North Riding Senior Cup

2008

Attendance -207

Team - Campbell, Lambert, Janes, Bishop (Lyth - 45 mins), Tobin, Brumwell, Garvie (James - 83 mins), Ormerod, Barwick, Brunskill, Charlton (Ovington - 52 mins) Sub not used: Rae

Report - by ANDY BAXTER - A freezing cold October night, with the the pitch already starting to frost over at kick off, always looked like it may prove difficult for both teams. However, they mastered the conditions well and put on an entertaining First Round North Riding Senior Cup match.

Whitby fielded a totally different side to that doing well in the league, with them giving four 17 year old players, Shaun Lambert, Joe Barwick, Tom James and Bob Ovington, the chance to either start along side some more senior players or enter the game from the substitutes bench.

Whitby created an early effort for Danny Brunskill, whos shot was well saved by keeper, Kevin Martin, but the impressive Pickering team took an early lead when Chris Batchelor, who a few years ago had a short unsuccessful spell at the Turnbull, was allowed a clear view at goal and from 25 yards out hit a superb shot past the diving Dave Campbell and into the top corner of the net.

Whitby tried to respond to this early setback and on 12 mins, a neat one-two move involving Chartlton and Brunskill, who cleverly back heeled the ball back into Charlton's path, saw his well hit shot fly close to the Pickering right hand post.

Pickering continued to stroke the ball around the park and the ever dangerous Batchelor brought Campbell into action to deny him a second goal, moments later to also see Luke Ibbotson's header rattle off the Whitby bar. The visitors managed a few good moves, mainly through Sam Garvie who delivered some nice crosses into the Pickering box, one falling to Ormerod, who forced a very good save from keeper, Martin.

Whitby striker and captain, Danny Brunskill, was also keen to prove he can return to form with a couple of decent efforts, although Pickering had done their homework and whenever he received the ball, they quickly closed down his favoured left foot.

At the start of the second half, Whitby replaced Craig Bishop with the experienced Ashley Lyth, who marked Batchelor and it wasn't long before the two were tussling. Whitby then got an equaliser in the 48th minute when one of the U19 youngsters, Joe Barwick, held up and the ball well and played in Karl Chrlton, for him to smash the ball in the net from close range.

A minute later, another strong challenge between Lyth and Batchelor ended up with the Whitby man receiving a yellow card and the unfortunate Batchelor, who until then was Pickering's best player, limping off to be replaced by Jamie Williamson, who himself only lasted 18 mins before he also limped off following a tackle.

Whitby then substituted goal scorer Charlton to allow another youngster, Bob Ovington to enter the game. Pickering had now lost much of their momentum since the departure of play maker Batchelor and their efforts were few and far between with Whitby being the dominant team. However, ex Whitby player, Tom Adams, did come close with a volley from outside the box which flew inches over the Whitby bar.

Sam Garvie at the other end cut inside the box and his shot when just past the left hand post and this proved to be his last contribution, as another youngster, Tom James replaced him for the final 7 mins.

With the 90 mins up and both teams all square, most were expecting 30 more minutes extra time in the freezing conditions but the match went straight into penalties with Whitby taking the first. Unfortunately Brunskill's and Ormerod's were well saved by Martin but equally, Pickering's Connor and Salt saw their's denied by Dave Campbell. It therefore went to sudden death, with the pressure on young Tom James for Whitby, who calmly hit a superb penalty into the roof of the net. For Pickering, up stepped Michael McNaughton who needed to score, only to see his low penalty to Campbell's right well saved by the Whitby keeper at full stretch, and the "Seasiders" were through to the next round against Middlesbrough.