Team - Campbell, Lyth, White, Hassan, Burgess, Hodgson (Batchelor 64 mins), McTiernan (Cornforth 78 mins), Leeson, Hackworth, Beadle (Davis 85 mins), Scott Subs not used: Southern, Courtney.
Report - by Andy Baxter - With recent results at the bottom of the league not going in Whitby Town’s favour, this was a MUST win game for the Seasiders against Nottinghamshire club, Hucknall Town, themselves in relegation troubles. Whitby certainly realised this as they sprung out of the blocks with chances right from the kick off and forcing the visitors very much onto the back foot. In fact it took Hucknall 6 minutes to get the ball into the Whitby half as they withstood the constant onslaught from the home side, who took the lead in the 10th minute when a cross area ball was half volleyed by Leon Scott, only to see his effort glance the hand of defender Joe Pheasant before reaching keeper Ross Whalin. Referee Tom Rodgers had no hesitation pointing to the spot, much to the surprise of the Whitby players who hadn’t appealed but equally surprisingly the visitors who didn’t protest either, and although to many spectators, it seemed a somewhat harsh decision, Whitby captain, Tony Hackworth gratefully despatched the spot kick for the lead.
Five minutes later, again following domination from Whitby Town, a deep cross from Hackworth found the unmarked Jimmy Beadle whose downward header went just past the far post and within a minute, an Ashley Lyth free kick was glanced inches wide from the head of Kevin Burgess. McTiernan also popped up with a shot wide off it’s target and the now totally in control home side saw Hackworth strike an angled shot just wide of the post. Hucknall then came a little more into the game, enjoying some possession but without creating any worries for Whitby keeper, David Campbell, who most of the game had little more to do than easily pluck the ball out of the air from set pieces.
However, the second half proved much different and it was Whitby who spent most of it in a defensive role and despite the odd few jaunts forward, it was them who lacked the sting in the tail they had in the first half and started to really make a poor looking Hucknall side, appear much better than they were. On the hour mark, Whitby’s Man of the Match, Ibby Hassan, was caught wrong footed allowing TJ Nightingale through for a free shot on goal but his low angled drive past Campbell also flew wide of the Whitby goal.
At the other end, Jimmy Beadle, playing out of position for him as striker, beat the offside appeals, to turn inside with only the Hucknall keeper to beat, but he fluffed his opportunity, seeing the rebounded ball fall to Andy Leeson, who equally failed to capitalise on his chance. Whitby really started to look weary, seeming to struggle to put passes together successfully and as David McTiernan made way for substitute Joe Cornforth on 78 minutes, the home side entered a period of frantic, panic style, suicidal football with little positive for the home supporters to cheer about.
However, they held on to gain the much needed win and 3 massively valuable points. After the game, Manager, Tommy Cassidy said: “ In the first half, we were superb and could have gone in 2 or 3 up but in the 2nd half they were much better than us but without really creating anything. I want the supporters to know that it will be a real dog fight now to the end of the season and this might mean us not being able to always play attractive football. But as long as we can still carve out the results that we need, then that’s the priority now, to ensure we stay up”.
