UniBond Premier

29th October 2005

Attendance - 296

Team - Campbell, Brumwell, Richards, Farthing, Hudson, Nicholson, Ormerod, Scaife (Barber), Raw, Wilford, McTiernan (Brunskill). Sub not used: Atkinso

Report - by Andrew Snaith - A Scott Nicholson free-kick and Aron Wilford’s tenth goal of the season saw Whitby leapfrog visitors Ashton with both strikes arriving in the final 11 minutes. The Blues are now just five points from a play-off place with two games in hand after bouncing back from last week’s setback at Matlock, with a fifth straight home victory at the Turnbull Ground on Saturday.

Manager David Logan was without full-back Craig Veart who pulled a muscle when netting the penalty consolation in the 4-1 Derbyshire drubbing, and Andrew Brown who is now on his way to Australia. Chris Hudson returned to central defence, with Karl Richards dropping to cover Veart at left-back, and Dave McTiernan taking his place on the wing.

A tepid first half saw just three chances of note. Whitby threatened first on 12 minutes when the lively Tom Raw sent an angled drive from the edge of the box high over the crossbar and off towards Upgang Lane. Nicholson then provided an effort that achieved further distance when blasting Raw’s square drive over the top after some excellent skill down the right flank from the youngster.

In-between, Paul Garvey’s half-volley flashed across goal from the edge of the Whitby box. The visitors had some sustained pressure with the ball pinging around the Seasiders box, and the Blues defence looking anything but composed.

Logan must’ve been glad to get his side back in the dressing room with the scores still level, and read the riot act at half-time. Indeed, whatever words of wisdom the Blues gaffer uttered at the break, it appeared to have hit home, and Whitby emerged for the second half a different side, full of running and purpose.

Within a minute of the restart, Nick Scaife powered a left-foot turn and shot over the Ashton bar from 20 yards. And the same player then saw his 49th minute sidefoot from similar distance, tentatively pushed wide by keeper Ashley Connor, who appeared to struggle with the Turnbull bounce when seemingly in control.

On the hour mark, more great work from Raw, saw the former Scarborough forward trick his way along the touchline and loft the ball across goal for Ant Ormerod to side-foot over at the far post. A flurry of action followed in a frenetic four minutes, as Scaife sent a 25-yard free-kick narrowly wide and Wilford saw his goal-bound header gloved wide by Connor.

Moments later, it seemed like it was not to be Whitby’s day as Danny Farthing headed against the Ashton crossbar, and a marathon scramble in the United box culminated in fellow centre-half Chris Hudson side-footing wide from close range.

With the Whitby foot firmly on the accelerator, towering striker Danny Brunskill was introduced with the disappointed McTiernan a little unlucky to give way as Logan opted for a three-pronged strike-force.

However, Whitby hearts were in mouths when Ashton skipper Danny White headed wide from a good position on 68 minutes. Ashton boss Paul Futcher rested new signing Lee Fitzpatrick for the final 20 minutes, with fellow midfielder Martin Allison his replacement.

And Futcher's opposite number followed suit, with the weary Scaife, making way for on-loan youngster Mark Barber in another like for like change.

Whitby fans were incensed moments later, when the linesman on the far side of the field adjudged the breaking Raw offside, with a very marginal late flag- Raw’s speed appearing to catch out not just the visiting defence but also the official.

Ormerod’s run and cross was deflected wide and Hudson headed into the side netting as the Blues continued to push for that elusive opening goal.

On 77 minutes, a brilliant move down the right involving Raw and Wilford culminated in Phil Brumwell crossing for Nicholson to nod towards the bottom left corner of the net, only for Connor to bring out his best save of the night as he tipped the ball wide at the very last second.

After the corner was hacked clear, there were mutterings around the stand of this being the kind of match where one goal would win it and Ashton still looked dangerous on the counter attack and a month ago that may well have been the case.

However, the scene was set on 79 minutes when the home side won a free-kick 25 yards from goal. Skipper Nicholson, assuming dead-ball responsibilities in the absence of Veart and Scaife, eyed up the target with decoys Wilford and Ormerod poised alongside him. The big midfield man then jogged forward and in a rare moment exchanged his usual power for pinpoint accuracy, sending a perfect curling drive over the wall and into the top left corner of the Ashton net giving Connor no chance whatsoever.

The locals immediately scented blood and were now totally behind their team. But, while there was just one goal in it, there was always hope for the away side, and that point was hammered home minutes later when Brumwell was forced to head an in-swinging corner off his own goal-line. In the end though, the Blues hung on and with a minute remaining, Wilford, who had done little for the preceding 89 minutes, gathered the ball on the edge of the box, lifted his head and calmly despatched a rocket into the roof of the Ashton net for the killer blow and all three points.