Tigers tamed in top-of-the-table tussle

BetVictor Premier Division: Whitby Town 2-0 Hyde United

Hyde United suffered a third successive away defeat as Whitby Town leapfrogged them in the BetVictor Premier Division to go top of the table with two goals in the final 20 minutes. 

The Tigers, fresh from a morale-boosting 2-0 win over Nantwich Town in midweek, started the day at the summit but efforts from Dale Hopson and Brad Fewster decided a lively contest in favour of the Seasiders. 

In front of 462 fans at the Turnbull Ground, the hosts started on the front foot in North Yorkshire, as Fewster's shot was well held by Tigers keeper Luke Mewitt, who then gathered a deflected strike from Kieran Weledji. 

Mewitt was kept busy throughout the first half, saving well from a venomous snapshot on the turn by Arran Wearmouth before keeping out another powerful shot from Fewster. 

The Tigers, who were forced to replace Jamal Crawford with Dan O'Brien after 39 minutes, had their best opportunity just before the break when Jack Dyche got the better of Weledji but could only fire wide from close range. 

A scrappy start to the second half saw Whitby's Weledji and Hyde's Kyle Brownhill booked by referee Alex Clark before Oran Thompson was also cautioned for a handball just outside the box. 

From the resulting free-kick, Whitby's Jassem Sukar saw his effort palmed over the crossbar by Mewitt. 

Both sides made further changes to freshen up their personnel, as Paddy Lane was introduced for Hyde in place of Dan Turner and Hopson replaced Matty Dixon for the hosts. 

And, within a minute of his arrival, Hopson had an instant impact, leaving several Hyde defenders in his wake before rolling the ball home to make the decisive breakthrough on 71 minutes. 

Less than three minutes had surpassed before the hosts settled the issue by doubling their lead. Wearmouth was brought down in the area after winning the ball back from Jordan Fagbola and, after Hopson's penalty was saved by Mewitt, Adam Gell set up Fewster to slot home. 

The Tigers, who sent on John McCombe in place of Dyche for a final throw of the dice, struggled to create chances and almost conceded a third when Brad Mills went for an audacious lob from distance which almost dropped in. 

Three players were booked in the closing stages but Whitby held out for a crucial win as Hyde drop down to third in the table, but still remain a point behind the Seasiders. 

Hyde boss Dave McGurk admitted after the game that Whitby were worthy winners. 

"I think they overpowered us a little bit today," he told the club's media team. "Their centre-forward play is maybe something that we are lacking at times. Their number 10 was the best player on the pitch - he made things stick, he built attacks for them. We didn't play well in the first half but, just when I thought we were getting control of the game in the second half, they scored the goal. 

"You could see the spaces were starting to open up and Dyche had a good chance just before they scored. Overall, I think they deserved the win. It was slightly the opposite to Tuesday in terms of I thought we overpowered Nantwich a little bit but Whitby's physical presence overpowered us and got them good territory."