UniBond Premier Division

6th April 2004

Attendance - 186

Team - D Campbell, Nicholson, Veart, P Campbell, Hall, Dixon, McTiernan(Robinson 64), A Gildea, Ormerod(Sheeran 28), Johnson, L Gildea. Sub not used: Reed

Report - Skipper Ben Dixon’s scrambled second goal of the season gave ten-man Whitby a priceless three points to go level on points with Tuesday night’s Turnbull Ground visitors Runcorn in equal 14th. The Blues clung on to keep a foothold in the race for a top 13 berth, despite having another defender, Tony Hall, sent off for shoving Ged Courtney in a minor scuffle with 16 minutes remaining.
Harry Dunn was without defender Brian Linighan through work commitments, but welcomed back fit-again playmaker Dave McTiernan reshuffled to a more attack-minded 4-4-2 for this must-win clash. Adam Reed and Graham Robinson, fresh from suspensions, were on the Whitby bench.
The visitors, who have an amazing record of 11 away victories, but just 2 at home, came close to breaking the deadlock on ten minutes. Dominic Morley’s deflected cross was headed against the outside of Campbell’s near post by Carl Rendell from a tight angle.
But Whitby were playing the ball around well and when the tricky Steve Johnson had a low drive deflected wide, the Blues piled men forward for the corner. Craig Veart’s dangerous looping cross was headed goalwards by Dixon, but McMillan clawed the ball back from on his own line, only for the former Lincoln City defender to poke home through a crowd of players for the breakthrough.
The Cheshire side then had loud penalty appeals turned down as Rendell fell to the ground under Dave Campbell’s slide challenge inside the Blues six yard. Referee Mr Drew simply waved the protests away.
On 23 minutes, Paul Campbell advanced forward and responding to shouts from the crowd, fizzed a 20 yard drive inches over the top.
Four minutes later, the former Darlington midfielder crossed for Johnson to rise well but head a difficult chance wide.
The Seasiders suffered a setback when former England Youth forward Anthony Ormerod had to limp off halfway through the half, with Mark Sheeran taking his place in a straight swop.
Whitby had a good spell before the break, with Veart’s deep cross was completely missed by Ness, and Sheeran half-volley narrowly wide from the edge of the Runcorn box. Veart then had a rasping 25 yard drive deflected over the top two minutes from the interval.
Not surprisingly, the visitors were well up for the second half and kept up their shoot on sight policy when Anton Lally blasted well over from 20 yards within three minutes of the restart. Two minutes later, the same player came painfully close to levelling the scores when another fizzing effort from distance must’ve dislodged some paint from the Whitby crossbar, it was that close.
A long scramble in the Blues box on 57 minutes which included three blocked clearances was finally ended when Courtney scooped high and wide from left edge of the six yard box.
Morley sent yet another snapshot from outside the box over the top, before Harry Dunn introduced Robinson on 64 minutes- the South African’s first appearance for four matches as no chances were taken with McTiernan’s nagging back injury.
Substitute Lee Kissock should have done better when he headed Courtney’s right wing cross across goal but bouncing just the wrong side of the Blues post and the home support could breathe again.
Then came a seemingly innocuous clash as Campbell claimed a high ball just inside his box but Courtney jumped late into the keeper only to be pushed to the ground. There was a brief slanging match just outside the Blues box culminating in Tony Hall being summoned to the referee, who had a poor view of proceedings, but had no hesitation in showing the veteran a red card. There were no further cautions issued by the Newcastle official.
Whitby were not about to sit on their lead and went straight up the other end where Robinson broke clear but saw his low drive parried by McMillan with the keeper reacting well to fend away Sheeran’s follow-up.
Runcorn had a great chance to level the scores with ten minutes left. An almighty scramble saw Whitby keeper Campbell marooned on the ground as the ball fell to Rendell on the edge of the Blues box, but the youngster hammered wastefully over the crossbar with only the Upgang Lane double-glazing remotely threatened by a wild effort. Meanwhile at the other end, Alex Gildea was caught by Ness’ trailing leg just outside the Runcorn penalty area, however play was waved on and Robinson lashed just over from 20 yards.
Whitby then kept up their excellent workrate with anyone doing their bit to keep out their top 13 rivals with a mixture grit, determination and a dash of luck seeing the Seasiders hold out for a vital victory. The win keeps Harry Dunn’s side level on points with Runcorn in joint 14th, though the Widnes-based side have two games in hand and a stronger goal difference.