UniBond Premier Division

7th November 2009

Attendance - 295

Team - Whitby Town: D Campbell, Jackson, Scott, Leeson, Hanson(Ingram 90), Hassan, Dalton, Hackworth(c), A Campbell(Charlton 87), Reay(L Gildea 64), Beadle. Subs not used: Gott, A Gildea.

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Another late goal denied Whitby on Saturday, as the Blues sunk into the bottom three after a 2-2 draw at Burscough.

There were four changes from the side that crashed out of the FA Trophy 2-0 against Kings Lynn, a week earlier. Former Middlesbrough striker Andy Campbell, famous for scoring at Old Trafford for the Boro as a youngster, arrived on a month's loan from Bradford Park Avenue, and an even more popular signing, local lad, Richard Jackson, the ex-Derby County star, took up the right-wing back role. One centre-half with league experience, Christian Hanson replaced another in Denny Ingram, while it was an exchange of ex-Blyth men when Ged Dalton edged out Alex Gildea. Defenders Kevin Burgess(holiday) and Ashley Lyth(flu) were unavailable.

The football was as wet and bleak as the Lancashire weather in a forgettable first half. Dave Roberts headed wide from Matty Parry's corner for the hosts, while in-form Jimmy Beadle drove straight at Burscough keeper Kyle Clancy seven minutes later.

The Blues then enjoyed a let-off when a misunderstanding at the back let in Cayne Hanley who tamely poked straight at Whitby keeper Dave Campbell, making his 403rd appearance for the Seasiders. The Linnets' Matty Kay then exchanged passes on the right edge of the Town box, but could only chip onto the far stantion of Campbell's goal.

Beadle, who looked full of confidence, with eight goals to his name already from midfield, came close to adding to his tally but glanced a header wide. The Seasiders then enjoyed another piece of good fortune when a goalmouth scramble was hacked away from under the crossbar, and home skipper Jay Connolly's subsequent follow up was smothered by Campbell.

The final moment of action fell to the visitors however, as Ged Dalton's ferocious volley, on the turn, from 20 yards flew inches over the Burscough bar, five minutes before the break.

But the second half began with the mid-table hosts, managed by former Prescot boss Andy Gray, again threatening, and Hanley should again have tested Campbell, but drilled over the top, when well placed. The breakthrough duly arrived soon after for the former Conference North outfit when good work from full-back Lewis Field, saw the ball played into Roberts, just inside the area, who managed to get in between Jackson and Beadle before turning and drilling emphatically past keeper Campbell.

The lead was to last just five minutes, and it was no suprise when that man Beadle was allowed to run onto a corner just outside the Burscough area and batter an unstoppable first-time low drive inside Clancy's right-hand post to send the travelling supporters wild. Liam Gildea replaced quiet fellow striker Shaun Reay for Whitby, before home subsitute Darren Byers, a former Cables prodigy on for Hanley, forced Campbell into another save. With that in mind, it was a suprise to even the most hardened Town fans when the visitors grabbed the lead with just over 20 minutes remaining.

Dalton found Andy Campbell who laid off for Beadle to power his tenth of the season into the roof of the net, via the underside of the crossbar. The Blues grew in confidence with Dalton, in particular, having a stormer behind the two strikers, and soon began playing some of the neat football seen a few weeks earlier in the campaign.

On-loan marksman Campbell, who isn't 100% fit, then made way for Karl Charlton in a like for like swap up front for the Blues, but the action was occuring at the other end. Ibby Hassan, having had a good game at centre-half, slipped on the greasy surface and suddenly Roberts was in on goal, collecting Thomas Moore's through ball and slotting it through the legs of the Whitby keeper for 2-2, just two minutes from time.

That said, it could've been worse for the visitors- Hanson went over on his ankle, and ironically, had to be replaced by Ingram. Then, in three minutes of injury time, Roberts almost turned provider, when the frontman's dangerous free-kick, provoked another furious scramble resulting in Moore's effort on the turn flying over the top.

The action didn't finish there however with Moore and Ingram reportedly clashing in the tunnel at the final whistle, players from both sides and even some home supporters becoming involved.