UniBond Premier Division

4th August 2007

Attendance -

Team - Campbell, Wilson(Lund 62), Thornton, Janes, Nogan(Stewart 52),Mitchell, Andrews, Adams, Hackworth, Ormerod, Charlton.

Report - Another depleted Whitby side, so short that an opposition player filled in to make up the numbers in the second half, earned a draw at former Northern League champions Dunston Federation on Saturday.

The Seasiders went behind when Fed's recent signing from Gretna, Neil Pattinson scrambled the ball home after a number of efforts were blocked.

Long-serving goalkeeper Dave Campbell made a string of fine saves towards the end of the first half with the home side firmly on top.

With skipper Matty Appleby on holiday, Phil Brumwell suffering an infection after undergoing surgery, James Drinkall carrying an ankle injury, and Ashley Lyth recovering from a hernia operation, Whitby were threadbare to say the least.

Last season's leading goalscorer Danny Brunskill had work commitments, with overseas-based players Jamie Ramm and Vince Rouja returning to the USA and South Africa respectively, so just 12 players lined up in the Whitby white on a blazing August afternoon.

Town Player-manager Lee Nogan, normally a forward or midfield player, was forced to step into central defence, alongside the impressive Alex Janes, who was returning from an injury of his own. Nogan made way for Dunston's Terry Stewart, generously provided by the home side, early in the second half, so solitary Whitby sub teenager Mitch Lund could be kept in reserve. Lund eventually replaced fellow youngster right-back Dom Wilson ten minutes later.

On 63 minutes, Dunston sub Andrew McIntosh let fly from 25 yards but Campbell used all his height to catch the ball above his head at full stretch. Within two minutes, the hosts tried the same trick once again, this time former Gateshead full-back Ben Cattanach drove goalwards from a similiar distance, but Campbell held the ball in identical fashion.

It was the final 20 minutes of the match before Town tested Campbell's opposite number Andy Clark. But test him they did when Tony Hackworth laid the ball off for Ant Ormerod to unleash a ferocious 20 yard dipping goalbound effort that Clark tipped over acrobatically, right under his own crossbar.

At the other end, Chris Laws headed a left-wing cross just wide from 12 yards. Moments later, Cattanach's low right-wing cross, fell to fellow ex-Gateshead man Steve Preen, who sidefooted wide from close range, with the goal at his mercy.

Ten minutes from time, ex-Blue Laws, playing in the same side as his brother Michael, another former Whitby player, sent a well-struck sidefooter narrowly wide from just inside the penalty area.

Up to this point, Whitby had enjoyed plenty of possession only to repeatedly misplace passes, but undeterred, the visitors fought on and were rewarded six minutes from time. Karl Charlton cut in from the left flank and laid the ball to Hackworth who chipped expertly over the onrushing Clark and into the net for 1-1.