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Final chance for Whitby Town to reignite play-offs bid
UNDER-strength Whitby Town take on promotion hopefuls Ashton United on Saturday in what may be the last chance for Harry Dunn's troops to reignite their own play-off push.
New signing Elliott Gardiner from Newton Aycliffe is set for a home debut, with strikers Ged Dalton, Andy Campbell and skipper Tony Hackworth all doubtful.
Defender Ashley Lyth is also facing a fitness test on his thigh injury.
Whitby aren't the only club with forward problems – only three UniBond Premier sides have netted fewer times than Ashton.
Boss Danny Johnston has recently moved for strike duo Joe Farran and Clive Moyo-Modise to add to the Greater Manchester club's paltry 37-goal haul.
Like many other premier division sides this season, Ashton have been blighted by financial issues.
Altrincham's Marcus Hallows successfully sued the club and ex-player Danny White after a challenge by White ended Hallows' career in 2005.
United are currently raising money for an appeal and have won backing from other non-league clubs including, notably, local rivals Curzon Ashton, with one of their supporters creating a petition currently adorned with 700 names.
Ashton, who topped the league earlier in the season, have gained just one win from their past six outings.
They held Town 2-2 in the first meeting of the sides at Hurst Cross in October, when Danny Brunskill and Leon Scott's late goals rescued the Blues from a two-goal deficit.
As well as the ever-lengthening casualty list, Whitby are battling history with no wins against Ashton in their last six clashes.
Town have five wins overall, to the Greater Manchester club's six, and there have been six draws. Admission is the usual 7.50 for adults, 4.50 concessions and 2 under 18s.
* TUESDAY night's trip to rock bottom Durham City – the only team in the league to have lost every single game – will be Town's 500th UniBond Premier Division outing.
A supporters' bus leaves the club house at 4.45pm.
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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
