Matlock Town boss Mark Hume happy with performance despite Whitby Town draw

Town had led through Jamie McDonagh’s fine solo effort on 35 minutes, before they blew a gilt edged chance to make the score 2-0 as Otis Khan burst through on goal.

He had only goalkeeper Shane Bland to beat but passed to the supporting Ted Cribley who rolled the ball home from an offside possition.

Whitby hoofed the ball forward and Liam Shephard scrambled home a last gasp leveller.

Speaking after the game Hume said: “To be fair to Otis he’d been brilliant in the game and Whitby couldn’t cope with him.

“He’s only young and when he gains more experience he’ll make the right choices more. He was being unselfish and on this occasion he simply took the wrong option but he’ll learn from it.”

“It became scrappy towards the end and as a team we could have made better choices towards the end of the match, like using our wide men with pace more. We went too long but for seventy five minutes it was the perfect performance.”

Just six points separate 15th placed Whitby from Frickley Athletic in 21st spot as the relegation battle hots up..

16th-placed Matlock are in sixteenth position, a point adrift of Whitby and having played two games more, now face a tough trip to third placed Ashton United on Saturday and a visit from their Tameside neighbours, Curzon Ashton seven days later.

Added Hume: “Footballing wise we don’t fear anyone, we can play some good attacking stuff. No disrespect to anyone, but as I’ve said before, I’m not bothered about anyone else, it’s what we do that matters.”

Micky Harcourt missed the Whitby trip due to work commitments and was replaced by Grant Black.

Harcourt should earn a recall against Ashton while Oscar Radford, who sat out both the Workington and Whitby matches with a damaged coccyx, will need a fitness check. Scott Maxfield is likely to continue to deputize if needed.

But popular Adam Yates will not feature. Yates has had to wait for his chance under Hume sure to a damaged hamstring when Hume was appointed and then the consistently good form of Muhammed Sabo and Julian Banton.

It was thought Yates may start at Whitby but on Monday he sliced the end of his finger off in an accident in the gym. The finger has been successfully repaired but Yates could be missing for at least a fortnight