UniBond Premier Division

9th December 2006

Attendance - 2005

Team - Cammpbell Brumwell Janes (Claisse) Thomas Farthing Wilford McTiernan, Drinkall, Raw, Brunskill, Ormerod (Robinson) sub not used Reid

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Whitby Town roared back into the play-off places with a stunning 3-1 win at league leaders AFC Telford United in front of a shocked 2,005 crowd on Saturday. Town's amazing success after their longest trip of the season- some 211 miles- ended the Shropshire side's 39-game unbeaten record which stretches back to manager Rob Smith's arrival in February.

Blues boss Lee Nogan made one change from the side that drew 0-0 at local rivals Gateshead last Monday, with on-loan Alex Janes returning from injury to displace Tom Claisse.

The match began at a frenetic pace with Telford's Steve Foster allowed to break in the opening seconds, despite what appeared a foul on James Drinkall, fired a low drive that Dave Campbell couldn't hold onto and Town's Aron Wilford ended up sliding the loose ball wide for a corner.

Moments later, Whitby counter-attacked and won a free-kick with Stephen Thomas laying off for Wilford to hammer just over the top from 20 yards. Town continued to press and got their reward on eight minutes. Wilford was again involved, driving powerfully from a similiar distance with keeper Stuart Brock only able to parry for Wilford's centre-half partner Danny Farthing to poke home from close range.

Whitby's one change in personnel was to be reversed as a shocking Tyrone Barnett lunge- which saw the striker yellow-carded- ended Janes' match after just 14 minutes. Claisse took to the field at right-back, with Brumwell moving to the left. Another Wilford free-kick was this time drilled towards Tom Raw who diverted the ball inches past Brock's near post.

The hosts finally started to settle around halfway through the first half with a series of efforts blazed over the Whitby crossbar. Telford's man of the match Jai Stanley then forced Campbell to claw away a shot from distance with the follow-up charged down on the edge of the area. Moments later, the Town keeper collected a low drive with a hefty challenge somehow going unpenalised- the 36-year-old Campbell eventually clutching the ball on the goal line, at the third attempt.

Just prior to the interval, Telford skipper Steve Palmer broke from deep but fired well wide from the edge of the Whitby box.

Presumably to avoid picking up a second booking, Barnett made way for fellow forward Justin Marsden at half-time.

However it was Town who threatened first, six minutes into the second half when they won a free-kick just to the left of the box, some 12 yards out. Dave McTiernan curled an inswinging ball into the crowded penalty area which Brock punched as far as Drinkall, just outside the box. The former York City midfielder instinctively executed a neat left-foot lob on the turn, that struck the top of the crossbar on it's way over.

Two minutes later, and the luck was again with the home side when Marsden went flying over Campbell inside the Whitby box and referee Mr Stewart stunned just about everyone in the New Bucks Head Stadium by awarding a penalty. Foster stepped up and dummied the Whitby keeper before neatly slotting the ball into the bottom right corner, for his 15th goal of the season and a controversial equaliser.

As it was, the breakthrough galvanised the hosts who enjoyed their best spell of the match. Foster drove well wide from a good position after a free-kick was taken quickly and Lee Moore forced Campbell to tip a goalbound low drive round his left-hand post. Seconds later, and Moore, who completed a £5,000 transfer from Conference National side Tamworth in midweek, struck a 25-yard effort that Campbell did well to clutch low in front of him.

Whitby introduced assistant manager Graham Robinson for Ant Ormerod on the right wing for the final half hour and the move seemed to pay dividends as the visitors clawed their way back into the game. Wilford could easily put the Seasiders back in front with a ferocious 20-yard volley from a corner that flew over the crossbar.

Two minutes later, and leading scorer Danny Brunskill hammered an even harder effort from the edge of the box, which Brock tipped onto his own crossbar. But the ball remained in play and Town came again with Raw looking isolated down the left but checking inside and somehow curling the perfect finish from an acute angle inside Brock's far post for two-one.

Ten minutes from time, and Brunskill had a great chance to surely put the result beyond doubt when 12 yards out and one on one with Brock, but the former Kidderminster keeper parried well at the feet of the Blues marksman.

Another powerful Wilford free-kick from distance flew just wide, before the hosts provoked palpitations from the small group of visiting supporters. A fiery effort from 18 yards was directed straight at Campbell, who clutched the ball safely in his midrift, but the ball was soon pinging around the Whitby box with the Town defence scrambling to clear the danger.

As the clock ticked down, the league leaders, seeing their three point lead at the top of the division under threat from rivals Hednesford, committed more and more men forward, with even keeper Brock glancing hopefully toward the home dugout. But Town stood firm and it was the visitors from North Yorkshire who settled matters in the final minute. Raw's neat flick on saw Brunskill beat a marginal offside trap, outrun the pedstrian Telford backline and slot calmly past Brock from close range to complete a memorable victory.