UniBond Premier

24th October 2009

Attendance - 318

Team - Whitby Town: Campbell(c), Hassan, Lyth, Ingram, Leeson, Hanson(Charlton 74), Dalton(A Gildea 71), Hackworth, Brunskill(L Gildea 90), Beadle, Gott. Subs not used: Seaton, Woodhead.

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Tony Hackworth's late goal grabbed the Blues a point on Saturday after Steve Warne's second half double had earlier turned this bottom-half shoot-out on it's head, in wet, blustery conditions at the Turnbull Ground.

Whitby manager Harry Dunn made two changes from the side that hammered Warrington 5-2 in the FA Trophy a week before. Craig Gott, a 19-year-old midfielder signed from Northern League Tow Law debuted and ex-Port Vale defender Christian Hanson returned from holiday, as Liam Gildea and the suspended Leon Scott missed out.

The Seasiders started strongly, and if Ged Dalton's close-range header had gone an inch either side of goalkeeper Adam Sollitt, the hosts would've led inside five minutes. Hackworth then struck a sweet curling effort with the outside of his boot from the edge of the area that pinged back off the Matlock crossbar.

However, the home pressure finally told when Danny Brunskill muscled his way down the left flank and drilled an angled goalbound drive that Sollitt could only parry into the path of Dalton, who forced home from point blank range. It was the teenager's first ever goal in the blue of Whitby after signing from Blyth Spartans in the summer.

The second-bottom Gladiators, managed by Premiership-winning former Blackburn Rovers midfielder Mark Atkins, improved as the half wore on. However, Ross Hannah, may be the league's second-highest goalscorer so far, but the marksman's radar was well off on 34 minutes, skying a 20-yard free-kick high over the bar after a Hanson foul. Warne then came close after beating two players but could only poke weakly straight at keeper Dave Campbell, celebrating his 400th appearance for the Seasiders.

Undeterred, the Derbyshire side kept up the onslaught and probably should've had a penalty in the final minute of the first half, when Andy Leeson slid in on Scott Brough, but referee Matt McGrath ruled the ball was taken. After lengthy treatment, right-back Brough made way for former Scunthorpe defender Lee Featherstone at half-time.

Jimmy Beadle, the Blues' six-goal top scorer from midfield, sent two powerful 30-yard efforts off target, with Hackworth and the overlapping wing-back Ash Lyth having chances blocked, but it was the visitors who found the net, four minutes into the second half. Atkins' men drew level when 11-goal Hannah, turned provider, leaving Hanson trailing down the right flank, before squaring for Warne to finish well- first time from six yards.

Matlock pressure continued and Campbell had to be to the edge of his box quickly to deny Nathan Benger. Moments later, Dalton was dispossessed, enabling yellow shirts to shoot forward on the break, but, skipper for the day Campbell, was again on hand to deny them, this time Hannah brought a top drawer stop from the evergreen 39-year-old.

At the other end, in lieu of a natural left-footer, Hackworth was getting plenty of joy down the Matlock right. But the big ex-Leeds man had his hands on his head, after firing goalwards from the edge of the box, the ball ricocheted off the unlucky Brunskill and flew over from point blank range.

Despite this let-off, it was the away side who turned the tables with 17 minutes remaining. Warne again beat Hanson and Denny Ingram down the problematic left-side of Whitby's defence, before drilling expertly between Campbell's legs for 2-1.

Dunn reacted quickly and replaced Hanson with pacey forward Karl Charlton- another left-sided player, Alex Gildea had replaced Dalton moments earlier.

Gildea's first contribution was to clash with Matlock full-back Adam Yates, though there appeared to be little contact as the youngster went down holding both ears. This provoked some angry exchanges and the match threatened to boil over with Liam King perhaps lucky to only see yellow after a strong retailiatory challenge on the Whitby midfielder late in the game.

Back to the football, and the Blues' persistence ensured the visitors' lead lasted barely seven minutes. It was the influential Hackworth again involved- The Blues' number eight exchanged passes before cutting into the box from the left flank, turning and firing the equaliser low past Sollitt with ten minutes remaining.

With Brunskill, who swapped with Liam Gildea late on, looking very good with his final ball passing, but less so in front of goal, Hackworth taking the frontman role, may well prove a useful option in games to come for Dunn's men.