UniBond Premier League

31st March 2007

Attendance - 464

Team - Whitby Town: A Reid, Brumwell, Janes, Appleby, Ward, Hollingsworth, Thomas, Drinkall(Robinson 57), Raw, Brunskill, Ormerod. Subs not used: Richards, Nogan.

Report - by Andrew Snaith - Whitby dramatically re-ignited their play-off hopes after sealing a league double over then-leaders AFC Telford United at the Turnbull Ground on Saturday.

Tom Raw's 11th goal of the season early in the second half was enough to knock the Bucks off the top of the table and keep Town within six points with a game in hand on fourth placed Guiseley, who visit on Friday.

Manager Lee Nogan gave a debut to 18-year-old York City defender Darren Hollingsworth and welcomed back striker Tom Raw from injury, as well as midfielder James Drinkall.

In the early stages, Telford- roared on by over 150 travelling supporters from the West Midlands- saw £5,000 record-signing Lee Moore drill straight at Blues keeper Arran Reid. Whitby then took control, winning a series of corners, but the closest the home side came was Stephen Thomas' left foot shot on the turn which flew wide on 10 minutes.

The visitors should've led however, just six minutes later against the run of play. A seemingly harmless long ball caused confusion between Reid and defender Richard Ward with Moore presented with the ball in the six yard box but the ex-Tamworth marksman somehow fired wide with the goal at his mercy.

Whitby's best opportunity to break the deadlock came on 35 minutes from a familiar source. Leading scorer Danny Brunskill, playing in an unfamiliar playmaker role, hammered a ferocious goalbound 18-yard shot that brought a fine tip over from Bucks' keeper Stuart Brock.

The resulting right-wing corner flew straight across goal with Ward inches away from making contact at the far post.

Hollingsworth's opposite number and fellow centre-half, Dennis Pearce was also on debut after joining the visitors in midweek. But the former Wolves defender was in trouble a minute before half-time, going into the book for a blatant obstruction on Raw just outside the Telford box. Blues' skipper Matty Appleby, normally a real danger from free-kicks, failed to test Brock, instead curling the resulting set-piece comfortably over the crossbar.

The second half opened with Brunskill booked for a mistimed challenge, though the subsequent free-kick was blocked and cleared by the Whitby backline. At half-time, the visitors lost injured centre-half Richard Teesdale and withdrew ex-Wolves forward Chris Cornes, with full-back Dean Craven and striker Justin Marsden their replacements. Three minutes later, Marsden shot wide on the turn but within moments, the 22-year-old was involved again, however this time, the ex-Solihull man fired even further wide of the target

The 464-strong crowd then witnessed a historic moment on 57 minutes when Drinkall made way for assistant manager Graham Robinson, who became the first ever Whitby Town player to make 400 appearances for the club. Seconds later, an even bigger celebration as Whitby led. Telford failed to clear their lines with successive headers at the near post and Raw positioned himself perfectly to volley home the loose ball from point blank range.

Immediately, Jai Stanley replaced Gary Fitzpatrick in the Telford midfield and the former Conference club almost levelled within two minutes. Gary Birch's downward header was tipped away at a comfortable height by Reid, with Craven collecting at the far post. Two subsequent efforts were blocked bravely by Whitby defenders before a free-kick was finally awarded to the home side by whistle-happy referee Russell Tiffin.

Janes became the second Whitby man in the referee's notebook, this time for dissent before the hosts' had their turn to attack thanks to the fighting spirit that typified their performance. As Telford held possession deep in their own half, Whitby right-back Phil Brumwell tracked forward and threw himself into a fine slide challenge, getting the ball back to release Raw who, in turn, found Ant Ormerod. But the former Middlesbrough striker scuffed a tame drive from the edge of the area that Brock collected easily.

Whitby's man of the match Ward was in the right place at the right time five minutes later, as keeper Reid allowed a right-wing cross to sail over his head, only for Ward to head the loose ball off the Town goal-line.

Ormerod came close again before Brumwell's became the umpteenth name in Mr Tiffin's notepad after a shirt-pull with 15 minutes remaining.

From now on, it was backs to the wall for the home side, who despite playing a 4-3-3 formation, were defending deep and playing on the break, as they did in the 3-1 victory at the New Bucks Head back in December. A neat chipped ball from the edge of the Whitby area then saw Marsden show great technique letting the ball drop over his shoulder before volleying goalwards and drawing a fine block from Reid.

Five minutes from time, Ward nearly scuppered his earlier good work, sticking out a leg to a ball too far from him and letting Marsden in down the left. The pacey forward found Birch in a great position, but the stocky former Walsall schemer could only fire in a near post drive that was saved with his legs for a second time by Reid.

As Telford poured forward, Moore was lucky not to be booked for what looked a blatant dive in the Blues box but the referee simply waved play on. As injury time approached, the visitors won a succession of corners, and seeing their lead at the summit under threat, keeper Brock was twice sent forward as a legitimate target. However, the Bucks again and again conceded free-kicks in their desperation for a sight at goal and Whitby, helped by a supremely impressive Hollingsworth on debut, and the experience of Appleby in particular, and Brumwell, just about clung on.

The visitors dropped to third as a result but remain level on points with Witton Albion and Burscough above them.

The battling Seasiders can take great credit for ending a run of four winless games- Nogan for his shrewd tactics and his players for their determination, which seemed so lacking in previous weeks. Town now look forward to a pivotal six-pointer with Guiseley on Good Friday at the Turnbull which could well make or break their season.