Whitby show teeth to take a bite out of Gingerbreads

WHITBY TOWN GRANTHAM TOWN 2 1

FIRST-HALF goals from Daniel Rowe and Ash Coffey helped Whitby Town beat Grantham Town for the first time in Chris Hardy’s managerial reign.

The visitors wasted a number of chances to edge themselves in front in the opening halfhour as Obara Edobar and Nathan Smith squandered opportunities.

Those misses were punished by the Seasiders on 34 minutes as a Dale Hopson corner found its way to Rowe and he made no mistake at the back post.

Hardy’s side took a two-goal lead into half-time as former Marske United striker Coffey lashed a rising shot into the net from just inside the area.

The Gingerbreads had been impressive in beating South Shields in midweek and were always going to be a difficult test for Whitby.

The Lincolnshire outfit started brightly after the restart and both Chris Dawson and Danny Brooks came close to getting their side back in the game.

It was Ross Barrows who broke the Whitby resistance on 55 minutes as he fired into the roof of Jack Norton’s net.

Dale Hopson should have settled the game for the hosts but he saw a penalty saved by visitors keeper Sam Andrew.

Grantham rallied late on but couldn’t find their way past a dogged Whitby defence and the Seasiders were able to celebrate a long-awaited win. Whitby Town: Norton, Smith, Mcwilliams, Weledji, Rowe, White, Gell, Scott, Rutherford, Coffey (Tymon), Hopson (Patton). Subs not used: Mctiernan, Bullock, Mchugh. Grantham Town: Andrew, Briers (Mcgovern), Luto, Edobar, Ali, Tweed, Barrows, Brooks, Aydebayo-smith (Ward), Dawson, Smith (Chaplin). Subs not used: Durkin, Kelly.