Fish, chips and 3 points make tasty Whitby cocktail

Now in 15th position and on 46 points, the safety margin is heading into view and, of greater importance, they have a ten-point cushion between themselves and the bottom four.

Stamford had been battered by a full on chill, swirling, near gale force wind throughout the first half but held firm against frenetic Whitby assaults which produced precisely nothing.
They then struck twice in clinical fashion to show their hosts how best to tame the conditions - and that spherical object which was buffeted around like balloon or beach ball.

Lewis Carr flicked home a neat header from Dan Lawlor's corner on 62 minutes and, within another ten, Jordan Smith sped through to drive low and hard under home keeper Shane Bland.

Jordan immediately raced to the touchline to celebrate with manager David Staff - a clue as to the togetherness our manager has built in his dressing room.

Graeme Armstrong set a few nerves jangling with a thumping reply with seven dangerous minutes still on the clock before Jason Field threw himself in front of a powerhouse David McTiernan effort to preserve the lead. He injured himself in the process and that one moment gave us clue number two as to the commitment of this team.

But let's not forget the contribution of man of the match Will Jones in a difficult first half as Whitby enjoyed the gale-fuelled advantage which Stamford were to make better use of second half. Twice he pulled off superb double saves, twice tipped away goalbound efforts and frequently showed good positioning.

He saved his best for last - a wonderful, acrobatic tip over to deny Nathan Mulligan when he hammered in a swirling free kick from just outside the area.

Earlier, Will earned his luck as Craig Farrell twice put the ball over when it looked easier to score. It became a nightmare afternoon for the big No 10 when, having had a goal disallowed, apparently for handball, he was booked for over zealous protestations.

In that first half, with the wind buffeting in off the Yorkshire Moors, Stamford found it nigh on impossible to get out of their own half. Goal kicks and clearances were liable to be propelled back for corners, while throw ins flew straight out again.

Holding the half time score to 0-0 was a huge credit to the visiting defence. They all did a job with Will Jones, Richard Jones, who survived an awkward fall on his shoulder, Jack Ashton, Carr and Field outstanding. Carr produced one fabulous block to deny Mark Robinson. How young Lewis has fitted into this team.

While Whitby seemed a little better at going forward in the second half, they struggled just as badly at the back with Bland finding it impossible to clear effectively.
The Daniels took their goals well and Ash Robinson, who troubled the hosts with a number of his jet propelled throw ins, hit a post.
It was a deserved win on an afternoon when both teams battled manfully to shape something constructive.

Stamford did it better against a team who had won all four of their previous encounters, including a 6-3 scoreline on this same ground. Just goes to show how far manager Staff has brought the Daniels.
No wonder, Stamford's sizeable following grouped at the players' tunnel to salute their heroes come full time. Three points, followed by Whitby fish and chips. It doesn't get much better!

Whitby Town: Shane Bland, Ibrahim Hassan (Shane Henry), Mark Robinson (c), Lee Bullock, Richard Pell, David McTiernan, Kevin Burgess, Lee Mason, Graeme Armstrong, Craig Farrell, Nathan Mulligan (Adam Rundle). Subs not used: Tom Portas, Darren Williams and David Campbell.

Stamford: Will Jones, Lewis Carr, Jason Field, Jack Ashton, Richard Jones (c), Emeka Nwadike, Daniel Lawlor, Ashley Robinson (David Staff), Jordan Smith, Nabil Shariff (Ryan Robbins), Shawn Richards (Charlie Binns).