UniBond Premier Division

29th December 2007

Attendance - 124

Team - Campbell, Burton, Janes(Lyth 20), Appleby(Adams 74), Tobin, Pallender, Claisse, Thompson, Ormerod(Gildea 74), Brunskill, Charlton.

Report - by Andrew Snaith -
Whitby ended 2007 with back to back defeats after bogey team Ossett secured a third victory of the season over the Blues on Saturday.

The West Yorkshire had already won 5-2 at the Turnbull Ground, and dumped the Seasiders out of the FA Trophy, prompting former manager Lee Nogan's resignation. But going into the weekend clash, both clubs had suffered home defeats on Boxing Day against sides in the bottom three.

A patched up Blues side were without player-manager Phil Brumwell through illness, with Ashley Lyth only fit enough for the bench after suffering a head injury midweek, and goalkeeper David Campbell carrying heavy strapping on one knee. Former Middlesbrough full-back Dean Gordon had earlier been released as assistant boss Graham Clarke made three changes, including recalls for Steve Tobin and Andy Burton in defence and just a second start since September for Ant Ormerod.

The rain lashed down at Ossett's Ingfield home, and both sides struggled to make any early headway on a heavy surface. With 16 minutes gone, Whitby's Andy Thompson ran forward and struck a 20-yard drive that bounced awkwardly in front of keeper Jonathan Hedge, who clung on well low down. At the other end, Tobin nearly put through his own net after swinging a boot at a right-wing cross and getting the slightest deflection, but Campbell did well to save.

The Blues, who were, for the duration of the afternoon, the Whites, lost Alex Janes after a clash of knees following a slide tackle, and Lyth was forced into action inside 20 minutes. Within five, the hosts, who had enjoyed most of the territorial advantage, broke the deadlock. Great skill from James Walshaw saw defenders left trailing in his wake, before the stocky marksman teed up the returning Carl Fothergill to drive emphatically into the top-left corner of the net from 12 yards.

Stung into action, Whitby replied immediately, with their best spell of possession so far. A fine one touch move involving Matty Appleby, Tom Claisse and Thompson, culminated in Ormerod putting through Danny Brunskill, who fired across Hedge on the turn, and inside the far post for 1-1.

Moments later, Thompson's far post free-kick struck a defender's knee and dropped for Ormerod, whose goalbound drive was charged down bravely, and Appleby, off balance kicked thin air from an acute angle just outside the six yard box.

The home side then applied all the pressure going into the half-time break. Firstly, a speculative 30-yard effort flew just wide, and moments later, when Tobin conceded a free-kick, Walshaw curled the resulting set piece inches over the crossbar from just outside the Whitby area.

Two minutes before the interval, it was Walshaw again, who tricked his way past Lyth on the left flank, jinking along the touchline and crossing low for Fothergill at the far post, but Appleby slid in at the last second to block the point-blank effort.

Two headers in as many minutes then saw Campbell save well low down from a corner, and moments later, watch as a right-wing cross was nodded over the top from close range.

But the second half began with Whitby on the attack, Brunskill running onto a long ball which held up on the wet pitch near the byline. The tall ex-Spennymoor marksman then powered his way towards the near post, before unleashing a vicious effort bound for the opposite corner, which Hedge did well to push wide at head height.

However, Ossett led again on the hour in typically simplistic fashion, when yet another corner was floated over and this time, Appleby got in ahead of Walshaw but nodded against the underside of his own crossbar and into the net.

But it looked as though deja'vu had struck as the visitors once again rallied from the kick-off. Brunskill chased down another ball from deep, and centered for Karl Charlton to drive into the side netting from close range at the far post.

As it was, it was the home side who were to reply quickly with a third goal. The ever-dangerous Walshaw was able to run from deep once more, and slot an angled drive past Campbell for 3-1.

Thompson saw an unconvincing 25-yard strike skid wide, before Whitby gained an unexpected path back into the match. Graham Clark made a double change, throwing on remaining subs Tom Adams and Liam Gildea for Ormerod and Appleby with an instant impact within a minute.

The ball was knocked into Gildea just inside the Ossett area and the ex-Blyth forward went down rather dramatically under James Cotterill's slide challenge. Nevertheless, the referee, who, if anything, had favoured the home side previously, had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Up strode Brunskill, who calmly slotted low to the keeper's right for his 20th goal of the season and a Whitby lifeline with 15 minutes remaining.

But it was the hosts who looked much more dangerous and they finally put the result beyond doubt on 80 minutes. After a failed Whitby break, Ossett countered and as the Seasiders' midfield struggled to get back, a driven ball to the far post slipped out of Campbell's hands and Fothergill was on hand to poke home a sure winner.

Indeed, the Reds nearly put five past their visitors for a second time this term, when with five minutes left, the irrepressible Walshaw rounded Campbell, only for Tobin to slide an angled drive off the goal-line at full stretch.

Right at the death, Adams, announced as Tony by the Ossett PA man, hooked goalward a 25-yard effort the former Arsenal man would be proud of, but just cleared the bar.

Whitby's noisy support deserved better, with, as on Boxing Day, the opposition first to most of the loose balls and the midfield providing little protection for the patched up back four. Certainly, Town will be hoping 2008 does not begin with the performances that closed 2007, with fourth-placed Gateshead at the Turnbull Ground on New Years Day.