UniBond Challenge Cup

24th February 2009

Attendance - 132

Team - Liversedge, Burgess, Tobin, Farthing (Forster 46), Lyth, Scott, Huggins, Hackworth, Raw (Rae 46), Nogan (Garvie 46) Charlton Subs not used: Janes, Brunskill

Report - by Andy Baxter - Surprisingly to the mere 132 supporters who ventured to the Turnbull Ground on Tuesday night for the Unibiond League Challenge Cup Quarter Final, both teams made very few changes from the line ups used in the previous Saturday's league game, which Whitby won 2-0.

But the visitors started this match in a much more positive mood and created a few early chances. However it was Whitby's Tom Raw with the best opening effort when, following a nice build up, his side foot shot from 10 yards, brought out a reaction save from Matlock keeper, Jack Ward. Both teams really cancelled each other out until in the 16th minute, when a beautifully weighted cross field pass from Jamie Jackson into the path of Ross Hannah, allowed the Matlock striker to angle his shot low and hard past the diving Nick Liversedge in the Whitby goal and find the bottom right corner of the net.

Whitby tried to pull back and in the 28th minute, following a low hit corner, striker and captain for the night, Tony Hackworth's close range effort was scuffed off the line in a crowd of players. Karl Charlton had an effort saved from the edge of the Matlock box and moments later, a Steve Huggins free kick flew inches over the visitors bar. But with only a minute left until the interval, a strong challenge from Whitby's Man of the Match, Ashley Lyth, was penalised and the resultant free kick from from 20 yards was netted by Hannah after the ball took a nasty bounce in front of keeper Liversedge at full stretch.

Whitby were unimpressive in the first half and Manager, Graeme Clark made 3 changes to start the second half with Garvie, Forster and Rae replacing Farthing, Raw and Nogan. These changes appeared to breath new life into an until now, beaten Whitby side, as they piled on the pressure against a resiliant Matlock defence, but the ball wasn't falling kindly for the Seasiders and referee, Mr Beswick, was, at times, also not helping Whitby's cause with some of his decisions against them. However, Whitby's North Yorkshire grit and determination continued and Ashley Lyth hit a screamer from 25 yards out which crashed against the Matlock bar and was eventually cleared. Minutes later, Hackworth headed down to Charlton who turned and shot just wide and Matlock replied at the other end when with what looked a clear offside by Matty Thorpe not being seen by the referee's assistant and Thorpe broke away and luckily for Whitby, his unchallenged shot skimmed wide. From the resultant goal kick, the ball ended up with Michael Rae in the visitors area and he calmly drove forward and slid it narrowly inside the post to half the defecit. Whitby were in the ascendency now and delivered cross after cross at the shell shocked Matlock defence, finally being rewarded 4 minutes later with a shot parried by keeper Ward and forced across the line by Tony Hackworth to make the game all square. Both sides pushed hard for a late winner and for Whitby, Steve Huggins took a nasty knock 5 mins from the end, limping off and taking no further part in the match.

Ten man Whitby appeared to once again start the extra time in a lower gear and it was obvious both sides were feeling tired. The visitors should have taken the lead when Hannah's close range shot was blocked, only minutes later for Whitby to go in front for the first time when the excellent Michael Rae turned in the area and buried his shot in the net. But before Whitby could re-group, Matlock went straight down the other end and within 30 seconds, a powerful shot from Liam King beat the diving Liversedge. Whitby created chances for Sam Garvie and Leon Scott while Matlock had their chances through Jamie Jackson and Nathan Benger, both of which were superbly saved by the Whitby keeper, Liversedge. But with 120 minutes played, the game ended 3-3 and penalties beckoned.

Whitby went first and ended up converting all 4 of theirs from Rae, Hackworth, Charlton and Forster while Matlock could only score from 2 of theirs, and the other 2 were well saved by hero goalkeeper, Liversedge.

So Whitby now march on to the Unibond League Challenge Cup Semi-Final with a home tie against Ilkeston Town on Wednesday 11 March with a 7.45pm kick off.