Whitby Town produced a remarkable attacking display to claim all three points in a 6-3 victory over Quorn on a day of goals galore across the Pitching In Northern Premier League.
The Blues eventually ran out comfortable winners on the scoreboard, however the afternoon was anything but straightforward as nine goals, momentum swings and plenty of drama combined to create a truly unforgettable encounter.
The hosts started brightly and threatened from an early corner, only for Alex White, making his third debut for the club, to be on hand to hook the ball clear from the goal line inside the opening four minutes. Quorn continued to ask questions in the early stages, with Tim Berridge firing wide before Jack Norton was called into action to make an excellent save from Jesse Friend after Whitby had been caught in possession in midfield.
Whitby gradually began to settle and looked dangerous from set-pieces, with Joey Phuthi delivering an inviting corner that flashed across the face of goal without receiving the decisive touch it deserved. Theo Robinson then tested Norton from distance, but the Whitby goalkeeper was equal to the effort.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 24th minute, albeit in unfortunate circumstances for the Seasiders. Friend’s strike took a significant deflection on its way past Norton to hand Quorn a 1-0 lead.
Frustration threatened to creep into Whitby’s game, with Ben Turner and Assistant Manager Denny Ingram both entering the referee’s notebook, but Lee Bullock’s side responded in exactly the right manner.
The equaliser arrived on 33 minutes and it was a goal of real quality. Phuthi won possession back in midfield before feeding Turner, who immediately slipped a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Callum Hickman. The attacker made no mistake, emphatically finding the net to level the scores at 1-1.
Hickman completed the turnaround in fortuitous fashion as a loose ball dropped kindly inside the six-yard box, allowing the former Boro Rangers man time and space to calmly steer his finish beyond the helpless goalkeeper.
But Quorn restored parity right on the stroke of half-time as Berridge rose highest in the penalty area to power a header home from a left-wing delivery, making it 2-2.
Whitby regained the lead after the interval through a moment of sharp pressing from Phuthi, who intercepted a loose pass deep inside the Quorn half before sliding an incisive through ball into the path of Hickman. The forward showed admirable composure, calmly guiding his finish beyond Jake Laban to complete his hat-trick and make it 3-2.
That goal shifted the momentum firmly in Whitby’s favour and laid the foundations for a sensational attacking performance. After matching Quorn during a competitive first half, the Blues found another gear after the interval and repeatedly exposed the hosts with their pace, movement and clinical finishing.
Whitby extended their advantage with a clinical counter-attacking move as Stuart Rose timed his run to perfection to beat the offside trap before coolly slotting the ball beyond Laban and into the bottom corner.
The Seasiders struck again just a minute later as uncertainty at the back proved costly for Quorn. A defensive mix-up gifted possession to Hickman, who reacted quickest to the loose ball on the edge of the box and rolled a simple finish into the unguarded net to put Whitby firmly in control.
Whitby added a sixth in unfortunate circumstances for the hosts as Phuthi’s dangerous low cross flashed into the penalty area, with Luke Cox inadvertently turning the ball into his own net under pressure. As consolation, Rose would likely have been on hand to tap home without Cox’s touch.
Quorn pulled a goal back from a set-piece as Friend rose highest inside the box to meet a corner delivery and plant a firm header beyond the goalkeeper, reducing the deficit to 6-3.
Despite the chaotic nature of the game, there was impressive composure from the Seasiders whenever it mattered most. Every time Quorn threatened to build momentum, Whitby responded with another goal, ultimately pulling clear to secure a deserved victory.
Bullock’s side saw out the closing stages professionally, with Adam Gell replacing Hickman deep into stoppage time as Whitby completed an afternoon’s work that will live long in the memory of everyone who witnessed it.
After the game, Hickman, who netted four said it was the “bounceback” the team needed after the last two games where they conceded five and six respectively.
Of the result, he said: “It is massive, just the reaction we needed after the last two games and gave the fans a good away day. It has relieved a lot of pressure. Terrible results put pressure on but that is the bounce-back needed.
“Conceding before half time is becoming the story of our season. We need to get a grip on doing stupid things in stupid areas but the lads reacted in the second half and we got on and scored four.”
In a game that had almost everything, Whitby Town delivered six goals, three points and a statement of their attacking quality. It may not have been a contest for the defensive purists, but for the travelling supporters it was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon as the Blues returned home with a memorable 6-3 victory ahead of their Bank Holiday Monday fixture at home to Alfreton Town (3pm kick-off).
