Team - Campbell D, Lambert(Lyth 46), Murphy, Ingram(c), Burgess, Hanson, Bramley, Scott, Leeson, Ormerod(Robinson 46), Campbell A. Sub not used: Escritt.
Report - by Andrew Snaith - The depleted Blues conceded five goals for the second game running despite a goal-scoring return for ace forward Andy Campbell on Saturday. The former Middlesbrough striker played a full 90 minutes and netted for the Seasiders, who were without four players through suspension alone, plus injured strikers Ged Dalton, Karl Charlton and skipper Tony Hackworth. Three more fringe players were unavailable with Ashley Lyth and Graham Robinson only fit enough to feature in the second half- another ex-Boro star, Anthony Ormerod made his first appearance since September.
Even so, the makeshift home team competed well early on, with Wolviston left-back Adam Murphy making a first-ever start in Whitby blue alongside fellow teenagers right-back Shaun Lambert and midfield man Liam Bramley. It was a little against the run of play then when the visitors led on 16 minutes, Michael Towey heading a left-wing cross back across the six yard box for 25-goal leading scorer Mark Reed to nod home from close range.
Reed, third in the division's leading marksmen, should have done better three minutes later when the ball skidded off the top of his head from a good position, with Whitby wide open. 23-year-old Kieran Lugsden also missed a good aerial opportunity, the former Witton winger glanced past the near post.
Despite the increased pressure from the Derbyshire club, it was still rough justice when they doubled their advantage five minutes before the break. Scott Mayfield poked an unconvincing low shot goalwards from 20 yards, only for the ball to deflect wickedly from one side of goal to the other and squirm past helpless keeper Dave Campbell via the inside of his right-hand post.
As if to illustrate the point, Towey's identical shot three minutes later, rolled comfortably into Campbell's clutches. A double half-time change from Blues' manager Harry Dunn saw Lyth and Robinson replace Ormerod and Lambert, but the contest looked all over seven minutes after the restart. Dreadful defending allowed Buxton captain Gregg Anderson to walk the ball home via his chest as players in red queued up on the goal-line for a right-wing corner.
However, the hosts were back in it when Joe Wilcox failed to spot Campbell running past him as he blindly headed back to keeper Scott Hartley, the wily veteran intercepting before chipping Hartley for 3-1. The 32-year-old former Cardiff City hitman created more problems within seconds, bringing a crude trip on the edge of the area, only for the quickly-taken free-kick to be easily collected by Hartley.
The revival lasted precisely four minutes though, as more non-existent marking at the other end allowed Lee Morris to sidefoot home from under the crossbar after Reed's simple guided header forward. Neil Stevens then ended the rout with the goal of the game- a sweet curling strike from the fringes of the penalty box that arrowed across Campbell and nestled in the top left corner of the net. Robinson, who looked bright on his 408th appearance for the Seasiders, saw a close range header well saved by Hartley late on.
After the final whistle of Town's last home game this season, Whitby's players applauded all four sides of the Turnbull Ground, in front of a healthy 300+ crowd containing plenty of away support. Certainly Buxton are well-positioned to pip great rivals Matlock to seventh spot, but Town fans can surely look ahead to a bright campaign to come next year- the week's three remaining trips have no threat of relegation attached, unlike the past two nightmare seasons.
