UniBond Premier

9th February 2005

Attendance - 235

Team - D Campbell, Williams, Veart, Farthing, Linighan, Nicholson, McTiernan, Bishop, L Gildea, Ormerod, A Gildea(Robinson 20). Subs not used: Scaife, Obern.

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Whitby Town’s barren run in 2005 continued after a dour 0-0 draw with local rivals Spennymoor United on Wednesday night at the Turnbull Ground.
The Blues are now without a win in four matches in the league, after the Moors defence, led by 6’5+ former Durham opening batsman Michael Gough, held firm.
Whitby’s evergreen Craig Veart, playing against his former club, put over a pinpoint cross from the left on eight minutes, only for Gildea to head over from close range. Whitby suffered a setback when injury-hampered Alex Gildea was forced to make way for Graham Robinson after just 20 minutes on the field.
Dave McTiernan should have done better on 24 minutes after sidefooting weakly straight at Horrigan after Liam Gildea headed down Veart’s corner.
However, after twice coming close, Moors had the best chance of the half when Dave Campbell saved brilliantly at Danny Brunskill’s feet, and Stuart Niven somehow poked over from just a yard out. On the hour, an unsighted Campbell reacted superbly again to tip Brown’s skidding 25-yard drive round the post. At the other end, Horrigan matched his opposite number again, saving well after McTiernan’s cross took a series of deflections in a chaotic Moors box.
With 20 minutes remaining, Whitby-born Moors forward Tommy Raw was unleashed, his searing pace making an instant impact, as Graham Williams was lucky not to upend the youngster in the Whitby box with a rash sliding challenge. Phil Brumwell hammered just wide on 80 minutes before Robinson had another effort charged down. In the end, though, the new-year curse struck again and Whitby’s Premier League win-search continues.