Friendly

13th August 2005

Attendance -

Team - Escritt, Atkinson, Veart, Farthing, Hudson, Nicholson, Brown, Scaife, Raw, Wells, Richards. Subs: Ormerod, McTiernan, Boyd, 'Craig'

Report - by Andrew Snaith -
It seems that perhaps the Whitby boys have had a discussion in midweek and sorted out any differences/doubts about futures.

The Seasiders looked much more like a unit and played some very nice one-touch football at times. They looked much more composed and solid compared to the untidy, lazy showing against Jarrow last week.

The visitors arriving late saw the match put back to 3.10pm, and the First Division side were slow out of the blocks. Whitby dominated the early stages with the towering midfield featuring Scott Nicholson, Nick Scaife and Andy Brown a real factor.

Eventually, after some good one touch football, Atkinson's low cross caused trouble in the Gresley box and Tom Raw reacted quickest to poke home after seeing a first-time effort blocked- a superb bit of reaction finishing to put Whitby ahead.

The score remained 1-0 into the second half, where young trialist defender Craig (Insert Surname here) debuted in place of Chris Hudson at centre-half. Anth Ormerod also came on in place of David Wells- another straight swap with Ormerod tucking in behind Raw.

It wasn't long before Whitby extended their lead as Scaife slotted home following good work from Raw. This followed a good spell of pressure from the away side as Paul Edwards missed a simple chance to tap in and Ben Escritt made two incredible saves to somehow keep the Derbyshire side at bay.

Sub Tony Brown had a goal chalked off for offside for the away side- who looked deceptively like Hyde United(see the pictures if you don't believe me). Worryingly, Ormerod jogged off after feeling a twinge in his hamstring, with Karl Richards also giving way for Dave McTiernan and Tom Boyd to get a run out.

And it was McTiernan the found a way through when Gresley's defence went missing from Veart's corner allowing young Macca to nod home unchallenged from close range.

However, there was time for Rovers to pull one back. Whitby's youthful defence were left flat-footed as neat interplay saw Chris White start the move that he finally finished off after Escritt blocked his first effort but was powerless on the ground to smother the follow-up.

But it was the home side who deservedly had the final word- Wells back on the field replacing Farthing, with a real opportunist strike from 30 yards that caught ex-Matlock keeper Gavin Saxby cold and nestled in the top-right corner of the net.

A much smoother performance from the Seasiders with Andy Brown again superb, ably assisted by Escritt, Raw, Scaife and Nicholson.