UniBond Premier Division

24th November 2007

Attendance - 248

Team - Campbell, Lyth, Gordon, Appleby, Tobin, Pallender, Claisse, Thompson(Adams 86), Gildea, Brunskill, Charlton. Subs not used: Brumwell, Raw.

Report - BY ANDREW SNAITH - For the second match running, Whitby let slip a two-goal half-time lead, this time thanks to a penalty and a freakish 40-yard wonderstrike at Worksop Town on Saturday.

Blues' Caretaker boss Phil Brumwell was forced to make one change from the side that drew 3-3 with Prescot the week before, with the manager himself inflaming an injury in the warm-up and swapping places with named substitute Ashley Lyth, himself returning from a chest injury.

The Seasiders, with only two wins on their travels in the Unibond Premier so far, started well with a charged down fourth minute Dean Gordon free-kick falling to Andy Thompson who swung a right boot and slamming the ball wide, as away fans behind the goal dived for cover. Four minutes later, Karl Charlton slid a neat ball inside for Liam Gildea to poke a weak shot straight at Worksop keeper Steve Hernandez.

The home side then broke and Kevin Sanasy's instinctive 25-yard deflected effort brought a superb reflex tip-over from David Campbell in the Whitby goal.

But in a similiar chain of events to the opening goal at the Turnbull Ground seven days earlier, Whitby led after 14 minutes thanks to the perseverance of Gildea and the positioning of Charlton. As he did against Prescot, Gildea nipped in to beat a hesitant defender to an awkward high ball, setting up Matty Appleby who provided a lovely deft touch allowing Charlton to fire past Hernandez from close range.

Gordon, another ex-Premiership star in the Whitby ranks, then showed why his left foot used to strike fear into the hearts of top-level rivals, battering a 20-yard effort bound for the top left corner of the net which forced a stunning one handed save from Hernandez.

Worksop's defenders learned little from this experience, again failing to close down Whitby players on the edge of the penalty area four minutes later, and this time, Hernandez was powerless to save the day. Thompson was allowed to cut in from the right-wing and side-step his way round a group of defenders just outside the hosts' box, and, again, reminiscient of the Seasiders' second goal against Prescot, the ex-Blyth midfield man unleashed a devastating strike that almost took Hernandez's hand into the roof of the net with it.

On 34 minutes, the ball appeared to this time strike a Whitby hand as players contested a header just inside the Blues' penalty area, but referee Mr Street waved away the protests.

Four minutes later, as the visitors continued to cause problems at the other end, Thompson was again afforded space to strike another fearsome swerving effort that on-loan Sheffield United youngster Hernandez once more tipped wide impressively.

The home side were obviously becoming frustrated and as the first half drew to a conclusion, Worksop manager Peter Rinkcavage was sent from his dugout after lambasting the officials over what he felt was an unpunished push on Tigers' striker Jermaine Palmer. The indiscipline soon spread to the players themselves, and defender Kevin Dawson was lucky to stay on the field moments later after a shove on Tom Claisse straight in front of the referee as several players scuffled on the edge of the Worksop area. The official, as so often happens, took the obvious way out by booking both Dawson and Claisse.

The delayed second-half began as the first ended, with Whitby dangerous from distance, and within five minutes of the restart, Gordon unleashed another piledriver from 18 yards that Hernandez saved well low down. Around the hour mark, things got worse for the men in yellow when striker Sanasy, who went into the match having notched eight goals in Worksop's last eight games, became the second home representative to see red. The 23-year-old former Farsley Celtic marksman followed through late by the touchline and after recieving a yellow card, was promptly shown another following his protests.

Moments later, Worksop assistant manager Jason Maybury made a double substitution introducing an extra forward Curtis Bernard and debutant winger David winckleerill, at the expense of a defender and midfielder. Maybury may claim the changes were inspired as the Tigers clawed a goal back within seconds. Palmer rode a couple of challenges before firing an angled drive against the hand of a sliding Whitby defender, and Mr Street quickly pointed to the penalty spot. Former Scarborough player Palmer then just squeezed the resulting kick past Campbell who dived the right way and appeared to get a hand to the ball.

The Tigers now had their tails up but still, it was a true bolt from the blue when an equaliser arrived just eight minutes later. winckleerill, on loan from Conference North Alfreton, picked up possession a few yards inside the Whitby half, against the left touchline, and immediately powered the ball over Campbell and into the net for a breath-taking goal of the season candidate.

Shell-shocked Whitby showed no sign of their one man advantage at this point, instead playing deep and imitating the hosts' direct style of play. On 72 minutes, Palmer rose highest at the far post but headed a left-wing cross straight at Campbell.

But the visitors, who had arguably played their best half of the season earlier in the match, ended the game on top. In-form midfielder Tom Claisse tried a firmly struck 25-yarder which deflected up off a Worksop defender to wrong-foot Hernandez but fly inches wide.

Five minutes from time, Danny Brunskill fired a 12-yard shot on the turn which lacked power and Hernandez was able to dive forward and clutch low down. With four minutes left, Tom Adams replaced Thompson, who was warmly applauded by the strong travelling contingent backing the Blues. Those same fans finally thought lady luck had turned in the North Yorkshiremen's favour in the 87th minute when a right-wing cross found it's way to Charlton in his familiar far post position, only for Hernandez to once again thwart the visitors, standing tall to block the 20-year-old's shot point-blank with his body. It spoke volumes for Whitby's efforts, that it was the home side, with recent wins at title-chasers Guiseley and Gateshead who opted to run down the clock in the closing stages.