UniBond Premier Division

19th January 2008

Attendance - 323

Team - Campbell, Lyth, Janes, Appleby(Claisse 64), Tobin, Pallender, Burton, Brumwell, Ormerod, Brunskill(Thompson 79), Charlton(Newby 85).

Report - Two goals from leading scorer Danny Brunskill helped Whitby to their first away win of 2008 on Saturday, while also securing a double over Stamford on their first ever visit to the Lincolnshire outpost.

Joint player-manager Phil Brumwell started himself in midfield, with defender Alex Janes and goalkeeper Dave Campbell both returning from knee problems- Campbell's understudy Mark Bell was absent following a works injury, with midfielders Tom Claisse and Andy Thompson dropped to the bench.

With local matches, plus Football League neighbours' Peterborough United's trip to Barnet postponed, the Daniels enjoyed their highest crowd of the season, but most of them were disappointed when the visitors grabbed the lead inside four minutes.

Karl Charlton flicked on for Danny Brunskill to sidestep one defender before slotting a 12-yard shot past Stamford keeper Chris Sanna. Things could and maybe should have got better for Town when Lee Marshall inexplicably stuck an arm in the air at the near post when defending a right-wing cross, the outstretched limb appeared to touch the ball, but female referee Sian Massey saw no infringement.

On 17 minutes, a beautiful one-touch Whitby move saw Anthony Ormerod and Brunskill combine to release Charlton, whose angled drive was partially blocked by a brilliant last ditch sliding challenge, which enabled Sanna to save.

Moments later, Martin Wormall's lively shot from nothing saw Stamford test Campbell for the first time, but the experienced stopper clutched the ball comfortably above his head. As the Seasiders continued to split the home defence at will, Brunskill muscled his way through on 24 minutes. The big striker hurdled two robust challenges, and even rounded the keeper, but faced with an impossible shooting angle at the near post, the ex-Durham City forward laid back for Charlton, whose first-time drive from the edge of the box was well saved by Sanna.

Charlton rifled over from distance eight minutes later, but earned an assist of sorts, to Whitby's second nine minutes before half-time. The lively 20-year-old winger was tripped by ex-Leicester City defender Steve Julian between 25 and 30 yards from goal. A free-kick was awarded and step forward skipper Matty Appleby to curl a perfectly struck shot over the wall and into the top-right corner of the net, leaving Sanna rooted to the spot.

Almost immediately at the other end, Campbell blocked bravely with his head point-blank at the near post from Wormall. But Whitby could easily have gone in three goals to the good at the break. Another Appleby free-kick from similiar range was this time driven powerfully and heavily deflected on its way through to Sanna, who did well to change direction late and smother the ball low to his left.

Stamford manager Graham Drury reportedly gave his players the 'hairdryer treatment' at the interval, and it showed as the Daniels, who may have been further inspired by their fans' half-time penalty success with this reporter the only Whitbyite on target, came out fighting early in the second half. Four minutes after the restart, the unlucky Wormall saw his goalbound 18-yard drive strike Whitby's Steve Tobin on the back, allowing Town to clear.

Just before the hour, came the home side's big moment when Leon Mettam's pinpoint cross from the right flank, was headed against the crossbar by the onrushing Marshall. Drury threw on his last two subs following his a first change midway through the first half. With Whitby's other boss Graham Clark introducing the younger legs of 20-year-old Tom Claisse in place of fellow midfield man Appleby moments later.

And the Yorkshiremen all but wrapped up a fine victory, over a side who had lost just twice at home all season, on 76 minutes. Charlton's inswinging cross was nodded on by Ormerod for Brunskill to nip in ahead of Sanna and head home his 23rd goal of the season from close range. No coincidence that the same three impressive players were involved in another fine piece of Whitby football.

To their credit, Stamford battled on and netted an 89th minute consolation when substitute Robert Hughes' left-wing cross fell neatly for Mettam to hammer an unstoppable effort into the roof of the Whitby net from the edge of the area. This seemed to buoy the home side who had a fair amount of possession and were given ample opportunity to set up a nervy finale after a marathon spell of added time.

But Town held out to pick up a deserved three points from their longest away trip of the campaign so far, which should give confidence for Tuesday's twice-postponed League Cup clash with Frickley Athletic. That is providing the rain can stay away long enough for groundsman Eric Wilson to work his magic on the Turnbull pitch.