24th January 2004
Unibond League Challenge Cup Quarter Final

Attendance - poor

Team - D Campbell, Craddock(Linighan 89), Williams(McTiernan 78), Reed, Hall, Dixon, Gildea, Robinson(Swales 90), Ormerod, Appleby, Veart

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Whitby lost their second quarter-final in four days as title-chasing Droylsden came from behind to end the Seasiders’ hopes of lifting their first trophy since 1998 at the Turnbull Ground on Saturday.
The Unibond Premier Division’s second placed side fought back with a brace from young striker Danny Byrne after Graham Robinson headed the Blues into an eleventh minute lead.
Harry Dunn made once change from the side humbled 4-0 at York City in midweek, with Graeme Williams making a first start since November. There was no place, even on the bench, for Mark Obern. Brian Linighan returned from a one match suspension but only as a substitute, with teenage defender Darren Craddock keeping his place. Striker Anthony Ormerod shrugged off a concussion to keep the number nine shirt.
The Seasiders started well, with most of the play in the visitors’ box for the opening ten minutes. The pressure was rewarded a minute later when on-loan Hartlepool Academy striker Andy Appleby surged down the right and put over a perfect cross for Robinson to nod emphatically across keeper Phillips and into the bottom right corner of the Droylsden net from 12 yards.
However, far from sapping Droylsden spirits, the visitors’ powered forward in search of an equaliser and came close on 19 minutes when Chambers’ bicycle kick rebounded to Chris O’Brien who hammered wide from close range.
Six minutes later, only Ben Dixon’s alertness denied Chambers with a great clearing header but Droylsden were not to be denied for long. Within moments, Byrne left Craddock for dead down the left before powering clinically low across a stranded Dave Campbell and inside the far post from a tight angle to level the scores.
The Blues critically didn’t learn their lessons and five minutes later, Murphy’s deep corner was touched backwards by Campbell, only for Byrne to batter home at the far post, completely unmarked. Once again, the Seasiders were caught out from a set piece leaving many wondering how long this frustrating trend will continue?
Just before the break, Campbell did well to deny Byrne a first-half hat-trick with a strong parry at the feet of the former Chester City striker.
The second half saw Whitby again start strongly with Craig Veart’s pinpoint cross from the left headed straight at Paul Phillips by Ormerod.
And former Manchester United trainee Phillips was again in action on the hour, pulling off a superb reflex save to tip Veart’s goalbound free-kick round his left hand post.
18 year old Appleby then missed a golden opportunity to pull Whitby level when his stooping header glanced the ball just past Phillips’ right hand post from Gildea’s excellent drilled cross.
At the other end, Campbell was alert to smother at Chambers’ feet after the livewire forward escaped his marker on the edge of the Seasiders box.
With 15 minutes remaining, Droylsden’s Gary Burke obstructed Ormerod just outside the box but Craig Veart’s quickly taken free-kick was well tipped over by Phillips.
The Bloods broke again with Hall blocking successive Ciaran Kilheeney shots and Campbell quickly falling on the loose ball.
Harry Dunn introduced livewire winger Dave McTiernan on 78 minutes in an attacking move, with Williams making way as Whitby finally tried to utilise the flanks.
But it was the visitors who nearly killed things off completely but Campbell again came to the rescue as he pushed away Chambers’ close range angled drive.
With just three minutes left, the Blues got one more chance when Veart’s corner was headed back into the box by Gildea and Tony Hall pulled an acrobatic falling volley from 12 yards that cannoned back off Phillips’ right hand post with the Bloods’ keeper beaten.
Two late substitutions proved in vain with just seconds remaining. Linighan and Swales replaced Craddock and Robinson. But even with 6 foot 4 plus Linighan pushed into the Reds’ box, there was to be no comeback for Harry Dunn’s side, with the Blues last chance of silverwear this season scattered to the four winds.