UniBond Premier

8th September 2007

Attendance - 293

Team - Debbage, Burton, Janes, Appleby, Hartas, Lyth, Ormerod(Adams 75), Raw(Hardman 82), Hackworth, Brunskill, Charlton(Thornton 90).

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Tony Hackworth netted his first three Whitby goals in the same amazing match, as Town extended their winning run to three games on Saturday at the Turnbull Ground.

Visitors Stamford, in their first Unibond Premier season after being transferred from the Southern League, conceded four times in the only other meeting between the sides in the FA Trophy eight seasons ago. And the Lincolnshire side were soon having flashbacks when Whitby opened the scoring after just six minutes. Skipper Matty Appleby's 25 yard diagonal ball from the right was turned into the roof of the net from close range despite a good touch from keeper Chris Sanna, by the unlikely figure of left-back Alex Janes.

On 16 minutes, a drilled left-wing cross was slid just wide by the stretching Andy Burton at the far post. Blues keeper James Debbage had to be alert moments later at the other end, the 18-year-old keeper tipping over a goalbound near post cross-shot. The resulting corner saw former Leicester City defender Steve Julian, who spent much of the first half tussling with Hackworth, head over the Whitby crossbar.

The Lincolnshire side kept up the pressure to lead in the 20th minute when Anthony Ormerod appeared to be fouled just outside his own box, however referee Mr Khatib played on and Martin Wormall found himself unmarked to slot past Debbage from close range.

However, the ex-Middlesbrough forward was to make almost immediate amends. A long ball over the top was brought-down breathtakingly with one touch by former England Youth star Ormerod, who was left clear to crisply find the net with his second.

Just after the half hour as the game's open nature continued, Stamford levelled again with a long ball of their own. Despite a suggestion of offside, Leon Mettam was able to gallop free of the Town defence, into the Blues' six yard box and tuck the ball low past Debbage.

The common theme remained and the Seasiders once again grabbed the lead within six minutes as Hackworth this time beat the marginal offside trap and slid the ball under Sanna for 3-2.

The away side once again looked ready to tie the scores, with Kevin Childs heading right across goal at the far post from a left-wing cross, before the men in red made an early first change. Defender Scott Taylor made way for evergreen striker Tony Battersby, the scorer of 20 Football League goals for Lincoln City and nearly the scorer of Stamford's equaliser with his first touch. The 32-year-old made his way to the far post as the visitors built down the right, and got a head on the resulting corner, only for Town centre-half Dave Hartas, almost 15 years Battersby's junior, to chest off his own line.

Two minutes from the break, Danny French put the ball between Burton's legs near the by-line and forced Debbage to save a near post shot with his legs. The last action of the frenetic first period saw the in-form Ormerod power a 20-yard effort just wide of the target.

Stamford began the second half purposely, and only two last ditch challenges in the first ten minutes prevented them levelling the scores for a third time. Firstly, Mettam broke clear once again, only for Ashley Lyth to slide tackle perfectly inside his own area. Then three minutes later, Andy Toyne, a product of Lincoln City's youth set-up, found himself ahead of the Blues defence, but didn't reckon on speedy left-winger Karl Charlton getting back to nick the ball of the end of his boot as he drew it back to shoot, some 12 yards from goal.

Action then spilled to the other end as Burton jinked his way forward, cutting in from the right and drawing a foul on the edge of the visitors' box. Step forward Appleby to curl a goalbound free-kick over the wall which was met by a good save low to his left by Sanna.

Whitby weren't to be denied though and netted a fourth just before the hour. Danny Brunskill's effort from distance forced a corner which was headed out as far as Appleby, who, from similiar range to the free-kick, this time drilled low and made no mistake.

But no sooner had Town celebrations ended than the ball was being picked out of the other net. Play surged to the Whitby end where Stamford won a corner on the left and the ball was fired low past the near post where it somehow found its way to Adam Jones on the goal-line, who gleefully nudged home.

Appleby then played a beautifully disguised short pass for Charlton on the edge of the area, who with the ball under his feet, poked a fine effort that thudded against Sanna's left hand post with the keeper seemingly beaten.

Stamford then wasted a fine chance as Wormall took on Janes close to goal but sent a rushed effort high over the bar and onto the roof of an Upgang Lane property. A minute later, Ormerod's backheel was so sublime it almost deserved a goal in itself as Appleby was released on the edge of the area, rounded Sanna, but the former Barnsley man was forced wide and his cross was eventually cleared.

It was to be Ormerod's last touch before making way for Tom Adams with 13 minutes of the match remaining. Adams soon linked up with Andy Raw in a fine move that brought in Burton on the right-edge of the Stamford box. The ex-Billingham Town man took a great first touch before forcing an equally good parry from Sanna.

On-loan Darlington full-back/right-winger Lewis Hardman replaced Raw and with five minutes left, Town finally put the game to bed. Hackworth saw an effort charged down before making room and firing an unstoppable low drive into the back of the visitors' net.

The icing was on the cake for Town and Hackworth two minutes from time when great work from Hardman saw the youngster unselfishly square on the edge of the box for the ex-Leeds forward to despatch an angled drive past a covering defender and Sanna for his treble.

Even after Darren Thornton was introduced in place of Charlton on 90 minutes, there was still time for what looked to be Whitby's seventh. Adams set off on a mazy run just inside the Stamford half, going past two defenders only to roll the ball across Sanna and inches wide of the keeper's right hand post.

After the match, Blues' manager Lee Nogan was delighted with the three points and his side's six goals, but a little disappointed with some "lacklustre" play and admitted his team weren't as "switched on" as in recent matches.

"We need to be tighter as a unit. They were getting through too easily."

Looking forward to Tuesday's clash with league leaders Guiseley, Nogan, speaking on Saturday evening, confirmed his side had picked up no knocks from the Stamford game and had "nothing to fear" from their midweek trip.

"They're a great side and it'll be a tough game, but we're getting better going forward and we'll be going to win."