UniBond Premier

19th March 2005

Attendance - 327

Team - D Campbell, Williams, Veart, Farthing, Obern, Nicholson, Ormerod, A Gildea, Wilkinson, Robinson(Johnson 76), Richards(McTiernan 70). Sub not used: L Gildea.

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Whitby extended their unbeaten run to eight matches thanks to two goals from Jack Wilkinson and Ant Ormerod inside the opening 13 minutes to keep up with the chasing pack going into Good Friday's clash with play-off chasing 11-unbeaten West Yorkshire rivals Guiseley.

Dave Logan kept faith with the side that grabbed a memorable 2-1 win at third-placed Farsley Celtic in midweek, with available-again Brian Linighan having to settle for a place in the stand.

And the manager's faith was repaid as Whitby led inside three minutes when on-loan Hartlepool striker Wilkinson's brilliantly timed run was picked out by Ormerod and the teenager stroked the ball into the top left corner and past the onrushing keeper Michael Stuart from the edge of the box.

Ten minutes later and it was 2-0. Stuart was stranded off his line when Graham Robinson's deft 25-yard chip struck the crossbar, only for Ormerod to tap into an open net from point blank range.

At the other end, Stuart's opposite number Dave Campbell, tipped over two goalbound headers. Firstly, tipping over Courtney's effort comfortably and then pulling off an excellent reflex save to deny Darren Brookfield. Whitby threatened to run riot as Nicholson's superb reverse ball released Alex Gildea, whose near post cross was headed wide by the ruffled away defence. Veart's effortless square ball then released Gildea for a second time, winning a corner which Nicholson headed out of Stuart's hands but the loose ball was eventually hoofed clear.

However, just before the break, some excellent one-touch play from the Lancastrians involving three players on the edge of the box culminated in Brookfield slamming home McNally's header down with an unstoppable 18 yard volley low past Campbell's despairing left hand.

Marine had the better of the opening 15 minutes of the second half, but after weathering this, Whitby really should have put the game to bed on the hour. Ormerod's run from deep beat the visitors' flimsy offside trap and the forward raced clear one on one with Stuart, who he rounded, with one defender between him and goal, he nervously squared for Robinson whose equally timid effort was blocked by the sliding Randles.

The away side then had their best chance to level on 63 minutes when Ben Kay battered goalwards, only for Campbell to pull off an incredible reflex save to push the ball wide. A minute later, Marine's cause suffered a further blow when full-back Neil Murphy was sent-off after a spat with Gildea.

Dave McTiernan replaced Whitby's other Hartlepool loanee Karl Richards, who again impressed, on the left with 20 minutes left, and Steve Johnson took Robinson's place on 75. McTiernan's skill, and Johnson's pace and workrate saw Whitby come close to grabbing the vital third goal but it was a frightening end to the match for Whitbyites with the Blues on the back foot right to the bitter end.

On 85 minutes, Paul McNally should've at least tested Campbell but poked wide at full stretch from just 6 yards out. Marine, who are sponsored by transport company Arriva, thought their big moment had arrived late in the game when McNally finally bundled the ball into the net amid a fierce goalmouth scramble. However, their celebrations were muted and Whitby's were able to begin moments later, as linesman Mr Holmes' red and yellow flag came to the hosts' rescue.

A huge sigh of relief from the highest crowd of the day in the Unibond League and the second highest of the season amid the rubble at the Turnbull Ground, was followed by warm applause for the battling Blues who are now eight matches unbeaten and keep up the pressure on the leading pack with clashes against sides in eighth and ninth over the Easter weekend.