Team - Liversedge, Hassan, Robinson(c), Leeson, White, Williams, Portas, Beadle, Clarke(Tymon 83), Appleby(Ure 90), Blackford(Martin 73). Sub not used: D Campbell.
Report
by Andrew Snaith
A last gasp Matty Tymon strike ended a run of just one win in 15 for Darren Williams' men in West Yorkshire on Monday.
It was also sweet revenge after Frickley's 95th minute equaliser denied Town all three points in the sides' last meeting over the August Bank Holiday.
The only spanner in the works for Williams and his lads were wins for basement club Burscough, fourth-bottom Stocksbridge and Mickleover Sports on the other side of the relegation line, but the Town player-boss told the Whitby Gazette he was still delighted with the result on a testing pitch, stating:
"I think it was a win we probably deserved- Frickley maybe dominated the second half, but I believe we dominated the first half, we hung in there and did really well.
"We knew they were going to come at us and we knew they were going to put us under pressure, because they are a difficult team to play against at home, on a surface that is favourable for them as they play on it every other week."
Town's late clincher was Tymon's first goal since October and Williams thinks it could be vital, not just for the club, but for the former Hartlepool striker as well, adding:
"I'm absolutely over the moon for the lad, he's had so many chances over the last ever-so-many weeks and it was probably getting on top of him, but I couldn't have wished for anyone else to score the winner for us.
"It was important for him- hopefully it'll give him a confidence boost and get him back on track."
The Seasiders were without suspended defender Ashley Lyth and wide player Jeff Smith, who was sidelined with a head injury. Andy Leeson joined Alex White at centre-half with Ibby Hassan slotting in at right-back and left-winger Billy Blackford making a first start since sustaining a broken collar bone, nearly four months ago.
And it was the returning youngster causing problems in the first minute, beating his marker down the left before firing across the face of goal and soon after, crossing for Tom Portas to head just past the far post.
As Town continued to set the pace, Jimmy Beadle showed a nice technique to fire a 25-yard volley goalwards, on the turn, but goalkeeper Steve Dickinson held comfortably at head height, with Blackford's similiar effort from the edge of the box, bringing an identical result.
The hosts- in the midst of a run of four straight defeats- threatened for the first time on 14 minutes. Ex-Boston marksman Ollie Ryan raced clear down the Frickley left, only to fire into the side netting as Nick Liversedge came out to narrow the angle.
The action then returned to the other end three minutes later, as Andy Appleby put Town ahead with only his second goal for the club, since returning in November. Mark Robinson's deft ball over the top found its way past the outstretched leg of giant defender Lincoln Adams and Appleby sprinted onto it before cutting in from the left and slotting between Dickinson's legs for the opening goal.
Kelvin Bleau threatened down the right as the home side attempted a quick reply, before Brad Grayson's left-wing cross was scuffed straight at Liversedge by Ryan. The former Darlington keeper then denied the same player with a strong low save from a testing angled drive.
Six minutes before the break, the visitors, in all white, almost doubled their advantage. Beadle, looking for his sixth goal in seven games, got free inside the Athletic box- with Adams handling accidentally as he slid in- the Town midfielder sidefooted towards the top-right corner, where Dickinson plucked the ball out of the air with ease.
Former Colliery side Frickley, whose Westfield Lane ground is dominated down one side by a grass-covered hill made up of soil removed by past miners, made to bury their opponents after the interval, no-doubt following a resounding half-time speech from boss Peter Rinkcavage.
They should have levelled two minutes after the restart, when Grayson, celebrating his 19th birthday, somehow conspired to poke wide from the six-yard box when one-on-one with Liversedge. Moments later, Hassan executed a well-timed skidding challenge on Ryan, who managed to retain possession, but slammed over the bar.
As the assault continued, James Ashmore curled a 25-yard free-kick high and wide, before an Alex Callery corner was just about scrambled clear. Whitby were struggling to stay afloat and perhaps hoping the Tellytubbies might pop out of the nearby mound, which resembled their base, to help out.
But minus the extra hands on deck, Town remained pinned in their own half and only more defensive heroics prevented Ashmore for a second time, as Hassan cleared against an opponent and had to block again, from the follow-up, seconds later.
Former Stocksbridge wide player Callery, who was perhaps lucky to stay on the field after the referee missed a first-half kick out at an opponent, eventually made his way off with just over 20 minutes left- Karl Jones his replacement. Jones may be remembered for coming on at around the same stage in the sides' original clash at the Turnbull Ground and forced Liversedge to block after heading goalward from Ben Turner's free-kick.
Whitby made the same left-wing change soon after, as two former Hartlepool Reserves switched places- Blackford making way for Callum Martin. However, the focus remained deep in the visitors' box where, almost inevitably, Ryan grabbed the equaliser, 14 minutes from time.
The lively forward twisted and turned some 12 yards from goal, before firing across Liversedge and inside the lofty keeper's left-hand post.
This seemed to stir the Seasiders into a response, perhaps sensing that a draw wasn't enough and the quiet Jamie Clarke nodded just wide at the far post, seconds later. The 38-year-old, hampered by a strapped up broken left elbow, was replaced by fellow frontman Tymon, with seven minutes remaining.
Even so, it looked as though Town would be lucky to take any more than a point back to North Yorkshire, even when they won a free-kick just outside the penalty area in the final minute. After considerable deliberation, Beadle floated the ball in and there was Tymon to stab the ball home in a crowded box.
The unexpected sight of Lee Ure replacing the hard-grafting Appleby, for his 198th appearance- over seven years after his last- buoyed the nervous visiting fans, as did Appleby's milking of their chants, as he warmed down in front of them. But injury time felt nearer twenty minutes, rather than the likely five that passed before referee Mr Mellor whistled the end of the game and an important three points for an ecstatic Town.
