Team - Liversedge, Craddock(Leeson 71), Robinson, Hassan, Burgess, Lyth(Owens 71), McTiernan(Oakley 89), Beadle, Hackworth(c), Scott, Campbell A. Subs not used: Hopcutt, McIver.
Report - by Andrew Snaith - Debutant Jamie Owens struck within seven minutes of taking the field as Whitby struggled past newly-promoted Mickleover Sports in Saturday's opening game of the season.
Blues' manager Harry Dunn gave a debut to former Hartlepool left-back Mark Robinson, with Dave McTiernan, Nick Liversedge and Darren Craddock beginning their second spells at the Turnbull Ground.
Upgang Lane was bathed in sunshine as the Seasiders threatened first on a glorious Regatta Saturday. McTiernan raced down the left and put over a deep cross that skipper Tony Hackworth nodded just over the top. Then, moments later, Leon Scott produced a low sliding drive that Mickleover keeper Ed Eley did well to smother at his near post.
The Derby side, championship winners for the past two seasons, had chances of their own. Tall striker Karl Ashton notched 38 goals in 42 games last season and rounded Liversedge after sprinting free on the right edge of the Whitby box, only for Ashley Lyth to get back and intercept a tame effort on his own goal line.
Weathering that warning, the Blues led on 12 minutes. It was Andy Campbell, the ex-Middlesbrough marksman who showed Ashton how to do it, beating Eley to a long ball and sidefooting into the empty net from an acute angle.
Sports answered back in style however, as the Evo-Stik League's football impersonated one of its super-light World Cup equivalents. It was Liam Walshe, the Mickleover captain who hammered a 30-yard first-time shot that Liversedge thought was going wide, only for the ball to swerve late and find the roof of the net.
Ashton somehow managed to copy his earlier trick after good work from the lively Martin Smythe, the beanpole marksman's shot again lacked power and Whitby defenders cleared.
Alex Steadman tested Liversedge at his near post early in the second half with a fierce angled drive that the former Darlington man did well to get down and clutch low to his left. Mickleover kept up the pressure and deservedly led after Ashton turned provider, finding Smythe inexplicably unmarked on the far side of Town's six-yard box. The tricky youngster had all the time in the world to pick his spot, and drive low past Liversedge from point-blank range.
Town looked all at sea and with Sports manager Dick Pratley celebrating on the pitch, opponent Dunn considered a double change.
With 20 minutes remaining, Dunn sacrificed centre-half Craddock for stocky 21-year-old frontman Owens, who was making his first appearance since joining from Wearside League Wolviston. Andy Leeson, who travels from Cramlington, near Newcastle for games, arrived late, but took Lyth's place on the right of what was now a back four.
The double switch seemed a real masterstroke when Town levelled within two minutes. McTiernan and Hackworth combined to tee up last season's 15-goal top scorer Jimmy Beadle who drilled the ball past Eley, who could only help the ball inside the bottom right corner of the net.
After a pre-season hit by dry weather, the new-look Blues were finally starting to gel. Scott chipped narrowly over the top, and seconds later, McTiernan nodded just off target with Eley looking less than comfortable under pressure, especially in the air.
That proved to be the case, 12 minutes from time after Campbell's mazy run was ended crudely, just in from the left touchline, some 25 yards from goal. McTiernan stepped up to curl a wicked right-foot effort that Eley could only parry and Owens was on the spot to turn home his first Blues' goal.
Eley, put his gloves to his head, but the ex-Grimsby keeper's team-mates were far from finished. Pratley threw on all three permitted substitutes for the last eight minutes. Smythe slammed a speculative effort over the top from 20 yards but with three minutes injury time announced there were nervous faces on the Whitby bench and in the crowd.
McTiernan made way for another newcomer, teenager Steve Oakley, who stands six and a half feet tall. The centre-half picked on someone his own size with the equally-imposing Ashton, who won their first aerial battle. But when the former Derby County frontman nodded wide deep into added time, Sports were spent and the final whistle blew.
Town could celebrate an opening day success for the first time in five years- on that day Scott Nicholson and Anthony Ormerod were on target in a 2-0 win over Ilkeston. This victory was far-less comfortable, but with new faces and few friendlies, this latest Whitby team should and must improve, especially with tough trips to Worksop and Buxton coming up.
Dunn was his usual unflappable self, adding after the game: "We were good in spells and in other spells, not so clever. But the main thing is to win the game. It's been a while since we've won on the first day, so it's nice to get three points more than we had last year."
