Friendly

14th July 2007

Attendance -

Team - David Campbell, Phil Brumwell, Alex Janes, Matty Appleby, James Drinkall, Andrew Raw, Vince Auroga, Tom Adams, Karl Charlton, Danny Brunskill, Tony Hackworth. Subs: Tom Raw, Anthony Ormerod, Jamie Ramm, Darren Thornton, Ryan Blott.

Report - Whitby's first friendly of the 2007/08 season was overshadowed by a horrific injury to striker Tom Raw which led to the match at Northern League First Division Ashington being abandoned. Around 20 minutes into the second half, the 23-year-old, who had come on as a substitute at half-time, caught his studs in the turf and landed badly, breaking his ankle with his foot ending up at a horrendous angle.

As an ambulance was called for the Blues forward, the referee had no hesitation in concluding the match some 25 minutes early with nearby spectators clearly as shocked as the players on both sides.

Earlier, Raw's brother Andrew, a year older, had made his Town debut at centre-half, alongside new signings Tony Hackworth and Karl Charlton, as well as a clutch of trialists including former players Ryan Blott and Darren Thornton.

The Seasiders showed first at Ashington's Portland Park when Hackworth was sent clear but drove straight at keeper Paul Simpson's legs from close range. Five minutes later, and midfield trialist Tom Adams saw his rasping 22 yard drive deflected over the crossbar via the head of a Colliers defender.

The half hour saw Alex Janes try a Marco Van Basten-like effort from 30 yards by the left touchline, with Simpson unconvincingly punching the effort against his own post and out for a corner.

However, it was the home side who struck first against the run of play, when Campbell was beaten to a loose ball, and rounded by John Ludlow who gleefully slotted home.

Within three minutes, Ashington's own stopper was rounded by Hackworth, only for the former Leeds United forward to see his drive from a difficult angle cleared off the line.

Charlton showed a burst of his explosive pace seconds before the break, the youngster flying down the left before drilling a low cross into the centre for Brunskill, whose effort on the turn from close range was brilliantly parried by the Ashington keeper.

Just after the hour, Ant Ormerod's fierce low free-kick could only be parried as far as Raw, whose follow up was well saved. This was to be the last action of the game, before the shocking events moments later brought the summer encounter to a premature end.