UniBond Premier Division

24th March 2007

Attendance - 323

Team - A Reid, T Reid(McTiernan 61), Janes, Appleby, Ward, Brumwell, Thomas, Robinson(Claisse 66), Richards(Raw 45), Brunskill, Ormerod.

Report - Whitby suffered their sixth straight away defeat in the Unibond Premier Division at the weekend after mid-table Ilkeston eased to a 3-0 victory. Lee Nogan’s side haven’t won on their travels in the league since taking the shock scalp of leaders AFC Telford United back in December and never looked like ending that run in Derbyshire on Saturday.

Nogan gave a debut to 33-year-old central defender Richard Ward, signed from Bishop Auckland in midweek and also welcomed back assistant manager Graham Robinson from a three-match suspension. However, it was the home side, who were hammered 4-1 at the Turnbull Ground in November who struck first inside four minutes.

Justin Walker’s shot was deflected behind for a corner, with the resulting far-post cross fired back across goal by Paul Robinson for veteran striker Martin Carruthers to volley home from close range.

Moments later, and top scorer Adam Muller released Chris Adam whose cross come shot struck his own player, Dougie Wade on the line and was hacked clear by the relieved Whitby defence.

Good work from Muller and Wade then culminated in a right-wing cross for Adam to latched onto, but the former Frickley midfielder drilled the ball high over the Whitby crossbar.

The visitors seemed in generous mood and the home side showed why they’ve been struggling of late when a number of Red shirts were queuing up at the far post but the belated close range effort was fired straight at Whitby keeper Arron Reid.

In-between , the Seasiders had plenty of the ball without showing any likelihood of creating a clear-cut chance. The lack of cohesion and simple link up play meant the dreaded long ball was in regular use, but the men from North Yorkshire almost levelled matters six minutes before the break. What looked a well-measured ball through saw leading marksman Danny Brunskill flagged offside when clear on goal. The resulting free-kick was taken several yards in front of where the infingement took place, keeper Ben Scott pumped the ball into the Whitby box where Carruthers nodded down for Muller, in acres of space, to turn and fire clinically past Reid from 12 yards.

A half-time change saw Karl Richards who was far from Whitby’s worst performer, make way for striker Tommy Raw who was making a comeback from a recent head injury. However, despite the added striker, Whitby couldn’t convert possession into goals and paid the price when their offside trap failed twelve minutes into the second half.

Adam was sent clear and rounded Reid comfortably before finishing superbly from a difficult angle for the killer third. At the other end, Robinson missed a guilt-edge opportunity when Matty Appleby’s free-kick into the box landed invitingly at the South African’s feet, but the 30-year-old scuffed his studs over the ball as he shot on the turn and the chance was gone.
Reid then made a fine reaction parry to deny Adam on his return from a two month injury lay-off.

Whitby made their final two changes within five minutes of each other- two youngsters in Dave McTiernan and Tom Claisse replaced Tom Reid and Robinson respectively.

Frustratingly for the travelling support and surely the coaching staff, Whitby reserved their best football for the last eight minutes. First, some neat interplay saw Brunskill fire a trademark powerful drive from the edge of the Ilkeston box inches wide. Then, a minute from time, the lively Raw brought a strong save from Scott with a 12 yard drive.

The Blues’ best chance came in the final minute, but summed up things at the moment for the Seasiders when Claisse unleashed a 20 yard drive that took a massive deflection off an Ilkeston defender and smashed against Scott’s right-hand post, with the former Hereford keeper surely beaten.

Managerless sixth-bottom Ashton United beckon for the Blues on Wednesday night, but on current form, Town will not be a popular bet for victory. Despite only trailing fifth-placed Guiseley by six points with a game in hand, Lincoln in 14th are only five behind- the Blues are also the only side in the top 13 to have a negative goal difference. One can’t help feeling there is a barrow load of work of to do for Mr Nogan to rescue this season.