UniBond Premier

26th December 2007

Attendance - 392

Team - Campbell, Lyth(Brumwell 45), Gordon(Ormerod 77), Appleby, Janes, Pallender, Claisse, Thompson, Gildea, Brunskill, Charlton. Sub not used: Tobin.

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Rusty Whitby Town were put to the sword by third-bottom North Ferriby United after a dismal Boxing Day display in front of the season's biggest crowd at the Turnbull Ground.

Three and a half weeks without a league fixture seemed to catch up with the lacklustre Blues, who found themselves two goals down at half-time, a Danny Brunskill wonder strike in injury time, gave the scoreline a more flattering look by the end.

Whitby made three changes from the side that reached the last four of the North Riding Cup in midweek- Brunskill returned from a one match suspension, and there were recalls for previously cup-tied Lee Pallender, and fit-again fellow defender Ashley Lyth.

Within five minutes, there were appeals for a penalty as Town's Andy Thompson went down under a sliding challenge. Two minutes later at the other end, Ferriby's Craig Hall went to ground in the opposite area as Blues' keeper Dave Campbell dived at the midfielder's feet, but again referee Mr Davison refused to award a spot kick.

Campbell reacted well to fend away Russell Fry's fearsome point-blank effort at head height. The visitors had been first to any loose balls against a tired-looking Town and deservedly took the lead in style on 28 minutes. A throw from the left bounced once before Gary Bradshaw fired a superbly struck half-volley past a helpless Campbell from the edge of Whitby's box. Campbell again had to fend away a dangerous Fry effort at eye level after a mazy run from the forward.

The Seasiders finally threatened moments later, when Karl Charlton outpaced Ferriby's own Andy Thompson, only for Thompson's Whitby namesake to chip straight into the hands of keeper Antoni Pecora.

In strong gales, United left-back Michael Price tried a speculative but well-executed lob from 35 yards that Campbell caught over his head quite comfortably in the end.

Lyth was unlucky to find himself booked for obstructing a Ferriby player just inside his own half, after taking an elbow to the head which knocked the ex-Leicester player unconscious. Lyth refused a stretcher and got to his feet, but played on for just two more minutes before player-coach Phil Brumwell took his place.

Brumwell will then have been disappointed when in first-half injury time, a simple chip to the far post from his side of the field, was back-headed across goal and into the top corner of the net by former Scarborough player Paul Foot.

The second half began slowly but Whitby forced their way back into the contest on the hour when Dean Gordon's outswinging corner was forced goalwards by Brunskill, and when Pecora could only parry, Town's leading scorer was on hand to bury the rebound.

Brunskill was then adjudged to have been pushed by Foot on the edge of the box, but Gordon's cheeky chipped free-kick was easily taken by Pecora.

Two minutes later, the pacey Joel Hartley found himself clear on the edge of the Whitby penalty area, only to hammer wastefully high and wide. With 13 minutes remaining, Anthony Ormerod replaced Gordon, as Town threw three up front for a final siege. And with his first touch, Ormerod hooked a fiery shot just over from 20 yards.

However, a loose pass from Tom Claisse with five minutes left, helped put the result beyond doubt when Bradshaw broke, and saw his driven cross only blocked as far as Hall, who rifled home unmarked from close range.

As tackles flew in from both sides throughout, Hall raked his studs down the back of Brunskill's foot, enraging the Whitby striker towards the end of the match.

But by injury time, with the cause clearly lost, Brunskill had regained his composure, and nonchalantly scored the goal of the game with a perfectly placed 30-yard curling effort from near the far touchline that nestled in the roof of the net.

In the end, it was too little too late, and Town will need to show more energy at Ossett Town in West Yorkshire at the weekend. Though Brumwell and his team should take some encouragement from Ossett's suprise 1-0 home defeat to neighbouring bottom-club Frickley Athletic, also on Boxing Day.