Now, Bay have been drawn at home to Hyde United in the second qualifying round on Saturday, September 27.

This was always likely to be a closely contested game and without key players Darren Timmons and Chris Moore due to suspension, the strength in depth of Whitley's squad was of crucial importance.

After the recent very wet weather, conditions in North Yorkshire were much improved, with warm sunshine greeting the Whitley players and fans as they reached the ground.

The opening stages of the game saw defences on top as neither side managed to create clear cut chances.

Although Robinson and Kerr both went narrowly wide with attempts it was the home side who gradually gained the upper hand and with 24 minutes played, Chris Batchelor might have done better than fire a shot straight at Terry Burke, which the Bay keeper dealt with comfortably.

Just past the half hour, Pickering's Liam Salt fired over the bar when well placed then three minutes later a spectacular volley by Lee Kerr from Damon Robson's cross clipped the top of the bar. This was Whitley's best effort of the half.

But seven minutes before the interval, Pickering looked as if they would take the lead when Salt broke clear on goal only for Burke to deny him with a great low save from point blank range.

Although the Yorkshire side had created more opportunities, they had been denied by a resolute Bay defence and at half-time there was still everything to play for with the game goal less.

Whitley made a tactical change after the interval, replacing Mark Minto with Lee Picton on the left side of midfield.

Pickering began where they left off, pushing Whitley back as Batchelor raced in from the left only for Burke to cut out the dangerous looking cross.

Whitley retaliated and when Kerr played the ball to Robinson, the influential midfielder tested Kevin Martin with a shot the home keeper was glad to push wide of the far post.

From the corner that followed, Leon Ryan's cross was headed over by Chow as Whitley began to exert real pressure on the home side.

Another effort from Robinson flashed just wide but at the other end Connor's speculative long range shot was well saved by Burke.

The Pickering captain then brought a great diving save from the Bay keeper from a shot across goal that was finger tipped away for a corner.

The game was being played at a good pace and Whitley were looking much more threatening but Burke was again in action, back pedalling to push a cross shot from the left over the bar.

The vital breakthrough came after 66 minutes when Picton's long throw from the left was flicked on by Ryan and Paul Chow volleyed the ball low into the corner of the net.