UniBond Premier

26th December 2006

Attendance - 507

Team - Campbell Reid Brumwell Appleby(Thomas) Farthing Wilkinson McTiernan(Nogan) Robinson Raw Brunskill Ormerod (Richards)

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Town gave their supporters the perfect delayed christmas present with a 4-1 victory over North Ferriby United on Boxing Day to end their poor recent run at the Turnbull Ground and claim fourth place in the division.

Blues manager Lee Nogan made four changes to the side that suffered a 2-0 reverse at home to Ossett Town in their last outing. Defender Aron Wilford was out suspended for picking up five yellow cards since the start of the season, goalkeeper Jack Norton has returned to Darlington on a month's loan, Stephen Thomas was fit enough only for the subs bench and fellow midfielder James Drinkall missed out altogether. In came Neil Wilkinson, just-about-fit-again keeper Dave Campbell, assistant-manager Graham Robinson and striker Tom Raw returned from a one-game ban. Teenager Tom Claisse completed his two-game lay-off for a straight red card at the start of the month.

Most of the 507 crowd- Town's highest since the festive visit of Bridlington in 2004- were celebrating within three minutes as Whitby opened the scoring early on. Early pressure saw the Seasiders win a free-kick in line with the left edge of the Ferriby penalty area but some 20 yards from goal. Step up Matty Appleby, the Blues skipper curled a fine right-foot effort round the helpless wall and wide of former Scarborough keeper Antoni Pecora's outstretched right glove.

But the joy was shortlived for the hosts as their 1997 FA Vase victims hit back almost immediately. Joel Hartley's right-wing cross was laid off by Joel Hartley for Chris Bolder to drive low past Campbell from the edge of the Whitby box.

Hartley then saw a vicious effort of his own, caught at the second attempt by Campbell.

At the other end, a 20-yard Brunskill drive bounced awkwardly in front of Pecora, who just about managed to clear.

But Town kept up the pressure with Appleby turning provider to cross for Robinson loop a header over Pecora from 12 yards- the South African's milestone 100th goal for the Blues.

Despite Whitby creating the better chances, the visitors enjoyed a lot of midfield possession with their only weakness being in the vital last third of the field. Sam Agar spotted Campbell off his line but chipped just over the bar from 25 yards. Two minutes later, Andy Thompson's 30 yard half-volley's also cleared the crossbar.

However, it was the Seasiders who dominated the rest of the half. On 23 minutes, Tom Raw popped up at the far post, firing goalwards only for Pecora to pull off a superb point-blank save. Two minutes later, Raw and Brunskill linked up superbly to release Appleby who rounded Pecora, only for his opposite number Paul Foot to head the resulting shot off the goal-line.

On the half hour, Raw's pace took his past the static Ferriby backline, but Town's second top-scorer poked wide. Three minutes later, Robinson fizzed a fierce 25-yard shot inches off target.

Seven minutes before the break, McTiernan's left-wing cross-come-shot was slid off the line by a visiting defender, with a succession of efforts pinballing around the Ferriby box before eventually the danger was cleared.

The second half opened with Brunskill uncharacteristically heading wide from point blank range. While at the other end, Gary Bradshaw, joint second-leading scorer with Brunskill in the division, fired over from the edge of the Town box after Tom Reid was beaten by the ball's bounce on the halfway line.

Karl Richards made a welcome return after a month-long absence with a knee injury on 56 minutes, as Ant Ormerod made way.

Within ten minutes, Whitby had a 3-1 lead. Phil Brumwell's free-kick found Brunskill who looked to have nothing on at all, before unleashing a 25 yard piledriver that nearly broke the roof of the net as it flew past Pecora.

Three minutes later, Bradshaw forced a superb finger-tip save at the far post from Campbell.

Ferriby made a desperate double change to try and claw their way back in, but Town put the result beyond doubt with eight minutes left. Reid beat subsitute Leon Wainman down the right and centered for Raw to fire low inside Wainman's right-hand post from just inside the box.

Wainman then wasted an easy chance to reduce the arrears, firing wide from close range. Nogan brought himself into the fray with five minutes left to ensure no miracles took place despite the time of year- Appleby left the field to the singing of his name by the noisy Town Barmy Army to the tune of 70s disco classic 'Daddy Cool'. The town manager linked up well with Raw who crossed for Richards cut in from the left and curl a right-footed shot just wide of Pecora's right-hand post.

At the other end, another Wainman effort was off target, before Steve Thomas, who replaced McTiernan midway earlier in the half, drove a curling effort of his own over the top after Nogan and Raw again combined.