UniBond Premier

January 29th 2005

Attendance - 274

Team - Campbell, Atkinson, Williams, Farthing, Linighan, Nicholson, McTiernan, Robinson, Johnson, Gildea.L, Bishop (Gildea.A) - Subs Ormerod

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Whitby Town now lie fourth in the Unibond Premier Division, 15 points adrift of leaders Workington, after only their second home league defeat this season on Saturday.
Sixth-placed Radcliffe Borough, on the fringes of a play-off place, found the net twice without reply, despite Dave Logan’s side dominating possession and missing a host of chances in the final ten minutes.
The Blues were without influential midfielder Nick Scaife, sidelined with a rib injury- Neil Bishop returned to the starting line-up after his trial with Conference rivals Scarborough in midweek.
It was the Seasiders who started brightest when Steve Johnson’s ferocious angled drive on eight minutes was tipped wide at full stretch by Radcliffe keeper Danny Hurst.
Four minutes later, and strike partner Liam Gildea saw his goal-bound header bounce on the Radcliffe goal-line before being hacked clear.
At the other end, Scott Wilson’s right wing cross was headed across goal and wide by the diving Steve Foster.
Whitby came close again when a sustained period of pressure culminated in Brian Linighan heading Dave McTiernan’s corner inches over the Borough crossbar.
However, for all the home side’s huffing and puffing, it was the visitors who grabbed the lead five minutes before the break. Whitby stopper Dave Campbell was beaten in the air by Ciaran Kilheeney only for Atkinson to clear off his own line. But the rebound fell kindly for Richard Battersby, who made no mistake from point blank range.
Kilheeney could even have added a second as he raced into the Whitby box unchallenged, in first half injury time, but Campbell saved well at the feet of the former Manchester City forward.
Logan rallied his troops at the interval, and the Seasiders appeared much more purposeful in the second period. Five minutes in, Liam Gildea’s awkward skidding effort was well watched and collected by Hurst.
The Blues should’ve had their equaliser on the hour mark. Johnson’s run down the left and driven cross was somehow mis-kicked by the off-balance McTiernan unmarked at the far post, and the ball rolled wide.
A minute later, and Johnson twisted and turned in the Borough six yard box before firing a surprise near post effort which Hurst did well to cling on to.
Full-back Paul Atkinson tried a trademark effort from distance, but his speculative shot dropped well wide. Moments later, as Whitby dominated possession, Atkinson drove a dangerous low ball straight across goal, with Johnson and Gildea unable to get a touch.
Gildea’s brother Alex joined the fray at the start of the second half, replacing dead-leg victim Bishop, sidelined following a nasty first half lunge from Battersby, who saw yellow for the challenge. The Gildeas were making a nuisance of themselves down the left, with Alex in particular a thorn in the visitors’ side, both were involved in a minor scuffle on the far side of the field- though no players were booked after the altercation.
With 20 minutes remaining, Radcliffe broke again in numbers with Kilheeney’s right-wing cross slid home by Foster from point-blank range.
Two goals down and with little to lose, Whitby threw everything at the in-form Manchester side. Ant Ormerod, still not at full fitness, replaced the unlucky Atkinson as the Blues went for broke.
The tricky Johnson was at the heart of every move- the youngster signed from Stokesley turned and shot inches wide on the edge of the Boro six yard box, then, two minutes later, followed up with a rampaging run that end with a disappointing drive over.
Two more efforts saw the pacey forward’s drive goalwards charged down from Alex Gildea’s curling free-kick, and just a minute later, another effort was clutched safely by Hurst.
With less than ten minutes remaining, a niggly game finally boiled over when Borough’s Paul McGuire appeared to headbutt Ormerod, and after consultation with the nearby linesman, referee Mr Stalker immediately produced a red card.
The ever-committed Scott Nicholson headed over from Liam Gildea’s corner, and there was disbelief as Hurst lost his balance and McTiernan shot goalwards, only for the ball to strike Ormerod’s head and fly over the bar with the goal gaping.
In the final minute, Graham Robinson’s excellent shot on the turn was brilliantly turned over by Hurst with a magnificent reflex save. By then Whitby had realised it wasn’t to be their day, and after Hurst caught Nicholson’s tame injury time header, it was all over for the Blues. A proud 13-match unbeaten league record stretching back to September was at an end, and with Workington, Leek and Hyde all winning, the Seasiders plunged down to fourth place.