UniBond Challenge Cup

17th November 2004

Attendance - 195

Team - Escritt, Atkinson, Veart, Farthing, Nicholson, P Campbell, D Gildea(McTiernan 45), Scaife, Johnson, L Gildea(Ormerod 60), Bishop. Sub not used: Williams.

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Harry Dunn's return to the Turnbull Ground resulted in a 1-0 defeat, as Dave Logan's Whitby continued their ten match unbeaten run.
Substitute Dave McTiernan's downward header on 77 minutes was enough to take the Blues through to the lucrative third round of the Unibond League Challenge Cup.
Both sides were without key players: Spartans' ex-Whitby duo Andy Appleby and Michael Laws were both stuck on the sidelines, while the Seasiders rested keeper Dave Campbell, defender Brian Linighan and striker Ant Ormerod who made the subs bench.
This meant a recall for 20-year old former Strokesley goalkeeper Ben Escritt and a return for the youngest Gildea brother, Danny, to the Whitby midfield.
And it was the newest Gildea sibling who embarked on a rampaging fourth minute run, and fire in a deflected 18-yard drive.
However, Blyth nearly stunned the home side and Escritt on eight minutes when Wayne Phillips' lofted cross cum-shot bounced off the roof of the bar as the young Whitby keeper nervously back-pedalled.
The rookie stopper then proceeded to redeem himself with a string of fine saves. Firstly he tipped Preen's hopeful but accurate lob over the top, then saved point-blank from the same player three minutes later. In-between, some neat interplay betwen Steve Johnson and Neil Bishop at the other end, saw Bishop's low drive comfortably collected by Blyth's Craig Turns.
Another excellent Whitby passing move on 29 minutes saw Craig Veart's through ball release Johnson who poked into the side netting from an acute angle. Nick Scaife came close with two powerful drives from distance as the first 45 minutes ticked away.
The half-time break saw the attack-minded McTiernan replace Gildea for the Blues, and bizarrely Spartans also replaced 7 with 12, as Adam Smith came on for Martin Peace.
Ten minutes in, and Scaife saw his goalbound header pushed wide by Turns, and from the corner, Johnson nodded straight at the ex-Sunderland stopper. However good Turns was, his defence almost let him down moments later, when Veart's vicious driven cross was shinned inches wide by Harison just-about guarding the near post.
Dave Logan introduced Ormerod on the hour mark, with the other Gildea, striker Liam, taking a rest.
With 20 minutes left, it seemed for all the world that the Blues had broken the deadlock as Veart's inswinging corner was headed powerfully towards the top-right corner by Nicholson only for Turns to execute an amazing reflex save. However, just as fans were contemplating extra-time and even penalties, yet another Veart corner was played to the far post where McTiernan was unmarked and stooped to nod low past Turns from point-blank range.
Neither side threatened from then onwards, with Fenton's early chance as close as cagy Blyth could get.