UniBond Premier Division

27th January 2007

Attendance - 720

Team - Norton, Reid(Thomas 58), Brumwell, Appleby, Farthing, Robinson, McTiernan(Stewart 58), Drinkall, Raw(Nogan 77), Brunskill, Ormerod.

Report -Whitby slipped to eighth place as title-chasing Hednesford earned instant revenge on home turf for their defeat at the Turnbull Ground, two weeks ago.

Seasiders’ manager Lee Nogan was without arguably Town’s two most effective players in the 2-0 win over the Pitmen in the clubs’ first clash. Goalkeeper David Campbell was ruled out through injury with the versatile Aron Wilford, who netted both goals in the win a fortnight ago failing a late fitness test.

Despite this, the Blues made a bright start, only for Hednesford’s debutant striker Danny Bacon to find himself with the first real scoring opportunity on 14 minutes. But the former Hucknall marksman volleyed high over the Whitby bar from just six yards out, after Ross Adams beat Tom Reid and crossed from the left.

However Bacon made up for his error with a tasty cross for Jamie March to direct a downward header into the turf, up over young Whitby keeper Jack Norton and into the top-right corner of the net.

The Staffordshire side almost doubled their lead three minutes later when Norton charged to the edge of his box and got lucky as Phil Hadland struck successive shots against the Town back-up stopper.

At the other end, James Drinkall, one of five changes from the side that catastrophically lost 5-0 to Northallerton in their last outing, tried to subtly chip Ryan Young from the edge of the box but the Hednesford keeper caught the ball at a comfortable height.

Moments later, Reid had an effort charged down and Graham Robinson fired the rebound over the top from 25 yards. Whitby kept up the pressure without really testing Young, as another Drinkall effort from distance flew just off target after good holdup play from Danny Brunskill.

But despite some good pressure from the visitors, it was Hednesford who nearly doubled their lead in audacious fashion three minutes before half-time. Hadland, like opposite number Drinkall at the other end, was again involved, this time trying his luck from at least 40 yards, with a shock attempted chip. Norton, 20 yards off his line, desperately back-pedalled, but the amazing effort bounced just too long, landing on the roof of the net and dropping behind.

However, just like Bacon before him, Hadland was quick to make amends, and struck early in the second half to make it 2-0. It was the unlikely figure of veteran Blues skipper Matty Appleby who gave Norton no chance with a short backpass and Hadland nipped in between the two Whitby players to slot home comfortably.

Nogan introduced former York winger Bryan Stewart and ex-Darlington midfielder Stephen Thomas around the hour mark, with McTiernan and Reid making way- Town going to just three at the back in a blatant attacking move.

Within two minutes, Anth Ormerod cut in from the right flank but scuffed his shot well wide of Young’s near post. At the other end, another defensive lapse from the Blues, saw the home side scuff an effort of their own well wide from a strong position 20 yards out.

Robinson’s speculative back-headed pass cum shot dropped just wide from Appleby’s free-kick, and the Blues’ captain seemed determined to make up for his earlier mistake, delivering a dangerous looping cross that Young tipped over his own head from directly underneath the crossbar.

Hednesford forward Dave Whittaker saw his far post tap in ruled out for offside, but the Pitmen could well have been reduced to ten men moments later as Iain Screaton escaped with a yellow for a blatant elbow on Brunskill, this after an altercation with Drinkall in the first half right under the nose of the referee.

Whitby boss Nogan was soon on the field himself, taking the place of Tommy Raw up front for the final 13 minutes. But after witnessing his top scorer Brunskill pick up his obligatory booking for a clumsy foul, all Nogan saw was stars after a heavy collision with an unrepentant Young put the Seasiders’ supreme on the ground with a head injury as the pair contested an aerial ball.

Whitby were still enjoying plenty of possession and with nine minutes left, Drinkall turned and hooked first time just over from the edge of the area. Continuing their territorial advantage three minutes later, one of many Whitby corners flew across the home side’s six yard box, but no-one in blue was there to provide the killer touch and a vital goal back.

But the men from North Yorkshire were again unlucky on 87 minutes when Appleby’s free-kick was glanced on by Danny Farthing, only for Ormerod to poke wide first time at the far post. However, Whitby’s best chance came with a minute remaining, when Ormerod turned provider with the perfect right-wing cross, but that man Drinkall from six yards out slid straight at Young who saved well low down.

It was particularly cruel then, when Hednesford added a flattering third goal in injury time. The home side taking advantage of Whitby’s forward charge, when Screaton square for substitute Dean Oliver to finish well from a tight angle, firing across Norton and into the far corner of the net.

And while Hednesford will now think it’s game on in the title race after cutting Telford’s lead to eight points with a game in hand, Whitby should not shelve their own promotion hopes, but instead look forward to an epic weekend at the top of the Unibond Premier. Seventh-placed Matlock take on leaders Telford, Sixth-placed Witton and third-placed Marine face off, while Whitby entertain fourth-placed Burscough- with just a single point separating the clubs. Victory would be Whitby’s first ever at the Turnbull Ground over the Linnets, in seven attempts.