WHITBY Town are eying the prospect of a huge upset as they prepare to make the long trip down to Plymouth for a fairytale FA Cup first round replay.

The UniBond League side were in FA Cup dreamland at the weekend as they recorded a thoroughly-deserved 1-1 draw against Third Division highflyers Plymouth Argyle in front of over 2,000 fans and the Match of the Day cameras at the Turnbull Ground. Should the incredible happen in the replay, Town would face either Aldershot or Bristol Rovers in round two.

"The majority of us are still on cloud nine," Whitby boss Harry Dunn told the Gazette & Herald. "It was not so much the result, it was the performance. We were absolutely terrific. It was as good a display as we've put up in a long, long time."

He added: "We thoroughly deserved the draw. It's basically like getting through to the next round. We'll be under the spotlight again and it will be nice for the players to play on the big stage. (Plymouth) are hoping for an 8,000 or 9,000 crowd, so it will be a real test of our players.

"We are under no illusions. You probably won't be able to get a price on us down in Plymouth, but you never know what's going to happen on the night. You see what happened with Wigan and Canvey Island and you just don't know."

The team is now hoping to find enough sponsorship to allow the players to fly down to Plymouth, rather than face an energy-sapping coach ride for eight or nine hours before the match.

Last Saturday, despite desperate league form that leaves them dangling precariously above the UniBond League Premier Division relegation zone, Whitby put in the perfect FA Cup performance against a disappointing and pedestrian Plymouth side attempting to capitalise on their ten-game unbeaten away run in the league.

But the non-league minnows had a scare within 30 seconds, with David Friio dragging an excellent chance wide in the game's first attack of substance. But Whitby made life very difficult for Plymouth and a flawless display by former Scarborough striker Jamie Burt was the key to much of their success in the first-half.

The first 45 minutes was a relatively even affair, with only the rather cynical professionalism of Plymouth there to distinguish which of the two sides had Football League pedigree.

And it was one such act that created the move from which Whitby took a surprise lead. French midfielder Friio capped a rather dreadful display with a dive so obvious Premiership ref Neale Barry had little choice but to flourish his yellow card.

The resulting free-kick saw the ball pushed upfield and within a minute, Burt's low centre from the right touchline was emphatically turned into the top right hand corner of the net from eight yards by another Scarborough old boy Alex Gildea.

The home side were roared in at half-time, but the full-time training seemed to play its part as Plymouth pushed hard for the equaliser after the interval. But, as is always the way in the FA Cup, the ball would just not go in for them. The post, the cross-bar, some goalkeeping heroics by the impressive Whitby keeper Naisbett and then a disallowed goal following some heavy pushing in corner, conspired against them.

But to the agony of the home supporters, Phillips pounced on a rebound in the 73rd minute to stroke home the inevitable equaliser. Although Whitby still had the odd dalliance with the Plymouth goal, they seemed content to sit back and hang on for the tricky away game in the south.

Whitby Town: Naisbett, Rennison, Logan, Goodchild, Dixon, Gildea (Veart 73), I Williams, G Williams, Robinson, Burt (Key 89), Ure (Ingram 90).

Plymouth: Larrieu, Warrell, Beswetherick, Friio, Coughlan, Wotton (Wills 55), Adams, Hodges, Evans (Keith 73), Stonebridge, Phillips (Bent 85).

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).

The replay at Plymouth takes place on Tuesday, November 27, kick-off 7.45pm. The coach down there is already half full and it will leave Whitby at 8am and pick up at Pickering, Malton and York. The price is £25 return and those interested can contact club secretary Charles Woodward on (01947) 602312 or (01947) 603193. The coach will arrive in Plymouth at approximately 4pm and return at 10pm to arrive back in Whitby between 6am and 6.30am on Wednesday. Admission to the game will be £10 and £8 concessions.

Whitby came crashing down to earth on Tuesday night when they were beaten 2-0 at home by Farsley Celtic in the League Cup. At the game, Whitby were presented with the Fair Play award for October by John Jones, referees officer for the UniBond League. The club are currently third in this season's fair play table.

On Saturday, Whitby Town are at home to Runcorn, kick-off 3pm, and on Wednesday, December 5, they will visit Northallerton Town in the North Riding CFA Senior Cup competition.

Updated: 09:33 Thursday, November 22, 2001