Salford City 0

Whitby Town 0

WHITBY held FA Cup giantkillers and the stars of their own BBC documentary, Salford City, for a fourth successive clean sheet on Saturday.

Chris Hardy's men remain outside the Evo-Stik NPL Premier's bottom four and the Town boss told the Whitby Gazette post-match:

'To say that today's draw was a hard earned point would be an under statement.

'Knowing full well the quality that we were up against and the task that this created, nothing less than 100% from our boys would do.

Hardy picked an unchanged starting eleven from that which drew 0-0 at Skelmersdale United, four days earlier, though new left-back signing, from Hartlepool United, Scott Howes was on the bench.

The Blues' preparations were hampered by a crash on the A1, which closed the motorway at one junction, caused 90 minutes of tailbacks and a delayed 3.30pm kick-off.

The third-placed hosts made all the early running without unduly troubling Shane Bland and his back five. On 26 minutes, former Manchester United striker Danny Webber popped up on the left, running along the byline, beating Kieran Weledji, only for Bland to save well with his legs, at the near post.

Webber did find the net, after the half hour, after good work from Scott Burton, but was flagged offside, with the Blues almost breaking the deadlock, within seconds. Neat play down the left involving Andy McWilliams and Dale Hopson, released Mikey Roberts, on the left-edge of the box, but Steve O'Halloran's sliding pressure, caused the Town top scorer to slice wide.

Whitby were then rocked by an injury to midfielder Dave McTiernan, who stayed down following a challenge near the touchline, around halfway. In an attacking move, Hopson dropped deeper into midfield and Matty Waters joined Anthony HUme and Roberts in a flexible three-man strike force.

In the final minute of the half, ex-Hartlepool striker James Poole came close from a free-kick, to the right of the D, that slid past the Seasiders' defensive wall, but found Bland well-set to smother, low to his right.

On Merseyside, news came through that Marine and Grantham's clash had been abandoned at half-time and it seemed more bad news had befallen Town as Storm Katie edged east, the heavens opened and puddles soon appeared with heavy rain at the interval. The deluge continued for the rest of the game and it was always a relief when the ball flowed on the Moor Lane surface, with both sides earning credit for trying to play on the ground as much as they could.

The game opened right up with some parts of the ground playing as normal and others slowing right down. Within five minutes of the restart, Bland parried Poole's low effort from the right-edge of the Blues box and soon after, Salford looked sure to have struck when John Johnston beat Bland, with a downward header, from a right-wing cross, only for the ball to bounce up and over the Town crossbar.

Jordan Hulme replaced Webber in a straight swap up front on the hour mark, but hard work and great positioning from the Blues cut clear-cut chances to a minimum. 16 minutes from time, an inswinging left-wing corner was headed back across goal but narrowly over the bar, by centre-half Steve Howson, at the far post. The tricky Richie Allen cut in off the left before curling high and wide before another great opportunity for the hosts. Some impressive one-touch play saw Gary Stopforth release Allen, inside the Blues box, who fired straight at Bland, point-blank, with the former Middlesbrough gloveman brilliantly scooping up and over his own crossbar.

With ten minutes remaining, Martin's cross from the right was headed straight at keeper Jay Lynch by Matty Waters, while Salford sacrificed Allen for Gareth Seddon, the ex Bury marksman who was captured in the BBC doc as a part-time model. However, it was the visiting front-men who were catching the eye as Hardy's boys scented a shock. First, Lynch smothered low to his left from Hopson's 20-yard hit and seconds later, Adam Gell's effort, from similar range, was deflected over the top via Howson's head.

Four minutes from time, Poole swivelled well but struck a downward shot into the turf but up into the hands of Bland, with Hume losing his footing as he ran onto a header on and the Town stopper collected. Town then had one last opportunity, with two minutes left as Roberts put over a lovely diagonal ball, from the left flank and Hume collected before forcing Lynch to beat away his goal-bound drive, from the right-edge of the box.

'I feel that the qualities we displayed today were qualities that we are going to need to avoid a relegation season, the team showing determination, discipline and application- which we are certainly going to have to call upon throughout our remaining games- gives all associated with the club a real belief going forward.' Hardy added.

'Today's score-line is our fourth consecutive clean sheet and I don't believe this is coincidence with the way we have defended as a team over recent weeks.'

Salford City: J Lynch, C Lynch (c), O'Halloran, Stopforth, Howson, Priestley, Johnston, Burton, Poole, Webber (Hulme 59), Allen (Seddon 80). Subs not used: Gumbs, Clark, Moses.

Whitby Town: Bland, Martin, McWilliams, Robinson (c), Poole, Weledji, Gell, McTiernan (Waters 44), Hopson, Hume, Waters. Subs not used: Howes, Bullock, Scarth, Dixon (GK).

Attendance: 729

Star Man: Shane Bland- A fourth clean sheet on the trot, backed up by a tremendous defensive display from all ten outfield players, led by skipper Mark Robinson.