UniBond Premier Division

22nd April 2006

Attendance - 195

Team - Escritt, Atkinson, Brumwell, Wilkinson(Yalcin 56), Farthing, Radigan, McTiernan(Barber 80), Nicholson, Wilford, Brunskill, Thornton. Sub not used: Claisse.

Report - by ANDREW SNAITH - Whitby’s faint play-off hopes were finally killed off with a 2-1 defeat at fellow also-rans Burscough in West Lancashire on Saturday.

Ryan Bowen’s winner six minutes from time ended Town’s six match unbeaten run, after Scott Nicholson’s header had cancelled out Steve Hussey’s 54th minute opener at Victoria Park.

Blues manager David Logan made two changes from the side that won comfortably 2-0 at Guiseley in midweek, with previously-unavailable defender Neil Wilkinson recalled alongside young left winger Darren Thornton. Left-sided midfielder Karl Richards failed a fitness test due to a groin infection picked up in Wednesday’s game and forward Ant Ormerod also missed out.

Whitby started brightly on 90 minutes when record-chasing Danny Brunskill’s potshot was saved by Burscough goalkeeper Matthew Boswell, making his last ever home appearance for the Linnets.

From then on however, the home side took control with Paul Lloyd jinking his way through to the edge of the six yard box and forcing Ben Escritt to block with his legs.

Moments later, Burscough remained encamped in the Whitby box with an effort from distance flying wide and a goalbound shot striking returning Whitby defender Neil Wilkinson in the face.

Escritt was again alert to parry Kyle Armstrong’s near post shot on 15 minutes. With Neil Radigan firing a 20 yard free-kick just wide at the other end, Escritt was again called into action to thwart the league’s top scorer Tony Gray, after good work from Bowen.

Just before the interval, Boswell caught Nicholson’s close range header from Thornton’s corner.

An uneventful first half gave way to a much more impressive second period as both sides came out determined to score goals.

On 52 minutes, Boswell did well to just about hold on to a trademark Brunskill piledriver from 20 yards as the big Whitby forward looked to score the first of the seven goals needed to beat Paul Pitman’s Unibond League goalscoring tally.

Two minutes later, however, the hosts led when a short corner was crossed into the Whitby box by the much-maligned Steve Hussey, only for Paul McNally’s presence to put off the Whitby defence and the ball flew into the net for the opening goal.

Unusually, the goalscorer then made way for striker Paul Gedman within seconds of netting the opening strike. Whitby were not lying down though, and just a minute later rattled the woodwork when Thornton’s corner was headed against the Burscough crossbar by Danny Farthing.

The Seasiders suffered a disappointing blow on 56 minutes when Wilkinson limped off the field- Turkish midfielder Lev Yalcin was his replacement as the Blues reverted to just three at the back.

Burscough then came close to doubling their lead when Gray showed his class to hold the ball up and release Lee Dames, who fired across the Whitby six yard box, only for the foot of Escritt’s far post to rescue the visitors.

This proved a turning point as Whitby levelled on 64 minutes as another dangerous Thornton cross was headed emphatically past the helpless Boswell from point-blank range by Scott Nicholson, for the former Tow Law midfielder’s tenth goal of the season to delight the small travelling contingent in the famous Boc Gases Stand.

The visitors were clearly buoyed by finding the back of the net, winning a succession of corners in the moments that followed, with the impressive Thornton seeing a goalbound drive deflected wide.

On 78 minutes, a fine run by Yalcin across the Burscough defence culminated in a vicious swerving 18 yard effort forcing a good save from Boswell, who just about held on to the loose ball. Seconds later, the departing keeper was again called upon to parry Brunskill’s near-post drive as Whitby enjoyed their best spell of the match.

Dave McTiernan’s quiet afternoon on the pitch ended with ten minutes remaining, as on-loan Scarborough midfield man Mark Barber took his place.

The home side were certainly feeling the pressure in their final match at Victoria Park this season as 21-year-old defender Michael White sliced his backpass badly moments later and nearly fired inside Boswell’s far post, as the stopper desperately back-tracked- the ball finally rolling just wide.

The experienced Karl Bell replaced Lloyd in a defensive change with nine minutes left, but the Blues almost turned the match on its head on 82 minutes when Radigan’s 18-yard shot flicked off Wilford’s header inches from goal and flew narrowly past Boswell’s right-hand-post.

As it was, it was the hosts who won it with six minutes left as Bowen was inexplicably allowed a free header at the far post to nod home Marin Crowder’s right-wing corner from point-blank range.

Another fine Escritt save was followed by a badly-executed Brunskill bicycle kick wide from yet another Thornton cross a minute from time.

In the three minutes of injury time, Barber’s mis-hit drive from close range was all Whitby had to show as the Lancastrian side held on for all three points to keep the Blues in eighth and officially end Whitby’s promotion hopes for another season.