UniBond Premier

3rd November 2007

Attendance - 269

Team - Campbell, Burton, Brumwell, Appleby, Lyth, Hartas, A Raw, Thompson(Claisse 82), Gildea(Adams 86), Brunskill, Charlton. Sub not used: Andrews.

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Two goals on his debut from midfielder Andrew Thompson helped Whitby to a priceless 2-1 win over struggling Leek Town at the Turnbull Ground on Saturday, in temporary assistant manager Graham Clark's first match on the touchline.

Thompson, signed in midweek from Conference North Blyth Spartans, and ex-Spartans assistant Clark weren't the only first timers for the Blues, as former forward Liam Gildea made his return as one of three changes from the side humbled 6-1 by leaders Witton, the previous weekend.

Third-bottom Leek made a decent start and could've grabbed the lead inside nine minutes when Louis Briscoe spotted Dave Campbell off his line, and chipped inches wide from 20 yards.

However, within three minutes the Blues led with a goal truly out of the blue. Gildea was fouled some 25 yards from goal, and up stepped Thompson to curl a perfectly-placed free-kick past helpless keeper Matt Cooper and into the roof of the Leek net.

Moments later, a driven right-wing cross was turned in by Karl Charlton, only for the linesman Andy Wood's flag to deny the Seasiders a second goal.

On the half hour mark, a short corner was played through the legs of two Whitby defenders, only for curly-haired full-back Paul Booth to explain his defensive status, with an unconvincing swing of his right leg sending the ball ballooning over the Blues' crossbar from six yards out.

A couple of minutes later another debutant, this time for the visitors, ex-Poland A midfielder Sebastian Krupa tried a 30-yard lob which landed on the roof of Campbell's net.

But it was Whitby who struck a second time, four minutes before half-time. Danny Brunskill's forceful run saw the big marksman beat three players before floating over a right-footed cross for that man Thompson to pop up at the far post and nod home unchallenged for his and the Seasiders' second.

Leek boss Paul Moore, himself only in charge of his second game for the Staffordshire side delivered a furious half-time speech before storming from the dressing room in disgust. However, little changed and Thompson had two chances right at the start of the second half to grab his hat-trick.

First, under pressure from a covering defender, the tall former Tow Law man sidefooted wide, then, a much harder chance, saw Thompson firing well over from 30 yards.

Moore then sacrificed midfield man Steve Brannan for striker Oliver Edwards as the Midlanders struggled to get back into the game. Within two minutes of his entrance, Edwards forced Campbell to dive forwards and smother a lively low near post drive. The hosts' man of the match Ashley Lyth then got in bravely ahead of Karl Brown just six yards out, as the ex-Derby man looked set to head a certain goal.

At the other end, Thompson unselfishly played in Brunskill, whose goal drought continued as a tame shot from the edge of the box was charged down. But the former Spennymoor marksman retained possession, and muscled his way to the near post before teeing up Gildea, whose effort was halted by Booth's sliding challenge.

What the away side may view as a turning point occurred on the hour when Karl Charlton deliberately handled just outside the area whilst on the ground, stopping Dean Canning in full flow. Referee Mr Dicicco decided Whitby defenders were back and the offence warranted just a yellow card- Brown wastefully booted the resulting free-kick high over the crossbar.

Charlton's effort was smothered, and Lyth, on a rare surge forward, saw his dangerous low right-wing ball across the six yard box cleared for a corner, which the centre-half was inches away from heading goalwards.

Leek were then gifted a route back into the match, with a penalty decision that left everyone but linesman Wood scratching their head. The official spotted a shirt pull by Lyth in a crowded box despite no appeals from visiting fans or players alike, but after lengthy protests from the outraged Whitby players and amid utter bemusement, Briscoe stepped up to slot just out of Campbell's grasp for 2-1.

Cooper then thwarted Thompson one more time, fending away an angled drive from the edge of his area. Leaving the field to warm applause, the impressive newcomer made way for another recent signing Tom Claisse with eight minutes remaining.

But from now on, it was all Leek and the West Midlands club could and should have turned the game on it's head in a frenetic spell within seconds of the change.

First, Campbell saved superbly point-blank from Briscoe, who then surged through with ease for a second time, and again, the veteran stopper reacted well to push a near-post drive wide. Leek enjoyed more success down the Whitby left when a driven ball when from one side of the penalty area to the other, where the unmarked Edwards had an eternity to fire goalwards from the edge of the box, but instead hammered dismally across Campbell and high and wide of the keeper's far post.

With five minutes remaining, Briscoe then sent an even more wayward effort into orbit after doing well to cut in from the left flank. And as the contest threatened to boil over, Whitby's Dave Hartas and Leek's Canning became the fifth and sixth players to go in Dicicco's notebook, for a late challenge and a retaliatory shove in the chest respectively.

Late on, Brunskill followed in after Cooper parried a ferocious shot from distance, only for Damien O'Leary's offside flag to bring celebrations to an end. But moments later, Whitby could enjoy just their second victory in nine outings.