UniBond Premier

26th February 2008

Attendance - 154

Team - Campbell, Farthing (A Raw 71), Lyth, Appleby (c), Forster, Brumwell, Burton, Claisse, T Raw (Gildea 62), Thompson, Charlton. Attendance: 154.

Report - By Duncan Atkins @ www.whitbygazette.co.uk
A HOWLER from veteran keeper Dave Campbell denied Whitby Town a place in the North Riding Senior Cup final last night (Tues). Campbell sliced a back pass straight to Jonathan Franks, who could not believe his luck as he was given the freedom of the Turnbull to roll home the winner.

On a more positive note, the Blues welcomed back long-term casualties Danny Farthing and Tommy Raw for the first time in 11 months as changes were made ahead of Saturday's UniBond League clash with Hednesford.

The visitors - who fielded an academy side - included Wales under 21 international Rhys Williams in the starting XI.

Whitby went closest to opening the scoring early on when Andy Burton's superb cross found the head of winger Karl Charlton who could not quite keep his effort low enough. The Blues enjoyed the lions' share of possession in the first 20 minutes but when 'Boro had a rare venture forward, Nathan Porritt's 30-yard exocet only just cleared the bar.

'Boro took the lead against the run of play on the half hour as a long ball found Porritt on the right side of the Whitby penalty area. He neatly cut in and although his shot was blocked, Graeme Owens followed up to score. Porritt then spurned a golden chance to double the lead whe he found himself in acres of room on the left but hesitated and pulled his shot wide of the near post.

The Blues thought they had levelled before the break when Burton swung in another pinpoint centre and Charlton tapped in from close range, only to be foiled by the assistant referee's flag for offside. 'Boro skipper Anthony McMahon decided to use the blustery conditions to his advantage as he tried his luck from fully 40 yards, again not clearing the bar by much.

A great block from Farthing then prevented Owens netting his second. After Burton went close with a first-time volley, Whitby then scored their first goal in five games midway through the second half. Matty Appleby's speculative shot from the edge of box somehow wrong-footed keeper Matthew Atkinson to give the Blues a great chance of victory. But 10 minutes later disaster struck as Campbell's gaffe let in Franks to score, despite the best efforts of Phil Brumwell to keep it out. Defender Joe Bennett could have wrapped it up with seven minutes remaining, when he jinked past two players but placed his shot wide when well positioned.