UniBond Premier League

27th September 2006

Attendance - 265

Team - Campbell, Reid, Brumwell, Appleby, Farthing, Claisse(McTiernan 60), Robinson, Drinkall(Wilford 68), Raw, Brunskill, Ormerod. Sub not used: Nogan.

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Assistant Manager Graham Robinson's 63rd minute volley was enough to secure Whitby Town's fourth straight league win and take them to within four points of league leaders Hednesford Town on Wednesday night.

Despite netting Whitby's winner at Prescot last Saturday, Blues manager Lee Nogan dropped himself to the bench and gave a home debut to new signing from Pickering Town, midfielder James Drinkall. While Tom Reid came in for the seemingly injured Neil Wilkinson at right-back.

The Blues were slow out of the blocks, perhaps thinking they were still at Prescot as a constant supply of long balls bi-passed the midfield and made for a dour opening.

It was the seventh-placed visitors, unbeaten on their travels who threatened first. Ian Kilford was caught by a late Drinkall slide challenge, but referee Mr Stalker played advantage, only for Phil Brumwell to barge over Chris Ward seconds later. The resulting 22 yard free-kick saw Kendal's top scorer Lee Ashcroft curl a vicious effort just over David Campbell's crossbar.

At the other end, the leading goalscorer in the Unibond Premier Division, Danny Brunskill beat two men down the Whitby left, 20 yards from goal by the touchline before being cynically upended. The resulting inswinging Brumwell free-kick, found Brunskill unmarked at the far post, but the former Spennymoor striker scissor-kicked the ball wide from close range.

On 34 minutes, Ashcroft had a great chance to put the Cumbrian side ahead, finding room on the left edge of the Seasiders' box, but the former Wigan Athletic forward fired high over the crossbar and into Upgang Lane.

Seconds later, Whitby countered with Drinkall and Ant Ormerod both heading goalwards from 12 yards, but despite the combined effort, the ball went straight at keeper Ben Hinchcliffe.

In a frenetic period just before half-time, Ged Smith sent an angled drive well wide of the mark for Kendal, before Brunskill hammered just off target from 20 yards.

The away side lost Kilford who spent more time on the deck than on his feet in the previous 43 minutes- striker Dave Foster took his place.

Whitby showed first in the second half, three minutes in, Brunskill controlled the ball on his chest in the area before turning and firing just over the top- two minutes later and Drinkall's hooked effort had the same result.

At the other end, Smith's radar was again all to cock, as last season's Kendal Committee player of the year could only threaten the hotels behind the Sea End goal from 20 yards.

An attacking move on the hour from Nogan saw right-winger Dave McTiernan add extra width on that side as Tom Claisse, more accustomed to midfield, made way. The change nearly paid dividends soon after when McTiernan combined with Reid and the latter fired a ferocious low drive from an acute angle straight across the six yard box and a coat of paint wide of Hinchcliffe's far post.

But Whitby did grab the lead just seconds later when Tom Raw put over a deep cross from the left and Robinson steered home a perfectly timed sidefooted volley expertly placed past Hinchcliffe and inside the keeper's left-hand post from the edge of the box.

Ashcroft's own first-time effort at the other end flashed just passed Campbell's far post from the angle, warning the Blues and their noisy support that the job was far from done.

With 22 minutes left, the returning Aron Wilford replaced Drinkall- Wilford dropping into the defence and enabling Matty Appleby to push into midfield.

Kendal countered for the final 10, introducing ex- Preston North End striker Mike Kewley and former Barrow midfielder Scott Redhead, the brother of left-back Craig- Smith and another one-time Preston player, defender Paul Sparrow made way.

However, it was Whitby who crafted the next chance with Reid again surging forward down the right and hammering the ball towards the near post, with Hinchcliffe bravely sacrificing his groin to deflect the ball wide.

Kewley nodded wide of Campbell's near post at the other end, and the same player had a clear shot at goal but poked wide from point blank range just a split second after the linesman held up an offside flag to steady the nerves of Blues followers.

Two minutes from the end, Campbell tipped over an awkward curling effort. And with Mr Stalker playing a significant amount of added time, finger-nails were bitten down to the bone as Whitby defended stoutly. Finally, the whistle blew for time and the Seasiders had ground out the success which paves the way for them to move into the play-off places with three more points on Saturday.