Stockton Town’s unbeaten pre-season run came to end with a narrow defeat against Whitby Town.
The Anchors came into the game on the back of Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Boro Rangers, while Whitby had played out 2-2 draw against a Middlesbrough XI.
The Seasiders had the game’s first chance when the ball was worked across the box before Lewis Hawkins dragged an effort wide.
Stockton had their first chance when Matthew Tymon turned before he sent strike at goalkeeper Shane Bland.
Callum Roberts was then called into action when he was forced to deny Hawkins with a low drive.
Hawkins remained a live-wire and had another effort which he fired over the bar.
Whitby then had the game’s biggest opening but Priestley Griffith’s chip over Roberts went narrowly wide.
Another opening saw a Whitby trialist played through on goal but his attempted lob over Roberts bounced wide.
Stockton came close to taking the lead when Elliot Beddow was played in but Bland made strong save with his feet.
With halftime approaching Whitby took the lead when a trialist glanced in a header via a cross from the left.
Whitby had the second half’s first chance when Griffith’s sent an effort over after it was pulled back to him.
The Anchors came to life with two chances. First Kevin Hayes went through down the right before he drilled low cross which just evaded Beddow.
Beddow then produced a superb touch which he switched to Cooke but he saw his shot blocked.
Whitby tested the reflexes of substitute goalkeeper Lewis McDonald with a close range strike from Marcus Giles.
Bland had the final say on the game with a tremendous save to deny Cameron Painter after the ball found his way to him in the dying moments.
Pre-season continues with a trip to Redcar Athletic on Wednesday night.
