Blott at the double as Boro bag penalty success

Scarborough Athletic snatched a penalty shoot-out success in their Integro Doodson Sport Trophy derby battle with Whitby Town.

Boro looked to have been hit by an 88th minute blow when Dave McTiernan brilliantly bent home Whitby’s leveller to take the game to spot-kicks, but the hosts kept their nerve to book their progress into the second round of the competition.

Prior to the decisive kicks, Boro had looked the better team, despite plying their trade a division below Whitby.

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They were boosted by the return to form of Ryan Blott, who struck two goals and provided a long list of problems for his former side.

Blott reformed what had previously been a useful partnership with Tom Corner in attack, while Pete Davidson dropped out of the side for the first time this season. Matty Bloor stepped in for his debut.

The hosts made a positive start, Nathan Peat’s early header was comfortably plucked from the air by Whitby stopper Shane Bland.

After a quiet patch, Whitby then created their first opportunity when Ryan Brobbel broke and rolled across the box, Ryan Qualter was there to clear the danger.

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Boro were given the perfect opportunity to grab the lead after 26 minutes when Blott was hauled down by Bland in the box.

Peat stepped up confidently, but Bland made amends with a fantastic save.

Whitby had a useful penalty shout of their own soon after when Liam Manderville felt a stern shove in his back while on the ball in the area, but referee Stephen Wade wasn’t impressed.

A rejuvenated looking Blott finally broke the derby deadlock just after the half-hour.

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The striker collected on the edge of the box, comfortably beat his man and then rolled past Bland into the bottom corner.

Boro had a half-chance to double this slender advantage just before the interval, but Corner’s stab was held by the keeper.

Having finished the half strongly, Boro maintained the pressure when the referee started the second period.

Fernando Moke had a whipped cross scooped off the line, then Alex Metcalfe saw his shot blocked.

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Blott should have doubled his and Boro’s tally after this, but he managed to divert another glorious Moke cross inches wide from just a yard out.

That was the let-off Whitby needed and they levelled proceedings minutes later.

Moke handled in the box when he really didn’t need to and Mikey Roberts stroked past Erik Bukran.

Boro shook off the initial shock and restarted their progression towards the Whitby goal.

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Steve Mallory almost found the net in fortunate fashion, as his free-kick wrong-footed Bland, but the Whitby keeper saved with his feet.

That set the stage for Blott to add his second of the evening, the striker brilliantly arching his back to nod a driven Alex Metcalfe cross into the net.

Boro looked to have broken the back of the fixture until the 88th minute when disaster seemed to strike.

McTiernan picked up the ball on the left and bent a sweet effort over the hand of Bukran and into the top corner.

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That finish ended hopes of a normal-time success and the dreaded shoot-out loomed.

Boro’s Mallory and Whitby’s Roberts both picked out the net, before sub Alex Peterson lifted his kick over the bar to give Whitby the advantage.

Blott continued his hot streak by finding the top corner, before the experienced Lee Bullock had his kick saved.

Gary Bradshaw and Peat of Boro and Whitby man Ross Gardner took the score to 4-3 in Boro’s favour, before another outstanding stop from Bukran gave Boro the victory and the east coast bragging rights.