Scarborough Athletic work hard for 2-0 victory at Hebburn Town
A gritty, hard-fought win for Boro who scored a goal in each half to claim a 2-0 success at newly-promoted Hebburn Town, with keeper Ryan Whitley starring in an excellent defensive performance from Jono Greening’s team.
A tight hamstring forced Kieran Weledji to miss out, but Alex Purver Hannan was back after missing the last three games with a hernia, and Leeds United loanee Harvey Vincent made an impressive debut from the bench.
Luca Colville dropped to left-back, and was excellent in a solid back four alongside Jake Hull, skipper Will Thornton and Jack Waldron.
Hebburn started brightly, Alex Wiles got back to kick clear when Josh Donaldson prepared to shoot, Ethan Wood twice fired wide and Donaldson also sent an effort wide.
In Boro attacks Rio Allan headed on to the lively Dom Tear, who raced into the area, but Jack Donaghy hacked clear, then Lewis Maloney passed forward to Wiles, who was brought down, and Waldron’s free-kick flashed across the crowded goalmouth.
Waldron also dinked a pass to Allan, whose shot was blocked by home skipper Aidan Heywood.
Boro opened the scoring when Wiles played a fabulous through-ball into the path of Allan, home keeper Dan Cameron raced out to kick clear, but Allan charged the ball down and slotted home for his tenth goal of the season.
A Maloney free-kick was headed into the goalmouth by Hull, but the massed home defence scrambled clear, then the hosts got forward and Liam Murray’s fierce shot produced a superb save from Whitley, who dived to push the ball wide.
Sunderland loanee Jaydon Jones then charged forward, but was halted by a Colville tackle, and Robert Briggs drilled a shot wide, as Boro took their 1-0 lead into the interval.
Boro again absorbed pressure early in the second half, Thornton cleared when Matty Cornish charged into the area, Briggs fired into the chest of Whitley, and a Jones shot was blocked by Waldron.
For Boro, Tear headed-on to Hull in the area, but Donaghy cleared, and a Luke Hall shot was saved by keeper Dan Cameron.
Hebburn were awarded a penalty on 58 minutes for a Waldron challenge on Murray, but keeper Whitley dived to his right to push away Tom Allan’s spot-kick.
Colville passed to debutant Vincent out on the right wing, and his terrific through-ball found Waldron, who was tackled by Donaghy, then a Maloney corner was headed on by Hull to Allan, whose shot was blocked by Heywood, the rebound falling to Wiles, with Briggs blocking his shot.
Hebburn were again foiled by Whitley, whose superb one-handed save tipped away a close-range Donaldson header, and the in-form Boro keeper got down quickly to smother the follow-up shot.
Boro bossed the latter stages, with Purver Hannan and Hall dominating midfield.
Donaghy twice tackled Fadera when he burst forward, and the lead was doubled when a Waldron corner was headed in by Thornton at the back post.
A low cross from Vincent was fired at the keeper by Allan, and late on, another Vincent cross was tapped home by Fadera, who had strayed offside.
HEBBURN - Cameron, Heywood(c) (Moore 80), Donaghy, Wood, Cornish (Foreman 54), Briggs, Murray (Henderson 80), T.Allan, Donaldson, Forbes, Oliver (Jones 36), unused sub - Taylor (GK).
BORO - Whitley, Waldron, Colville, Hull, Thornton(c), Purver Hannan, Hall, Wiles, R.Allan (Bradshaw 88), Tear (Vincent 60), Maloney (Fadera 69), unused sub - Stuttard.
REFEREE - David Jones.
BORO GOALS - Rio Allan 37, Will Thornton 80.
GOAL ATTEMPTS - HEBBURN 10 (5 on target) BORO 8 (4 on target).
CORNERS - HEBBURN 3 BORO 3.
OFFSIDES - HEBBURN 1 BORO 7.
YELLOW CARDS - Matty Cornish, Elliott Forbes, Liam Murray (Hebburn) Jake Hull, Alex Purver Hannan (Boro).
BORO MAN OF MATCH - Ryan Whitley.
ATTENDANCE - 821 (144 away).