UniBond Premier Division

25th September 2004

Attendance - 312

Team - Escritt, Obern(L Gildea 80), Veart, Farthing, Linighan, Bishop, Jackson(Atkinson 77), P Campbell, Ormerod, Robinson, Nicholson. Sub not used: McTiernan.

Report - by Andrew Snaith - It's now five wins out of six under Dave Logan for the Seasiders after a dramatic comeback in this five-goal thriller. Whitby started brightly with some brilliant saves from Matlock keeper Gavin Saxby keeping the scores level. However, the Gladiators from Derbyshire opened the scoring on 14 minutes when Ian Clarke sidefooted home from close range. Matlock have won their last three away clashes, and looked set to make it four when Michael Sisson spotted Ben Escritt off his line and chipped home supremely from 30 yards for 2-0.

Saxby kept the Midlands side in it before the break, with Robinson and Nicholson both coming close.

Ten minutes into the second half, Robinson saw his shot charged down after Linighan's turn and shot went loose. From the resulting corner, Nicholson nodded against Saxby's right-hand post.

As the pressure built, the Blues finally pulled a goal back just after the hour when Ormerod's right wing cross was headed past Saxby and into the bottom left corner by Robinson.

Paul Atkinson replaced Neil Jackson on the right wing and defender Mark Obern made way for striker Liam Gildea as Whitby laid siege.

With nine minutes remaining, Atkinson's 25 yard bolt from the blue was tipped wide by Saxby at full stretch. Then five minutes later, came a golden chance for the Seasiders as a long ball bounced kindly for Ormerod. The ex-Middlesbrough striker found himself one on one with Saxby, only for the Gladiators keeper to block with his legs.

As time ran out, Whitby pushed everyone forward and finally levelled things up three minutes from time when Nicholson rose to head home Veart's umpteenth corner emphatically home for 2-2.

However, there was more to come as the Blues fans celebrated, with just a minute left, one of many scrambles in the Matlock box saw Nicholson jump with his back to goal and bicycle volley into the roof of the net from 12 yards for a shock winner.

The crowd erupted, as Logan's side stole an incredible three points, their run now extended still further as the former Mansfield man continued to push his claim for a long-term role.