A first half goal from Robbie Spence was cancelled out by a strike from Layton Watts ten minutes later, with the two sides cancelling each other out in a stalemate.

The Hornets started the game strongly, pressing high in Whitby’s half.

In the 10th minute, a well-placed cross from Joe Posthill found Daniel Savage, who connected with a header, but his effort was comfortably collected by Shane Bland.

Whitby Town were forced into an early substitution in the 7th minute, with Frankie Whelan making way to be replaced by Jassem Sukar.

The breakthrough came in the 15th minute when Savage delivered a precise free-kick from outside the penalty box towards Spence, who latched onto it and slotted the ball past Bland to give the Hornets the lead.

Despite solid defensive efforts, the Seasiders found an equaliser in the 24th minute through Layton Watts, levelling the score at 1-1.

A chance presented itself in the 38th minute when a key run by Joao Gomes led to a clever pass to Olly Martin as he drove a cross towards Amar Purewal, but it ended up in the gloves of Whitby’s Bland.

Two minutes later, Spence received a yellow card.

The two sides headed into half-time level.

In the early stages of the second half, the Hornets looked defensively solid, relenting Whitby from a number of opportunities on goal.

On 53 minutes, a cross from Watts found Kasper Williams in the box, but it was prevented by Kieran Hunter.

In the 55th minute, the Hornets made a tactical change; which saw Liam Murray coming on to replace Savage.

As the game progressed, Hebburn began increasing their attacking momentum.

The 61st minute saw Purewal deliver a key cross towards the back post where Martin is waiting, but it’s headed just short of goal.

A few seconds later, Turner received a yellow card.

Another chance presented itself four minutes later in the 65th minute as Martin tactically crossed the ball towards Purewal, he gets a shot away, but it’s blocked by Whitby’s Gell, as the ball deflects back off Purewal and out for a goal kick.

In the 72nd minute, the Hornets made a shrewd double substitution, which saw Gomes and Paul Van-Zandvliet making way, as Joe Walton and Player-Manager Daniel Moore came on to replace them.

Not long after coming on, Moore found himself with a brilliant chance on goal in the 78th minute as he latched on to a well-timed through ball from Martin and dinked the onrushing Bland, which looked destined to put us back ahead, but his effort went inches past the far post.

The 82nd minute saw another chance fall the way of the Hornets as Purewal’s shot inside the Whitby box was well saved by the feet of Bland as Elsdon slotted the ball home on the rebound, but it was soon ruled out for offside by the referee.

Despite the Hornets best efforts to score a late winner, the score remained level at the full-time whistle, granting Hebburn a point.

ATT: 389
MOTM: Matthew Elsdon

We’re next back in action on Saturday, as we visit Broadhurst Park to take on FC United of Manchester.