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Header gives vital victory
FISHBURN Park travelled to Darlington to play league rivals Darlington Rugby Club in a Teesside League first division relegation fight.
Fishburn were forced into several changes with Scott Thompson partnering skipper Neil Waterfield in the centre of defence.
The game was a tense scrappy affair, unaided by a bobbly pitch and an arguably over-fussy referee.
Neither team could stake a claim to be dominating the match until an inch-perfect corner from Mark Tose was met by Neil Waterfield, whose header flashed past the home keeper to give Park a 1-0 lead on 20 minutes.
Park then enjoyed quite a bit of possession but the resolute home team restricted them to a few half chances. After the interval, the home side applied more pressure in search of an equaliser.
The whole of the game had been played at a quick pace and the warm conditions were beginning to affect one or two players.
Park made some changes, replacing both strikers, first Ian Smith and then Karl Wilson on 65 minutes.
Mark Waterfield was replaced on 75 minutes, Allan Price moved from right midfield to centre midfield to partner man of the match Pete Scaife, Dom Wilson to right midfield and Callum Ward was put on at right back.
As the game drew to a close, the Park defence was tested to its limits and was guilty of conceding a number of free-kicks around the penalty area.
But Paul Watson's well marshalled defence held firm and after seven minutes of added-on time, the referee blew his whistle to end the contest.
The result gave Fishburn a vital three points and keeps them above their hosts who remain in 11th place.
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Weather for Whitby
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: -3 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 37 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
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