UniBond Premier Division

19th September 2009

Attendance - 1048

Team - Tom Woodhead; Ibrahim Hassan, Ashley Lyth, Andrew Leeson, Kevin Burgess; Liam Gildea, Alex Gildea (Brian Close 51), Jimmy Beadle, Christian Hanson, Karl Charlton (Ryan Blott 61); Danny Brunskill (Ged Dalton 71). Sub (not used): Anthony Ormerod.

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Whitby Town have drawn all four of their September league fixtures after shutting-out fifth-placed Boston on Saturday.

The Blues made the long trip to Lincolnshire without their two most experienced players, injured duo- goalkeeper David Campbell and defender Denny Ingram. Ex-Middlesbrough centre-half Christian Hanson returned after missing Wednesday's draw with Ossett Town, alongside teenage keeper Tom Woodhead, who made a first start in four weeks following a broken nose.

In the absence of Harry Dunn, who was in Cheshire scouting next week's FA Cup opponents Vauxhall Motors, assistant manager Bob Scaife took charge of team affairs.

It was the home side, managed by former Ilkeston bosses Rob Scott and Paul Hurst, who were first on the attack on ten minutes. Another ex-Robin Mark Newsham tricked his way down the left flank before cutting inside and forcing Woodhead to push away a low angled drive.

Newsham again came close eight minutes later, but headed straight at Woodhead when trying to beat the former Hull youngster at his near post. At the other end, good work from Karl Charlton down the Whitby left set up midweek goalscorer Jimmy Beadle who fired wide from 20 yards.

Ten minutes before the break, Spanish-born striker Mikel Suarez should've put the Pilgrims ahead after a good run and cross by Jamie Clarke down the Whitby right, but the Bilbao native missed his kick when unmarked from just six yards out.

The Seasiders then had three half chances in the four minutes before half-time. First, Danny Brunskill's powerful low drive from just outside the area was deflected inches wide, then Brunskill again, this time chesting down, before hooking powerfully just over from similiar range. And finally, the best of the chances fell to Beadle again on the edge of the Boston box, but with space and time to pick his spot, the ex-York City midfielder also saw his driven effort ricochet past keeper Tom Evans' right-hand post.

If the travelling contingent thought this last pressure against a nervy-looking defence was a sign of things to come, they were disappointed as the second half belonged almost exclusively to Boston. Indeed, Whitby were struck down within six minutes of the restart when Alex Gildea was stretchered off with a leg injury following a 50/50 tackle in the middle of the park- right wing-back Brian Close replaced him, as Ibby Hassan moved into midfield.

It was a further 15 minutes before either side threatened, and it was the hosts and that man Newsham again, who chipped just over the crossbar from 20 yards. Meanwhile, Ryan Blott replaced Karl Charlton in a straight swap in Whitby's quiet three-man strikeforce.

Later, Scaife was to introduce Ged Dalton for Brunskill in another straight swap, though many will have been suprised to see the architect of Wednesday's goal left on the bench, especially with the Blues crying out for a better final ball to their forward line.

As the gold and black onslaught continued, Defender Liam Parker perhaps showed why he's best employed at the back with 20 minutes remaining, exchanging passes neatly, but shinning badly over the top when inside the Whitby box. Newsham then had two glorious chances to win the match in three minutes with around ten remaining.

Firstly, when Parker swept a right-sided corner into a crowded away area, the 22-year-old saw his goalbound shot on the turn brilliantly saved by Woodhead from point blank range. Then, came the chance that the Boston striker will be playing again and again in his head even now. Another pinpoint right-wing Parker cross, found it's way to an unmarked Newsham who only needed to head the ball down to break the deadlock, but instead nodded over with the goal yawning in front of him.

Blott had a determined run down the left and dangerous driven cross that was missed by those limited Whitby players in the home box, and Boston tried once more from distance, but Town held on for a useful point at a venue where they lost 2-0 just under 12 months earlier.