall into the side netting with Campbell desperately throwing himself full-length to cover his right-hand post.

Ormerod’s loss of composure was to be his last contribution of the season as the former Middlesbrough forward made way on 73 minutes for teenage midfielder Tom Claisse, fresh from a midweek run-out in a closed-door friendly for Livingston against Scottish Premier runners-up Hearts.

The visitors couldn’t find an equaliser late on despite having the lion’s share of possession and causing a few alarms for the Blues contingent in a 300+ crowd- this despite the forward line being led by two goalkeepers! Adam Wilkes replaced Nagington on 76 minutes and to a huge cheer from the vocal away support, Simon Eldershaw made way with five minutes left for a rather bulky but nevertheless beaming manager, Cartwright.

With the Leek player-boss in the thick of the action, Campbell was tested right at the end when Danylyk’s 30 yard drive bounced awkwardly in front of the veteran Blues stopper who clung on well at full stretch.

At the final whistle, both sides received plenty of applause for their efforts not only for the day but for the season as a whole. Leek supporters delighted just to be in the Premier Division after a roller-coaster of a campaign saw them rock-bottom at Christmas but suffering just five league defeats since under the inspirational Cartwright. Whitby fans were left to reflect on the season’s inconsistency which ruined any hopes of reaching the play-offs, with the two home wins this week at least earning them sixth place and the scant consolation of £2,200 prize money from the Unibond League. It may be interesting to see how or if that money is spent over the summer