27th April 2004

Radcliffe win 8-7 on penalties.

Attendance - 207

Team - Whitby: D Campbell, Nicholson (Reed 117), Veart, L Gildea(Williams 45), Linighan, Dixon, P Campbell, Robinson, Ormerod, Appleby(Johnson 88), A Gildea.

Report by Andrew Snaith - Whitby’s Conference North dream is over after a sensational penalty defeat at the Turnbull Ground on Tuesday night. Radcliffe Borough, beaten 5-0, 6-2 and 1-0 by the Blues earlier in the season, came back from a goal down inside two minutes to somehow grab a win on a night of 21 penalties.
As expected, Whitby welcomed back Anthony Ormerod, Scott Nicholson, Craig Veart and Alex Gildea- all rested on Saturday. And the changes looked to have paid off when the Seasiders grabbed the lead in the second minute. Ormerod’s low drive was blocked, and Liam Gildea’s mis-hit follow-up somehow skidded past Borough keeper Danny Hurst and into the bottom right corner- the younger Gildea’s first competitive goal in a Whitby shirt.
However, despite the fillet of an early goal, the Blues sat back and encouraged their lacklustre opponents to attack them. Both keepers were spectators until the 18th minute when Craig Veart’s cross cum shot was just tipped over at the last second by Hurst. Referee Mr Kellett confounded all reason by awarding a goal-kick.
Radcliffe finally decided to accept Whitby’s invitation to go forward, and Dave Campbell had to be alert to smother Josh Mitten’s shot on the turn. Seven minutes later, Mitten, nicknamed the “White Kanu” by Boro fans, should’ve levelled the scores, but the former Hyde striker headed wide from point blank range.
Half-time saw goalscorer Gildea, replaced by right-back Graham Williams as Whitby reshuffled. Three minutes into the second half and good work from Robinson and Appleby set up Ormerod to head straight at Hurst from 18 yards.
Four minutes later, Ormerod’s audacious skills set up Whitby’s other Gildea, Alex, but the former Scarborough midfielder’s shot was blocked brilliantly by Simon Kelly’s last ditch slide tackle.
At the other end, Dave Campbell did well to turn James Price’s dangerous cross-shot wide. Hurst saved comfortably from another Ormerod header, before Radcliffe’s Simon Carden saw his speculative low drive deflected wide of the Whitby goal.
Whitby skipper Graham Robinson should’ve doubled his side’s lead on 67 minutes but his mistimed downward header dropped harmlessly wide from close range.
Five minutes later, and almost inevitably, Radcliffe were on level terms. Mitten exchanging passes with the unmarked Duffy who droved low past Campbell’s right despairing hand.
The Greater Manchester side then almost turned the game on it’s head when Karl Marginson’s breathtaking side volley was met with an equally brilliant Campbell save to keep Whitby afloat.
The now, very open contest ebbed and flowed before Appleby found himself completely in the clear one on one with Hurst, but the young Hartlepool striker froze and Hurst blocked with his legs. Within seconds, Appleby was dragged off with another pacey youngster in Steve Johnson taking his place. The Blues had two more chances in normal time, when Ormerod’s low drive was somehow slid over his own bar by Davey Luker’s late sliding lunge. And deep into stoppage time, Johnson’s low drive was deflected into the path of Alex Gildea, who blasted high and wide from close range.
Extra time commenced as disillusioned Whitby fans scratched their heads and wondered how it had gone this far. The Yorkshiremen were even more perplexed within five minutes of the restart when Nicholson’s slip, let in Steve Foster to steer imperiously into the bottom right corner to put Radcliffe ahead.
Two minutes later, Johnson couldn’t bring himself to shoot instead turning this way and that, before his blocked close range effort was hammered wide by Robinson from the edge of the box.
Into the second period of extra-time and Veart saw two close range free-kicks thwarted, before Radcliffe could’ve ended the contest. Only a brilliant late sliding block from Paul Campbell denied Foster as he prepared to pull the trigger. Within moments, Campbell made his mark at the other end, tripped by Kelly’s hand in the Borough box, he earned a penalty that Veart coolly despatched to level the scores once again. Campbell nearly turned things upside down five minutes later, as Whitby laid siege to the Radcliffe goal, the former Darlington midfielder’s deft chip from the edge of the box landed agonisingly on the Borough crossbar. After a long spell of treatment, Nicholson limped off with Adam Reed his replacement before the referee’s whistle signalled a dreaded penalty shoot out.
The visitors went first, Gary Sampson converting, followed by Whitby’s Reed. Veteran Tony Carroll blasted over for the visitors, with Gildea putting Whitby ahead 2-1. Marginson then hammered against the post, but Ormerod fired wide and Dixon hit the same post with Carden’s successful finish in-between making it 2-2. Then followed an amazing run of goals that brought together both sides’ last two outfield players. But while Radcliffe’s Dave Luker found the popular bottom left corner of the net, Blues skipper Graham Robinson saw his kick for the opposite side clutched by Hurst. In one foul swoop, that save ended Whitby’s season and their quest for a place in the new Conference Division One North. Radcliffe go on to meet Burscough on Saturday, but not even the visitors themselves will quite know how they did it. The Turnbull Ground will certainly see changes off the pitch this summer, and possibly not just a new stand.