Whitby Town Open Up New Year With First Point

Saturday, 10 January 2026 18:27

Town's struggles continue in front of goal while second-bottom Workington remain in trouble despite picking up what they might feel is a useful point on the road.

This was one of the few matches to go ahead in NPL Premier, with both teams no-doubt seeing it as a chance to make ground on rivals.

Whitby have struggled at home all season, but particularly going forward. Ben Farrar has come in on joint registration from York City. He came close with a shot into side netting after good work from ex-Scarborough midfielder Michael Woods in the build up.

Woods was denied himself before limping off injured. Farrar came close with a diving header but at the other end, Shane Bland denied the away side. Whitby centre-halves Alex Nelson and Frankie Whelan both had to be alert to keep out the lively away side in separate attacks, early on.

Workington saved well from Woods' replacement James Harrison, then the away keeper clung on with a more comfortable stop to keep out home skipper Lewis Hawkins but it finished 0-0.

Whitby player-boss Gary Liddle admitted Workington had chance to win it themselves but his side lacked a killer touch in front of goal again:

"Yeah, we're disappointed as a group. I think, coming into the game, it's obviously one we wanted to win. We felt that it was a good opportunity to start the year with it been our first game on a good footing. And I can't fault the work rate, the effort to try and win and the effort to get the club the first win of the year.

"But ultimately, we just lacked that little bit of end product, in both halves really. We had a few chances obviously that just when it passed the passed the post. But I thought, I also felt there was other times when we could have shot or we could have took a little bit of extra care, whether it be with that final pass or shot or cross and that's ultimately what let us down."

Attendance: 353

Star Man: Alex Nelson (Whitby Town)

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