UniBond Premier Division

22nd August 2007

Attendance - 282

Team - Campbell, Hardman, Thornton, Appleby, Hartas, Janes, Adams, A Raw(Lyth 78), Hackworth, Ormerod(Andrews 59), Charlton. Sub not used: Harmsworth

Report - Whitby Town suffered their first defeat of the season at Gateshead's International Stadium on Wednesday night, and in truth, were lucky to only go down by a single goal.

The Tynesiders, tipped by many to finally return to the Conference next season, fired a penalty over the bar, rattled the post twice, forced countless point-blank saves and goal-line clearances as well as missing a galaxy of close range chances in a match they dominated.

Early on, a Whitby corner was flicked on by Alex Janes but fired well wide at the far post, and on eight minutes, lone striker Tony Hackworth found himself in space on the edge of the Gateshead area but scuffed an angled drive across the six-yard box and a long way past the far post.

A string of chances fell the home side's way starting on 14 minutes when last season's 31 goal top scorer Davey Southern headed wide. Two minutes later, a raking right-wing cross was hooked just over on the turn by Graeme Armstrong, who, moments later, fired against a Whitby post from 10 yards, before Southern drove narrowly wide.

On 18 minutes, the skilful former Blyth winger Wayne Phillips set up Steve Bowey, who headed wide from 12 yards. Harwood then broke and from a tough angle brought a fine stop from Whitby's Dave Campbell with a fierce near-post drive. The pressure finally told five minutes before half-time when Southern's neat flick into the box was headed home by Harwood.

On the stroke of half-time, Campbell stood up brilliantly again, pulling off a fine reaction stop with his legs to once again see Armstrong denied.

The second half began as the first ended, with Campbell pulling off the save of the night eight minute in. The 36-year-old keeper incredibly clawed the ball out from virtually behind his own goal line from the unlucky Armstrong, with centre-half Dave Hartas on hand to execute a slide tackle and get the ball clear.

Gateshead must have truly been scratching their heads as to how the score remained 1-0, when on 58 minutes Southern's brilliantly-struck 20-yard effort struck the inside of Campbell's left-hand post rolled along the goal-line and right-back Lewis Hardman scrambled the ball away.

Sonny Andrews replaced Anth Ormerod on 59 minutes and within a minute, Whitby couldn't believe their luck, as, completely against the run of play, they had a shock equaliser. A speculative ball through saw Steve Salvin robbed by Karl Charlton who sprinted clear and slid the ball past Keen from close range.

However, parity was just seconds old when Armstrong was tripped from behind in the Town box, and skipper Bowey had the chance to restore the Tynesiders' advantage from the penalty spot. But the 33-year-old former Queen of the South and York City midfielder followed his gargantuam run-up with a shot over the Whitby crossbar and onto the stantion behind the net.

Campbell then got lucky within moments when he came out for an outswinging corner but got nowhere near the ball, but fortunately for Whitby and their keeper, Southern drove the loose ball well wide.

However, on 73 minutes, it was Southern who twisted and turned down the left and clipped a beautifully placed cross straight onto the head of Salvin who beat Campbell in the air to turn from villain to here and nod home the winning goal.

The one positive for Town who spent almost 90 minutes chasing the ball was new signing Ashley Lyth making his first appearance in a Whitby shirt, after replacing Andy Raw for the last 12 minutes.

The home side were happy to play possession football for the remainder of the match and still missed chances to put a more realistic slant on the scoreline. At this rate, a big improvement is needed if Town, even with Lyth, can hope to match fellow promotion chasers Matlock on Saturday, at a ground where they've never won before.