UniBond Premier Division

2005

Attendance - 182

Team - Campbell, Williams (Atkinson), Veart, Farthing, Linighan, Gildea.A, McTiernan, Robinson (Gildea.L), Wilkinson, Ormerod, Richards, Subs not used Obern,

Report - by Andrew Snaith - A second defeat in four days leaves Whitby's championship hopes hanging by a thread after Ossett Town secured a 2-1 win in West Yorkshire on Saturday. Even if sides around them lose points because of Spennymoor's demise, the title is now firmly in the hands of Hyde United, who defeated Workington 1-0 at the weekend.

Wednesday's goalscorer in the defeat to Wakefield-Emley Graham Robinson was restored to the starting line-up, alongside Jack Wilkinson and Brian Linighan, who both missed out in midweek through injury. Billingham Synthonia midfielder Neil Radigan was unavailable despite the Northern League side's match being postponed, while Liam Gildea dropped to the bench and Scott Nicholson began a two-match suspension.

On a bizarrely uneven surface, Whitby threatened on four minutes when Hartlepool Utd loanee Karl Richards hammered wide on the half volley from distance. Ossett's recent Italian signing Giovanni Carchedi then saw a firm left-foot drive deflected off target from 16 yards.

James Walshaw, nicknamed Wally by his teammates was to make wallies of the Blues defence, and fired a warning shot on 20 minutes that Whitby keeper Dave Campbell did well to push wide. However, the Blues didn't heed the warning and from Carchedi's corner, Kirk Wheeler flicked on at the near post for Walshaw to nod into the top left corner, completely unmarked from six yards out.

In a tepid first half, the Seasiders could've levelled matters on 38 minutes but Ant Ormerod's looping goalbound header was nodded clear from inside the six yard box.

Walshaw came close to doubling Ossett's lead a minute after the restart, but he found Campbell a keeper in form, who saved well low down to his right. Whatever manager Dave Logan said at half-time it was to have a positive effect on the visitors with Alex Gildea in particular, making a concerted effort to get the ball on the ground and run at defenders. On 48 minutes, Gildea hammered a speculative effort well over the bar from 20 yard plus. But within moments, the scores were level with Gildea and the impressive Richards combining. Gildea and Robinson exchanged passes before the former Scarborough midfielder spotted Richards in space on the left of the Ossett box, and with one swift sidefoot finish, the left-footed teenager found the bottom left corner giving Hood no chance.

However, far from going on to take control, Whitby found the hosts stepped it up a notch with Ossett's forward line repeatedly getting through with too much pace for their counterparts.

Campbell pushed Niall McNamara's low drive round his right-hand post on 53 minutes, with Danny Farthing having to be alert to block successive efforts moments later as Ossett threatened to run riot.

McNamara strolled down the right just over the hour and fired in a suprise effort that clipped the Whitby crossbar. Once again, this was a warning of bad things to come for the Blues, and the normally well-marshalled Blues back-line were at sixes and sevens when Ossett regained the lead on 64 minutes.

Linighan stepped up late and appealed desperately for an optimistic offside, as Walshaw was released down the left and as Whitby backtracked in vain, Chris Boulder had all the space in the world to slot home the winner from point blank range.

The Blues enjoyed another let-off on 70 minutes, when Robert Pell this time struck the bar after Veart was left for dead down the Whitby left. After a prolonged scramble, Farthing was able to nod wide as his veteran team-mates again left him exposed.

However, for all Ossett's attacking flair, some of their defensive tactics left a lot to be desired. The overly-lenient referee gave no protection to the Blues, with Robinson inevitably suffering a broken nose from a raised elbow. Combative forward Liam Gildea replaced the South African on 73 minutes.

The official only produced three yellow cards in the match, and one of those was for a very marginal hand-ball, one for a late Richards challenge, and finally a long overdue booking after Whitby's sub was upended just outside the home box. The free-kick was cleverly chipped in by Veart, but Alex Gildea's volleyed just wide, the offside flag being raised at the same time.

Paul Atkinson replaced fellow right-back Graham Williams for the final five minutes with Whitby missing a few decent opportunities to at least rescue a forlorn point. With two minutes left, Wilkinson broke down the left but summed Whitby's afternoon up by firing straight at Hood from close range.

Alex Gildea then had a shot blocked, with Ormerod unlucky to see anoher hopeful header cleared from the line with Richards' 20 yard follow up charged down.

Nevertheless, at the final whistle Whitby were well beaten. And not even a pitch cut with long grass running in horizontal strips from end to end, an inept official and one frustratingly poorly positioned linesman or the combined elbows of an entire defence and midfield line can mask a tired and lacking display from the supposed title-chasers.

It seems time finally caught up with messers Linighan and Veart who were caught out again and again with balls over the top, and the alarming chasm in central midfield yearned for a Scaife, Nicholson or even Radigan to fill it. However, the Blues now prepare for a huge league cup final at the Turnbull Ground, no-doubt desperate to end a seven-season wait for silverwear, and hopefully, a just reward for an otherwise phenomenal season under a fledgling manager. Witton, Workington and Whitby waits!