Team - Campbell D, Lyth(c), Yale(Gildea A 46), Burgess, Ingram, Hanson, Scott, Beadle, Leeson, Hassan, Charlton(Gildea L 80). Subs not used: Lambert, Escritt(GK).
Report - by Andrew Snaith - It looked for all the world as if Whitby's makeshift strikeforce of wingers, full-backs and centre-halves had secured a vital three points, only for visitors Ashton to grab a draw in the last eight minutes on Saturday.
Blues' manager Harry Dunn was forced to make one change from Wednesday's 2-0 defeat to North Ferriby with ace marksman Andy Campbell injured, so in came another ex-Middlesbrough man in big defender Christian Hanson. Centre-back Ibby Hassan therefore joined a depleted forward line.
It certainly showed as shots on goal were far and far between though Hassan, alongside Karl Charlton and defender Andy Leeson worked manfully to sculpt an opening.
Jimmy Beadle nodded over after a pinpoint Leon Scott cross, while Charlton dragged wide from distance after a neat run.
At the other end, former Radcliffe man Iain Bennett scuffed equally wide after collecting left-back Danny Caldicott's long ball. Meanwhile, the Seasiders, desperate to bounce back from their midweek loss, came painfully close to a half-time lead, moments before the break.
Good work from another defender on the attack, Denny Ingram, culminated in Charlton driving for the top-left corner from the edge of the area and forcing a spectacular full-length save from Ashton goalkeeper Terry Smith. United's Iain Howard, also once of nearby Radcliffe Borough, tried an optimistic lob in injury time, but the experienced Dave Campbell was back in time to catch above his head with relative ease.
There was warm applause from a sparse but appreciative Turnbull Ground crowd at the interval, most aware of Town's desperate attacking flaws amid injuries to skipper and top-scorer Tony Hackworth, young playmaker Ged Dalton and aforementioned ex-Boro star Andy Campbell.
Alex Gildea replaced David Yale in a like for like change down the Whitby left, and perhaps manager Dunn will point to an inspired move as Town led inside three minutes of the restart. It was Hassan's surging run down the right and driven cross that sat up invitingly for Leeson to poach his second goal in three games and mask his regular position in the side.
Scott playing just his second game after more than three weeks on the sidelines, struggled with his final ball on a couple of occasions but there was nothing wrong with his eye for goal on the hour mark. The ex-Harrogate Town midfielder rose highest in a crowded Ashton box and looked to have doubled Town's lead, only for Ian Kearney, on the far post, to nod Scott's looping header off his own goal-line.
The introduction of the lively Osebi Abadaki for the final 20 minutes seemed to energise the visitors and the Nigerian promptly unlocked Town's backline with eight remaining. With Whitby's Kev Burgess injured in the build-up, the tricky forward got to the byline and pulled back for Howard to turn last defender Ingram and beat Campbell from close range. Dunn may have been regretting the saving of man-of-the-match Charlton's legs moments earlier, with a second goal now required- Liam Gildea, back after a long period of shift work, took his place.
Ashton's classy number seven Matty O'Neill, who looked their best player by some distance then almost won it for the Greater Manchester outfit late on. The blonde midfielder crossing for Howard to send a late diving header inches wide. Kearney also came close as he fired into the side netting and, for Town, Leeson had a close range shot charged down but there was to be no further scoring in this tepid affair.
A point will do neither of these frustrated mid-table sides much good and Whitby will hope Hackworth's cross-field jog after the final whistle signals a swift return for their popular captain. Certainly, with basement club Durham City up to the heady heights of -3 points after a shock weekend win at FC United of Manchester, no Whitby representative can take Tuesday's short trip north for granted.
