Team - Liversedge, Leeson, Robinson, Hassan, Oakley, Hardman, Scott, Lambert, Owens, Campbell A, Brown. Subs: Beadle, Campbell D, Craddock, Burgess.
Report - The Blues won their second successive friendly on Saturday by just one goal, despite being four up at half-time. The Seasiders were without unavailable foursome Dave MacTiernan, Ashley Lyth, Darren Craddock and skipper Tony Hackworth.
Northern League Norton, quarter-finalists in the FA Vase came close early on when ex-Blue Andy Burton dug the ball across the face of Nick Liversedge's goal. However, inside ten minutes, it was the visitors who led. Debutant Jamie Owens fought his way past two defenders at the near post before poking the ball into the opposite top corner.
Another ten minutes brought another Whitby goal. Owens again, this time with a bit of luck, saw his scuffed free-kick roll under ex-Darlington goalkeeper Jim Provett. Leon Scott then got in on the act after Provett reacted superbly to block a first effort, the ball cannoned back off the keeper for the midfielder to nod home from close range.
There was even time for a fourth Whitby goal before the interval. Former Middlesbrough star Andy Campbell started and finished the move, picking out overlapping right-back Andy Leeson who returned a pinpoint cross for Campbell to volley point-blank past Provett.
The second half saw a resurgent Norton take the field and come close early on before reducing the arrears. There was a touch of offside as replacement keeper Dave Campbell parried the ball into the path of Danny Earl who made no mistake from two yards out.
At the other end, Owens, a new recruit from Wearside League Wolviston, swore at himself after taking advantage of a breakdown in communication, only to chip wide. Callum Brown then slid just over the top at full stretch from a tough angle.
Steve Huggins kept up the home side's pressure, the former Seasider found his turn and shot drifting just too high of the target. However, there was no question of the net buging moments later- Jamie Clarke, the prolific ex-Spennymoor marksman, poked into the roof of the net from the edge of the box for 4-2.
And when 6'5" centre-half Steve Oakley could only nod into his own net, defending an innocous cross from the left, the comeback was on for the Ancients. Earl had two shots cleared off the goal-line and Campbell produced a top parry to deny Clarke's low angled drive.
At the other end, Campbell's namesake Andy, should have wrapped up the result when clear one on one with Norton's sub-goalie John McDonald, but the second half replacement stayed big and made a good reaction stop.
Town manager Harry Dunn was understandably much more pleased with his side's first half display, stating: "I was very disappointed with the second half but a win's a win. It was another good work-out and, in one respect, I was pleased Norton did as well as they did after the break. Conrad's(Hillerby) team came out and played very well.
Dunn was also pleased with the form of bustling new signing Owens, revealing: "I thought Jamie did exceptionally well. I was very very pleased with him.". But the Blues' boss added there would be more signings to come.
"I'll be going to a couple of friendlies and seeing if some business can be done and Mitch(Cook) will also be sending four or five Scarborough Town players up to the Pickering friendly for us to look at on Tuesday night."
