Stockton Town were made to rue missed opportunities as Whitby Town emerged victorious in both sides’ final final pre-season game before next week’s season openers.
In the absence of Michael Dunwell, JD Briggs further experimented with a back three formation, and handed starts to four midfielders in Glen Butterworth, Stephen Thompson, Lewis Leech and Cameron Painter.
The Anchors started the game very brightly, with Stephen Thompson going close on a number of occasions.
Most notably firing a strike down low into the path of Shane Bland in the Whitby net.
However it was the hosts who took the lead after 22 minutes, when Whitby’s trialist striker converted a low cross from Nathan Thomas after some great work to create space on the left wing.
Goalkeeper Nathan Harker was called into action moments later when he was forced to pull out a top drawer save to keep out a curling free-kick from Nathan Thomas.
From the following corner, a strike from full-back Sam Collins found its way through a few bodies and collided off of the woodwork.
Half-time: Whitby Town 1-0 Stockton Town
The Anchors had a huge chance to level the game three minutes after the interval, when the head of Adam Nicholson was perfectly picked out by a corner, but the captain’s powered header couldn’t find the target.
Within seconds, the Anchors had another superb opportunity when Michael Sweet was played through on goal, but his effort was closed down by the Whitby number one.
With 51 minutes on the clock, Stockton were awarded a penalty when Owen Gallacher’s fancy footwork beat a defender, with the left-back eventually being fouled as he glided past Shane Bland.
Michael Sweet stepped up for Stockton but he saw his powered penalty very well kept out by the man who gave away the foul.
Stockton continued to push forward throughout the second half, and had a flurry of fantastic opportunities to equalise, the best of which being a mis-hit strike from Mikey Roberts falling to the feet of Michael Sweet, but the striker scuffed his shot from mere yards out.
Nathan Thomas had two spectacular opportunities for the Seasiders a few minutes before full-time, but he was superbly met by Nathan Harker and Adam Nicholson respectively.
Full-time: Whitby Town 1-0 Stockton Town
Full focus now turns to next Saturday, when the Anchors make their Northern Premier League Premier Division debut away at fellow newcomers Leek Town.
Words & Photo: Jordan Clarke
