Unibond Premier Division

13th March 2004

Attendance - 243

Team - Campbell, Williams, Gildea, Hall, Dixon, Linighan, Robinson, Ormerod, McTiernan (Veart 45), Sheeran (Nicholson 45), Appleby Sub not used - Reed

Report - Despite playing with ten men for the entire second half, Whitby earned an important point against in-form Vauxhall Motors at the Turnbull Ground on Saturday.
The Motormen boast a two-man strike force that have netted no less than 42 times this season- the same number Whitby’s entire side have mustered in the Unibond League this term.
After Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat at home to manager-less Bradford, which Blues boss Harry Dunn described as “disgraceful”, Whitby were out to impress and started well. Brian Linighan flashed a header wide inside the first minute.
Frenchman Fabien Bossy and set-piece expert Craig Veart paid the price for the midweek disaster, with Veart relegated to the bench and Bossy not even in the squad. In came veteran defender Tony Hall, fresh from a two match suspension and livewire young playmaker Dave McTiernan.
However, despite some much brighter play and some excellent movement, Whitby didn’t really threaten again until the 25th minute when they took the lead.
A determined run by skipper Graham Robinson released Mark Sheeran who found Gildea on the edge of the Motors box. The tireless midfielder then created an angle to drive across Dittmar’s despairing dive and into the bottom left corner of the net from 16 yards.
Five minutes later, Sheeran beat the Motors’ flimsy offside trap but was adjudged to have controlled Linighan’s long ball with his hand before Dittmar saved and McTiernan tapped into the empty net.
Moments later in their first foray forward, Vauxhall’s 17-goal forward Peter Cumiskey set himself well but struck a well-timed half-volley straight at Campbell from 12 yards, with the Blues keeper holding on comfortably.
As Whitby continued to run the game, Motors broke again as Robinson was dispossessed by Terry Fearns who just about forced the ball through Campbell’s gloves from close range for the equaliser.
The game then lurched into life with an incident packed last three minutes of the first half. On 42 minutes, on-loan Hartlepool United Academy striker Andy Appleby found himself one on one with the onrushing Dittmar, but his curling 20 yard effort rolled narrowly wide. Two minutes later, the Seasiders came even closer when McTiernan’s corner was flicked on to Linighan at the far post, the former Sheffield Wednesday defender headed against the post with Dittmar beaten- Hall then drove wide from the follow-up.
But Whitby’s excellent pressure was to be extinguished emphatically on the stroke of half-time when a shoving match ensued with Robinson striking out with his elbow at Lawton, who appeared to land the first blow. Referee Mr Curry had no hesitation in red-carding Robinson, but took no action against any other player. The South African midfield man vigorously protested his innocence to opposition players and the official as he left the field.
Harry Dunn made a double substitution at the break with Veart and combative midfielder Scott Nicholson replacing the unlucky duo of Sheeran and McTiernan.
Despite having a man less, it was Whitby who threatened first after the interval when Nicholson’s powerful goalbound header was acrobatically clutched by Dittmar
At the other end, Motors skipper Robbie Lawton poked wide of the near post when well placed and Graham Williams did well to head Steve Porter’s goalbound drive off the Whitby line.
In another frenzied spell of action, this time at the Whitby end, Lawton’s 30 yard chip was palmed over by Campbell, then from the resulting corner, Linighan and Hall combined to head successive efforts off the Blues line.
Three minutes later, Hall’s diving header cleared Nesbitt’s testing angled drive. The match was always simmering, with no love lost between the two teams. On 84 minutes, Lawton kicked out at Williams sparking more pushing and shoving. However, Mr Curry didn’t toe the same harsh line he set for Robinson, only producing a yellow card for the Vauxhall captain- much to the consternation of the home support. The bad feeling continued as a crunching challenge from Nicholson sent newly arrived Carl Macauley flying up in the air and landing in a heap on the ground. Macauley stayed on the ground and a stretcher had to be called to carry the substitute from the pitch.
The hold-up in play meant for an agonising eight minutes of stoppage time. And as the clock ticked, Motors should have grabbed a late winner when Lawton was left completely unmarked on the six yard box but somehow poked wide, much to his teammates’ frustration.
But just as it seemed Whitby would have to settle for a share of the spoils, they were handed one last chance deep into added time when Dittmar haplessly picked up Tomlinson’s backpass. The crowd were on their feet as the ball was a laid off for Veart, who wastefully blasted the ball against the wall, who stole considerable yards when the official’s back was turned. And when Ormerod, who had been otherwise excellent, mis-controlled for the first time in the afternoon the chance had gone, and the match was over. A battling display from Whitby saw a point gained, though Tuesday’s trip against champions-elect Hucknall will be another challenge altogether.