UniBond Premier

8th April 2006

Attendance - 264

Team - Escritt, Brumwell, Veart, Wilkinson, Wilford, Richards, Atkinson(Claisse 85), Yalcin, Ormerod, Brunskill, Eccles(Radigan 45). Sub not used: Thornton.

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Danny Brunskill’s dramatic 93rd minute equaliser gave Whitby Town a share of the spoils against relegation-threatened Radcliffe Borough and continued the striker’s pursuit of Paul Pitman’s Unibond League scoring record at the Turnbull Ground on Saturday.

The Blues’ top scorer now requires eight more strikes to surpass the Seasiders’ legendary all-time leading marksman, with his latest witnessed by another Whitby star of the 90s, current Guisborough boss Andy Toman who was enjoying the view from the new West Stand. However, the target looked further away than ever when Simon Kelly put the visitors ahead with a 14th minute header.

Whitby manager David Logan made two changes from the 3-2 midweek victory at Ossett Town, with goalkeeper David Campbell and the suspended Scott Nicholson missing out- Dave McTiernan completed his three match ban, while defender Danny Farthing was once again sidelined with a broken nose. Campbell’s long-term understudy Ben Escritt returned to keep goal with Paul Atkinson making a first start since February on the right of midfield. The town bench had an unfamiliar look with home debuts for newly signed ex-Bradford City teenagers Tom Claisse and Darren Thornton and a return for midfielder Neil Radigan.

Whitby's early forward play had a familiar architect though as Brunskill twisted and turned before squaring for Anthony Ormerod to sidefoot over the crossbar from just inside the box with only keeper Danny Hurst to beat.

Radcliffe began to impose themselves on the game and it was no surprise when Paul Scholes lookalike Scott Wilson’s free-kick picked out defender Kelly to nod home completely unmarked at the far post with Escritt rooted to the spot and the colourful away support, many in fancy dress, went wild.

Ten minutes later, and Whitby were lucky not to concede a second when former Hyde striker Steve Foster was allowed all the time in the world to head against the post from point blank range with Escritt beaten.

Ormerod was again looking lively at the other end with Veart’s neat flicked free-kick over the wall, picking out the tricky former Premiership star, who wasted no time in firing past Hurst from close range, only for the well-placed linesman to raise an offside flag.

If Ormerod wasn’t already getting the impression it wasn’t to be his afternoon, the thought must’ve crept into the ex-England youth forward’s mind five minutes before half-time. Moving onto a perfect cross-field ball from Veart, the former Middlesbrough man sent a rasping 20-yard volley flying past the helpless Hurst, only to see the ball smack the keeper’s left hand post, roll along the goal-line and away to safety.

The second half saw the largely anonymous Mark Eccles replaced by Radigan, with Karl Richards moving onto the left flank to accommodate Radigan in midfield. Borough introduced right-back Colin Bell in a defensive move- former Burnley winger Matty O’Neill made way.

These changes pointed the way ahead for the remainder of the match with Whitby trying to keep the ball on the deck and Borough defending deep in their own half of the field.

On 58 minutes, Atkinson’s subtle chip from the edge of the area was just about punched clear by Hurst, but with no Whitby forward following up, the visiting defence were able to clear. Town kept up the pressure and a superb solo run from Brunskill on the hour mark, ended with a fierce near post drive charged down by a member of the Radcliffe backline.

Within moments, at the other end, the dangerous Jody Banim showed his class for the first time, forcing a strong save at his near post from Escritt.

Seconds later, Whitby were back on the attack and good work from Brunskill set up Turkish midfielder Lev Yalcin who poked disappointingly wide from a promising position.

Into the last ten minutes, and the Blues continued to monopolise possession without finding the vital finishing touch. On 81 minutes, Brunskill muscled his way into the Borough box but could only fire over the crossbar from an awkward angle.

Claisse got his first run out at the Turnbull with five minutes remaining, at Atkinson’s expense as Whitby desperately pressed for the leveller, hoping that Claisse would tell. Three minutes from time, the impressively composed Radigan executed a neat lob that was deflected just wide.

As the seconds ticked away, another effort from distance was blocked by the hard-working Borough defence- equally desperate to hang on for three points that would push them out of the bottom three for the first time in months.

However, inside the third minute of injury time, Whitby were awarded a generous free-kick that Veart quickly pumped into the crowded Radcliffe box. As ever, the sturdy frame of BRUNSKILL was there to trap the ball and cut into the six-yard box, powering through before instinctively firing against the underside of the crossbar and into the net.

The roman centurions, the sheik and the pirate were left high and dry as Brunskill rescued a point in the most swashbuckling fashion. As cruel as it was on the away side, and as much as their management and supporters contested the questionable free-kick decision- a share of the points seemed fair in the end, with Town dominating for long periods. Brunskill now requires eight goals from eight matches to achieve his feat, and on this form, few would bet against him.