Report -Whitby kept up their bright pre-season form with a comfortable win in the North York Moors derby at Pickering on Tuesday night.
Three new players found the scoresheet as the Seasiders' played the ball around neatly on a slick pitch, otherwise unaffected by heavy rain in the area.
They were rewarded on seven minutes when Dave McTiernan was blatantly tripped in the box and Mark Robinson, who was at the club briefly last season, stepped up to slot home the resulting penalty.
The same combination came close to finding a second goal when McTiernan was dumped on the turf again by Pickering skipper Tommy Adams. The free-kick, just to the right of the six yard box, was laid back to Robinson who forced a good low save from Chris Barratt.
At the other end, Dave Watson beat keeper Tom Courtney to a long ball, rounding the ex-Gretna stopper, but the hosts were quickly closed down and the move ended with Stevie Baxter hooking high and wide from the edge of the box.
Whitby were soon back and on the attack- lively new signing Callum Martin slammed over the top on 35 minutes and fired a little closer but still too high from distance, moments later.
Andy Campbell then came close twice in four minutes. The former England Under 21 international first threatened with a cross turned shot that dropped onto the roof of the net from 18 yards, then forced a good parry from Barratt with a low drive.
Left-sided midfielder Robinson came close once again in the final minute but couldn't keep his shot down as it slammed onto the roof of the low-level corrugated metal stand behind the goal.
Confusingly, for members of the press, two number 15s combined for Whitby's second goal early in the second half. Using more than one kit, it was substitute Ryan Fletcher who crossed from the right for number-sake Rob McDermid to use his towering frame to nod home a diving header unchallenged from 12 yards.
Fletcher almost turned predator six minutes later but his sliding boot from a left-wing cross could only deflect the ball into Barratt's clutches. But, as it was, the Seasiders had just moments to wait before the killer third goal.
McDermid was the architect this time, playing in the impressive Martin to speed down the right wing and cross for another sub Jake Faichney to slot into the roof of the net, with Pickering's defence again AWOL.
The hosts, two levels below Whitby, came agonisingly close to ruining another clean sheet in the final minute. Full-back Alex White stuck out a leg from a left-wing cross, only to accidentally cause sub-keeper Matt Calvert to parry low down and then spread himself terrifically to save with his head from Kingsley Wetherald following up.
After the match, Tommy Cassidy was again happy with his side's progress, he told the Whitby Gazette:
"Pickering are a decent side at their level and it was an even game in many ways- they had a lot of the ball.
"But we're still getting to know each other so I was happy with the commitment and attitude,and that's what we need at the club.
Cassidy is clearly pleased with the application of his new-look younger side, with three teenagers signed from Hartlepool United- Callum Martin, Billy Blackford and Mark Ellison signed at the weekend:
"I got into a bit of bother with some people saying I let Beadle go, I let Hackworth go and this and that, but we need a new vibrancy at this club.
"It's nothing against those players, but we need young vibrant guys coming into the club with enthusiasm and I saw that tonight. It wasn't the greatest performance but we knocked the ball around well at times. What pleased me was the fitness level was good and things are looking quite optimistic."
However, it's plain to see the rebuilding at the Turnbull Ground is far from over, as the former Newcastle United midfielder added:
"I must have said it 25,000 times- we need a centre forward. A focal point, a big lad and we probably need another very experienced midfield player. We're all right at the back but further forward, we need two more players.
"I'm talking about someone 30 years old, who's played at a good level, who will dictate the match and will dictate to the team. We have a lot of young lads, but sometimes you need an old head."
