UniBond Premier Division

3rd October 2009

Attendance - 237

Team - Campbell Lyth Leeson Ingram Burgess Hanson Ormerod Hackworth Brunskill(Blott 80), Beadle, Charlton - Subs not used Gildea.L Dalton Hassan Woodhead

Report - by Craig James - Whitby Town dropped into the bottom two for the first time this season after a 2-0 defeat at a windy Hucknall Town.

Whitby boss Harry Dunn welcomed back skipper Tony Hackworth, leaving Ibrahim Hassan on the bench.

The first ten minutes found both teams struggling to cope with the strong winds, both teams cancelling each other out. Whitby had the first effort on goal when Danny Brunskill muscled past the home defense but home keeper Aystead made a fine save to deny the blues striker. Five minutes later Brunskill had another attempt on goal but his 20 yard effort ended up being weak when he found himself under pressure from the home defense. Jimmy Beadle was lucky to not receive a yellow card from the lenient referee when he mis-timed the tackle.

On the half hour a fine move by Whitby saw Anthony Ormerod clip a perfectly waited pass into the on-rushing Andrew Leeson who clipped the post with only the keeper to beat.

The home side were forced into a change after Shields and Ellis clashed accidentally, forcing Ellis to leave the field concussed. Hucknall then came into the game and should have taken the lead on 36 minutes when Whittington forced his way through the Whitby back line. David Campbell in the Whitby goal pulled off a great save to deny him. A minute later Whittington was guilty again, screwing wide when well placed after good work from Nightingale. With five minutes to go until half time, Hucknall had another great chance when Campbell lost the ball under pressure from Nightingale, but again Whittington shot wide. Campbell then made another fine save to his left near post, before the referee blew for half time.

There were no changes at half time, and Hucknall were the first to show when Aldridge tried to chip Campbell from the left hand side, however the wind helped the ball sail wide. Whitby's first effort in the second half came from Danny Brunskill in the 53rd minute after a mix-up in the Hucknall defense led to him shielding the ball before he turned and shot in his trademark fashion, but again Aldridge was equal to the task. Six minutes later Karl Charlton battled the wind to break through on goal, but his effort ended up being weak.

Substitute Aldridge was again in the action when he chipped over from the left hand side, resulting in Campbell and Denny Ingram clashing, but somehow clearing. The resulting corner from the right hand side saw the ball evade everyone except for McCormick who shinned the ball in from six yards to give the home side the lead.

With 70 minutes played, Jimmy Beadle shot over from 20 yards after some good build up play from Ormerod and Hackworth. A minute later Brunskill played Hackworth in down the right hand side with a neat touch. His cross should have been finished but Charlton was unable to get his foot on it with the wind against him.

With 10 minutes left, Ryan Blott replaced Danny Brunskill. Hucknall had another good chance but Smith's shot from the right hand side drifted wide. Substitute Blott then blazed over from 18 yards following Hackworth's downward header.

With two minutes left, Whitby were attacking the Hucknall goal, but a mistake by Blott on the edge of the home box saw Spriggs rob him, run 80 yards with the ball, square it to Wiggins-Thomas who finished with aplomb to make it 2-0. Whitby tried to hit back and should have had a consolation goal from Jimmy Beadle. Karl Charlton broke forward and played the ball into Blott down the left hand side. His neat pass found Beadle in acres of spacebut he shot wide when one on one with the keeper.

Whitby battled hard in game ruined by the wind and they did not disgrace themselves, however manager Dunn will be concerned at the lack of firepower from the front line.