UniBond Premier Division

28th November 2009

Attendance -

Team - D Campbell, Lyth, Jackson, Leeson, Burgess, Hassan, Dalton, Hackworth(c), A Campbell, Beadle, Scott. Subs (not used): L Gildea, A Gildea, Ingram, Hanson

Report - 140 by Andrew Snaith - A sublime second half performance helped Whitby up four places after a first ever win at Ilkeston Town's New Manor Ground, against struggling Worksop. It was also the lads' best away league win in six long years, after Radcliffe Borough were put to the sword 5-0 in November 2003.

Blues' manager Harry Dunn was able to name an unchanged side, from that which defeated Guiseley on penalties in midweek, with experienced defensive duo Denny Ingram and Christian Hanson returning to the subs bench after suspension and work commitments respectively.

Worksop were without skipper Kevin Davies, but stand-in Tom Jones came close in the opening minute, nodding Chris Adam's left-wing cross narrowly wide after rising highest at the near post.

The Tigers should have led on 13 minutes when Gary Townsend was fed by Danny Bacon, and waltzed through the visitors' defence, only for Dave Campbell to save superbly with his legs when one on one.

The hosts then felt aggrieved when Bacon went down in the penalty area under a push from a Whitby defender, but referee Mr Griffiths, saw no problem with the challenge.

After a slow start, the Seasiders showed just before the half hour when Tony Hackworth's low drive from distance was sneaking inside the bottom left corner, only for Jon Kennedy to react superbly after seeing the ball late, and push wide. And the away side couldn't believe it when former Premiership marksman Andy Campbell lost his balance and fired over when on the ground in-front of goal after a perfect driven right-wing cross from Ged Dalton.

With Whitby now on top, Hackworth turned provider just before half-time. The former Leeds man teed up Ged Dalton, who off-balance, blasted high over the crossbar from the left edge of the box.

The Seasiders began the second half where they left off the first and broke the deadlock within seven minutes of the restart. It was Hackworth, with his back to goal who used his strength to hold the ball, turn and force Kennedy to parry straight into the path of Campbell. The ex-Middlesbrough striker made no mistake this time, reacting quickest to stroke home his third goal in three and a half games, following last week's half-time abandonment.

Within four minutes the lead was doubled when Campbell's shot was charged down but Hackworth followed up to squeeze the ball past Kennedy on the turn to stun the Tigers.

By now, the Blues were in complete control, playing some of their best football of the season and Campbell, on loan from Bradford Park Avenue, came close again but fired right across the face of goal and narrowly wide.

Two of the Blues' most impressive players, Hackworth and hometown lad Ashley Lyth, overlapping down the right, then almost increased the scoring, as Worksop struggled to get out of their own half.

So it was no suprise with 14 minutes left that the Seasiders put the result beyond doubt. Another lively performer, Leon Scott crossed from the left and time seemed to stand still as Hackworth nodded a looping header back across goal, over Kennedy and into the far corner.

The Whitby captain continued to lead by example, with Hackworth close to a hat-trick, as he curled just past Kennedy's left-hand post from the edge of the box. There was a moment of comedy five minutes from time, as the ball looked to have gone out behind the byline, Scott was allowed to play on as the home defence stood still, but the eventual driven shot flew across goal and out for that belated goal kick.

By now, the vocal Worksop boss Peter Rinkcavage, who was dismissed in a clash between the sides almost two years ago to the day, had been sent to the small stand metres behind his dugout. But the angry Tigers manager sneaked back onto the touchline to lambast the nearby linesman once again after that error and was promptly sent to the dressing rooms.

Like Rinkcavage, the Whitby players were treating the travelling supporters to plenty of entertainment, stroking the ball around with ease. Richard Jackson, looking to get down the left wing at every opportunity, then cut inside and hammered a 20-yard piledriver that Kennedy reacted well to tip over the bar.

However, it was another Whitby lad who sent the partying away fans, noticeable in a sparse crowd, delirious in injury time. Lyth was the picture of calmness as he recieved possession, strolled to the edge of the box and nonchalantly fired the ball into the roof of the net.