26th December 2003

Attendance - 437

Team - D Campbell, Obern, Gildea, Reed, Hall, Dixon, Linighan, Robinson, Ormerod, Nicholson(Swales), Veart(McTiernan). Sub not used: Williams.

Report by Andrew Snaith - Defender Mark Obern’s first ever goal for Whitby settled this North East derby on Boxing Day at the Turnbull Ground.
The victory, Whitby’s fourth in succession, took the Blues to within three points of ninth-placed Moors with four games in hand, it also extended their unbeaten run at the Turnbull Ground to nine matches.
With Lee Ure’s transfer to Billingham Town completed, Harry Dunn recalled midfielder Craig Veart as the Blues lined up with just recognised striker. Skipper Graham Robinson partnered Anthony Ormerod up front.
As a bumper Boxing Day crowd of 437 looked on, it was the visiting forwards who were first to show in the third minute when Steve Preen broke clear. Whitby keeper Dave Campbell tackled him just outside the Whitby box, taking the ball but also clattering Preen with a high knee. The Seasiders number one could count himself lucky to escape without even a booking.
At the other end, Whitby were limited to efforts from distance with Connor comfortably smothering Ormerod’s 25 yard drive.
On 14 minutes, Spennymoor had another good chance when Chris I’Anson raced towards goal and lined up a 12 yard shot, only for Tony Hall to slide in, allowing Campbell to collect the ball low at the striker’s feet. Livewire midfielder Alex Gildea then struck two shots narrowly wide in as many minutes from distance.
The 24th minute saw another Gildea effort charged down, with Scott Nicholson striking the loose ball first time, but just wide of Connor’s right hand post from the edge of the Spennymoor box.
By now the home side had found their feet and were beginning to dominate. A neat one-two between Gildea and Veart on the half hour mark, saw the former Moors midfielder strike powerfully just wide of the target. Ormerod then fizzed a swerving drive from the left edge of the visitors box, inches past Connor’s left hand post.
Minutes later, Gildea poked over the top from just inside the area. Whitby finally grabbed the lead two minutes before the break, with yet another shot from distance finally finding the back of the net. Nicholson strode towards the right edge of that Spennymoor penalty area before laying back neatly for Obern to run on and power a low piledriver under Connor from 20 yards for the opener.
But the home celebrations had barely concluded when I’Anson once again surged into the Whitby box. Looking odds on to level the scores, the young Moors forward didn’t reckon on Adam Reed coming from nowhere to nick the ball off the end of his boot and clear the danger- ensuring the Blues went in a goal up at the interval.
I’Anson’s influence extended into the second half when he fired into the side netting after breaking down the Whitby left.
At the other end, Robinson hammered a ferocious shot straight at Connor, who could only fend the ball away, luckily for the visitors, the ball fell kindly for Brumwell to lash clear.
On the hour mark, Danny Brunskill’s awkward skidding drive bounced just past Campbell’s right hand post as the play flew from end to end. Gildea’s goalbound near post drive was deflected wide, but as the resulting corner was booted clear, Moors broke and subsitute Anthony Shandran tried an audacious 35 yard lob that landed on the roof of the Whitby net, with Campbell back-pedalling.
Wily veteran Veart made way for skilful youngster Dave McTiernan on 73 minutes as the Blues looked to kill of the tie with a second goal.
Two minutes later, Gildea’s pinpoint free-kick was headed goalwards by Robinson but Connor parried the ball low to his left and grabbed it at the second attempt.
Christian Hanson’s acrobatic scissor kick flew wide as Moors hit back. A ferocious 50-50 challenge saw Obern dispossess Brown before crossing for Gildea to head wide off-balance at the far post.
With six minutes remaining, the Whitby manager threw on another young midfield in Mark Swales with the impressive Nicholson making way.
Within a minute, the youngster’s accurate right wing cross was headed weakly down by Robinson for Connor to save once again.
Spennymoor then had the best of the closing chapter of the match and had their chance to level when Brown dispossessed Swales 30 yards from goal, three minutes from time. Brown then released I’Anson who again was about to pull the trigger some 10 yards from goal, only to be thwarted by another superb last ditch challenge, this time from 30 year old Brian Linighan.
Whitby were made to endure some hair-raising moments right at the end, as the determined visitors floated over a succession of dangerous corners that the Blues just about defended. Finally Campbell clung onto the last difficult effort and the crowd breathed a collective sigh of relief. Seconds later, the Blues last match of 2003 was over- their exhausted players applauded from the field, Whitby celebrated three more valuable points. Bring on the Conference. Bring on the New Stand. Bring on 2004.