Team - Campbell Craddock Robinson Hassan Burgess Leeson Owens (Hopcutt) Beadle Hackworth Scott Campbell subs - Oakley McIver McTiernan Lambert
Report - by Andrew Snaith -
The Blues were indebted to defender Darren Craddock and 39-year-old goalkeeper Dave Campbell for this Bank Holiday point after twice coming from behind against West Yorkshire rivals Frickley.
Manager Harry Dunn made two changes from the side that went down 2-0 at Buxton, 48 hours earlier. Nick Liversedge damaged a tendon in his hand, so veteran Campbell made his 427th appearance in Whitby blue. In contrast, striker Jamie Owens, signed from Wearside League Wolviston over the summer, made his first ever start at the Turnbull Ground, in place of Dave McTiernan.
He and Town looked lively in the opening exchanges as Jimmy Beadle drilled an 18-yard shot straight at keeper Adam Nicklin inside three minutes after a clever square ball from Andy Campbell. Moments later, an off-balance Beadle, Town's 15-goal top scorer from midfield last season, hooked over the crossbar from distance. Nicklin then saved comfortably low down from Tony Hackworth's shot on the turn, which lacked power.
Town's skipper followed that up by nodding wide after good work and a neat cross down the left from full-back Mark Robinson. So, the visitors shocked their opponents and possibly themselves with a first goal of the season, let alone the afternoon, on 15 minutes. Nialle O'Rafferty sped down the right flank and hammered the ball towards goal with a deflection off covering defender Ibby Hassan taking it over keeper Campbell and into the roof of the net.
Hassan then did well to block Adam Lee's angled drive, before it was Whitby's turn to strike on the break. 21-year-old Owens' bright run took him between centre-halves Dean Jones and Michael Wood, before collecting Hackworth's perfect through-ball and calmly picking his spot past a helpless Adam Nicklin from 12 yards. If only former Leeds star Hackworth could have timed his pass to fellow-Premier-League stager Andy Campbell as well, nine minutes later. As the ex-Middlesbrough man expertly lost his marker, the Blues' captain just overcooked his low ball, with Nicklin able to slide in ahead of Campbell and collect.
Whitby threatened twice more in quick succession before the break. First, Owen's explosive volley was tipped away by Nicklin, then Campbell's scuffed corner was somehow deflected towards his own goal by Michael Wood's swinging boot and Nicklin reacted well on the line to fend the ball away.
West Yorkshire were quickly out of the blocks in the second half and five minutes in, O'Rafferty forced Campbell to back track with a deep lob from the edge of the area that the veteran just managed to tip over. The same player should've done better soon after with a wayward far-post header, but Athletic pressure was rewarded midway through the half. Whitby's defence parted like the red sea and midfielder Danny Clarke was first to a loose ball on the edge of the box, getting between two men in blue to slide at full stretch past Campbell.
Beadle saw another free-kick deflected inches past Nicklin's right-hand post and after that warning shot, Town were back on level terms within five minutes of the second goal, albeit from an unlikely source. Towering defender Darren Craddock, playing further forward than usual, latched onto a bouncing ball just outside the area and slammed a ferocious half-volley into the top of the net, giving Nicklin no chance. Striker Campbell nearly put the Blues ahead for the first time moments later, but Nicklin executed a fine finger tip over from a fierce 20-yard effort.
However, the away side should really have reclaimed the lead late on. Non-existent, which Buxton punished on Saturday reared its ugly head again, as O'Rafferty found himself one on one with Dave Campbell. But luckily for that defender, his team-mates and most of the crowd, Campbell used all his experience to get out quickly and save at the 18-year-old's feet. A second save from the rebound soon had the home fans chanting "Cammy, Cammy" in tribute to the evergreen gloveman.
In injury time, Billy Heath's men were denied a penalty as the ball bounced up and struck Hassan's hand as the centre-half cleared, but there was more than a hint of a push from the confrontational Clarke, who predictably screamed loudest at the referee.
