Friendly

19th July 2008

Attendance -

Team - Whitby Town: Ben Escritt, Kevin Burgess, Craig Bishop, Steve Tobin, Richard Forster, Mark Tinkler, Steven Huggins, Anthony Ormerod, Tony Hackworth, Danny Brunskill, Karl Charlton. Subs: (all played- 45 mins) Brendan Ledgeway(GK), Ashley Lyth, Lee Pallender, Alex Janes, Tom Claisse, Tom Raw, Sam Garvie, Andy Thompson.

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Whitby Town weathered a first half storm both literally and figuratively to see off nearby Conference North outfit Harrogate Town at the Turnbull Ground on Saturday.

Harrogate had already rattled the top of the crossbar after a break-down in communication within the Whitby defence, but Darren Dunning could only hit the woodwork with Blues' keeper Ben Escritt out of position.

However, the away side's noisy support was silenced on 31 minutes by their former player Tony Hackworth. Fellow ex-Leeds United schemer Mark Tinkler took advantage of a mistake in the visitors' midfield and as Tinkler contested a Harrogate challenge, Hackworth nipped in to pick up the loose ball and drive low past Jim Provitt from just inside the penalty area.

Amazingly, the away side then struck the same bar twice in as many minutes in a frenetic spell. First, Dunning, the twin brother of ex-Blue Richard, with a ferocious 25-yard effort caught the roof of the frame, possibly via the gloves of Escritt, though the referee awarded a goal kick.

Then, a speculative effort from Matty Young out by the touchline on the left completely decieved Escritt in the wind and clipped the crossbar, with new left-back Craig Bishop signed from Spennymoor Town, almost steering the loose ball into his own net as he sidefooted behind at the far post.

As in the midweek victory at Billingham Synthonia, Whitby again reshuffled at half-time, making no fewer than eight changes. Possibly for this reason, the Seasiders looked bright early in the second half and promptly doubled their lead five minutes in when Tom Raw was upended in full flow by the near post. The unlikely figure of centre-half Richard Forster saw his very central spot kick parried by Provitt, only for the Whitby captain to react quickly and fire home the rebound.

Raw should've made it three after bursting clear on 55 minutes but the 23-year-old striker side-footed wide. With seven minutes left, the lively Sam Garvie collected a through ball but shot straight at Provitt and saw his follow-up effort also charged down, this time by a covering defender.

The contest was anything but friendly towards the end and Tom Claisse was substituted by Blues' bosses Phil Brumwell and Graeme Clark after a rash challenge on Scott McGrory, following a string of poor challenges from players on both sides.

No-doubt messers Clark and Brumwell will be encouraged by victory over higher-placed opposition, though there may be some concern over a knee injury picked up by centre-half Steve Tobin, who was forced to limp off during the first half.