UniBond Premier

6th September 2008

Attendance - 302

Team - Liversedge, Brumwell, Lyth, Burgess, Forster, Beadle, Huggins, Burton(Nogan 65), Raw(Hackworth 65), Brunskill, Charlton(Garvie 75). Subs not used: Thompson, Escritt.

Report - by Andrew Snaith - A second half penalty miss ensured Whitby's revival continued at the Turnbull Ground on Saturday.

Heavy rain meant the playing surface required two inspections, at 8am and 11.30am to finally be passed playable. With groundsman Eric Wilson and volunteers deserving of high praise for getting the match played at all, let alone providing a field that was, on the whole, conducive to good football.

Whitby made one change from the side that enjoyed the first win of the season in emphatic fashion last Wednesday. Ashley Lyth recovered from a head injury, which led to him collapsing on the field during last weekend's defeat to FC United at Gigg Lane, and replaced the unavailable Alex Janes in a straight swap at left-back.

The Blues dominated the first half without seriously challenging Lee Jones in the Nantwich goal. Neat play from Ashley Lyth and Karl Charlton down the left culimnated in the latter causing chaos with a looping cross but Andy Taylor reacted well as last season's top scorer Danny Brunskill prepared to pull the trigger.

On the half hour, another Whitby loanee, York City midfielder Jimmy Beadle, saw his hook goalwards from the edge of the area deflected toward the roof of the net, but Jones was able to take the ball above his head, relatively comfortably.

At the other end, Griggs' optimistic 25-yard effort was charged down, before Whitby had three good chances in as many minutes. First, Brunskill's low drive from distance was deflected inches wide, then captain Richard Forster's goalbound header lacked pace at the far post and Jones collected, and finally, Brunskill unleashed another effort from the edge of the box that the keeper clutched low down.

The visitors almost snatched the lead just before half time when the club's tenth pre-season signing, forward Liam Shotton, on the break, forced a good parry from Liversedge at his near post after good work from Griggs.

Whitby may well have gone in feeling aggrieved to still be on level terms, as despite not carving out too many clear-cut opportunities, the Seasiders had the away side on the back foot for much of the opening 45 minutes. The Nantwich backline, marshalled by 38-year-old former Shrewsbury veteran Darren Tinson, rarely reached the halfway line such was their depth, as the Blues practically monopolised possession and territorial advantage.

Two minutes into the second half, Whitby did create a golden opportunity when a beautifully weighted Forster through ball released Charlton who drove an angled drive across goal which Jones got down well to smother. Brunskill then hammered a dangerously placed central free-kick 20 yards out, inches over the top.

Out of nothing, Griggs forced a finger tip save from Liversedge with an explosive effort, and sub Dave Walker curled a free-kick just wide after a challenge from behind by Kevin Burgess just outside the box.

The home side introduced experienced duo Lee Nogan and Tony Hackworth in place of Tom Raw and Andy Burton and Hackworth hooked just off target with his quickly taken first touch from 20 yards.

But the visitors nearly stole the lead with what looked a generous penalty after Griggs went down just inside the area when shadowed by two Whitby players. But the Dabbers' second-highest post-war goalscorer drilled his spot kick against the upright as Liversedge dived full-length to his left but may not have got there.

This seemed to inspire the Blues with Nogan patiently teeing up Charlton when well placed himself, but the youngster snatched at the ball at the far post and sliced his kick wide. Another lively winger Sam Garvie replaced Charlton and looked the Seasiders' best hope of a goal with a few dangerous runs late on. However, only an unconvincing effort on the turn straight at Jones came despite all Whitby's possession and the loud support of the crowd on the ground's far side.