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Classy strikes sink Whitby Town
BUXTON reversed last season's home defeat by inflicting Whitby Town's second loss in four days, thanks to two classy finishes in a rainy Peak District on Saturday.
Whitby made just one change from the side that went down 5-0 to Worksop on Wednesday night, with Ashley Lyth's groin injury enabling Mark Robinson to return at left-back.
The Bucks also suffered a convincing loss in midweek and were on the defensive again inside nine minutes. Jimmy Beadle forced Scott Hartley to tip over from a curling 25-yard free-kick.
Skipper Tony Hackworth then outmuscled Buxton captain Gregg Anderson near the left touchline but saw his driven cross clutched comfortably by Hartley.
Moments later, the Derbyshire club broke but Michael Towey fired way over the Whitby bar. Towey was soon back in the game within seconds, beating the visitors' offside trap and forcing Nick Liversedge to beat away his near-post drive.
At the other end, the unlikely figure of defender Robinson ran onto a loose ball and struck a ferocious left-foot-drive that brought another finger tip touch over from Hartley.
The hosts countered again, with a pinpoint left-wing cross nodded over by the prolific Mark Reed, who has scored 164 goals for the Peak District side.
John Reed's men, who began the game bottom of the Evo-Stik Premier Division, were starting to find their feet as the half wore on but it took another quick breakaway from a Whitby attack and a fine finish to put them ahead.
Four minutes before half-time, forward Colin Hunter cut in from the right flank and swerved a beautifully struck shot across Liversedge and into the top left corner of the net from 20 yards.
Early in the second half, two players who clashed in the opening exchanges came close. First, defender Grant Black exchanged passes down the right before unleashing a fierce low drive that Liversedge did well to hold.
Then, as play lurched to the other end, Dave McTiernan fired a 20-yard shot of his own that Hartley held well on the ground.
Around the hour mark, Robinson tried another effort from nothing, the ex-Hartlepool man hitting an angled drive from 25 yards that just cleared the Bucks' bar.
But nine minutes later, the home side found a winner, with Town leaving Kieran Lugsden, a playmaker pushed forward for this game, in acres of space to double Buxton's lead.
Lugsden must have been amazed as he collected a routine low ball from the left with no defenders in sight on the edge of the Whitby area.
The 24-year-old former Witton man swiftly turned and curled a beautifully-placed shot inside the top-right corner, giving Liversedge no chance.
Hunter rushed a first-time effort from 12 yards off-balance and well wide, before Hackworth found himself just six yards out with his back to goal.
Whitby's luck was summed up as the ball bounced off a sliding defender and into the hands of Hartley as he dived to cover the near post.
Jamie Owens, Town's strike prodigy from Wearside League Wolviston replaced McTiernan for the last 10 minutes but was quickly closed down and could only fire against the legs of covering opponents.
Another young forward, Jamie Hopcutt, on a month's loan from York City, again only had a couple of minutes to show what he could do after Campbell left the field late on.
Despite four minutes of injury time, Town only threatened once more as Owens combined with Hackworth, who hooked just over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area.
After the game, Blues' boss Harry Dunn was disappointed with his side's display, pointing to a lack of shots on goal and the poor quality of balls into the box during the second half.
Whitby Town: Liversedge, Leeson, Robinson, Hassan, Burgess, Craddock, McTiernan (Owens 78), Beadle, Hackworth (c), Scott, A Campbell (Hopcutt 88). Subs not used: Oakley, Lambert, Campbell D. Attendance: 270.
Whitby Town are at home to Frickley Athletic this afternoon (Mon), 3pm kick-off. Match report and photos in Friday's Whitby Gazette.
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Weather for Whitby
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
