UniBond Premier

3rd September 2005

Attendance - 264

Team - Campbell, Atkinson, Veart, Farthing, Nicholson, Richards, Ashton(Wells 70), Brown, Raw, Ormerod, Hegarty(McTiernan 75). Sub not used: Burke.

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Teenage wingers Nick Hegarty and Paul Ashton signed from Grimsby Town on work experience helped bury Whitby's scoreless winless seven days from hell on Saturday.

Right-sided Hegarty and Ashton on the left gave the Blues an added spark that brought the best from their team-mates who fought out a fine 2-1 victory over Matlock town at the Turnbull Ground.

With defender Chris Hudson beginning a three-match suspension, Nick Scaife unavailable and Graham Robinson struggling with a knee injury; captain Scott Nicholson dropped back to partner Danny Farthing at centre-half with the two newcomers thrown straight into the action on either flank- Ant Ormerod made his first start of the season alongside Tom Raw up front.

However, it was the visitors from Derbyshire who threatened first inside two minutes. Rocky White, the scorer of the winning goal in last season's challenge cup final at the Turnbull, saw his low 25 yard drive deflected well wide. From the resulting corner, teenage defender Danny Bostock headed just past Blues keeper Dave Campbell's right-hand post.

The powerful Ian Clarke then made one of his trademark runs from deep, driving over the Whitby crossbar but Campbell took a no-risk approach and got a touch on the ball as it flew over him.

Despite the away side's bright start, it was Whitby fans who had their heads in their hands wondering how their side weren't ahead on 20 minutes. A speedy breakaway down the right saw a deep cross find Andy Brown at the far post, who headed perfectly across goal only for Ormerod to poke against the underside of the crossbar from six yards out.

But they need not have worried as the Seasiders six minutes later. Some fine work down the right by Hegarty fed Ormerod who in turn picked out Raw who made no mistake sliding home from close range.

From the on it was all Matlock and Dave Campbell had to be alert to push Gary Webster’s first time shot wide of the Whitby stopper’s left-hand post.

A rash Nicholson challenge then gave the away side another chance to answer back, but Kris Bowler curled a tame effort straight at Campbell.

With five minutes remaining, White tried an ambitious lob from 30 yards, but the ball dropped well wide of the target. Frustrated player-manager Gareth Williams, who was earlier booked for putting his frustration into less-than-complimentary words towards the referee, sacrificed himself just before the break. The former Scarborough striker was replaced by left-sided midfielder Richard Taylor, showing the Gladiators are suffering the same kind of strike problems as the home side.

Webster found time before the break for another effort from distance, his powerful 20-yard piledriver flying inches wide, the closest the away side had come to finding the target.

The second period saw the Upgang Lane end under more pressure as Whitby stepped up a gear after the break. Within two minutes of the restart, Craig Veart’s arching free-kick was headed just wide by Ormerod, who perhaps should’ve done better after finding space at the far post. Moments later, and it was the Ashton and Hegarty show as the two debutants exchanged crossfield passes that left the visitors trailing in their wake- the move culminated in Ashton firing a dangerous low ball across Matlock’s six yard box, but no-one was on hand to claim the final touch- the story of the last week some might add.

Just after the hour mark, more quick passing saw Raw time his run to perfection and find himself one on one with Richmond- the local lad took the shot first time from all of 30 yards but the shot was just too high.

There was a warning for the Blues not to relax too much within seconds as play swept to the other end- a left-wing cross caused chaos in the Whitby box, with Campbell doing well to claw the loose ball away from his own goal-line, at full stretch.

In a frenetic spell, Raw then caused more havoc for the Matlock backline, skipping along the by-line and pulling back for Karl Richards’ stretching foot to deflect the ball straight at the fortunate Andy Richmond.

The former Chesterfield keeper then earned his own luck on 75 minutes when substitute David Wells cut inside from the left and fired a low angled drive that Richmond clutched to his body. Earlier, Wells replaced the popular Hegarty to boos from some of the crowd, who were disappointed to see the back of the lively teenager.

Further anger from the crowd greeted the departure of Ashton for McTiernan with ten minutes remaining, though in fairness, both newcomers were beginning to show signs of fatigue after some amazing moments earlier in the game.

The Blues faithful were soon back in carnival mood on 86 minutes as their heroes doubled the lead. Ormerod showed his skills dancing along the by-line before teeing up Brown who shinned home from 16 marks- surely the best mis-kick of his career from normally one of the cleanest strikers of the ball in the Whitby ranks.

But, was their joy still to prove premature, as Matlock powered back into the match just a minute later. There looked nothing on as Clarke advanced some 30 yards from goal, but the combative midfielder showed why he has found the step up from the local leagues so easily with a bullet strike from the edge of box that gave Campbell no chance whatsoever.

The Blues held possession well, with McTiernan showing his trademark skills by the corner flag. The visitors were afforded just one last chance, but White struck a speculative off-balance drive well wide, with only the occupiers of the housing behind the Sea End goal in any real danger.