Nantwich Town 1 Whitby Town 3

NANTWICH Town's slim hopes of clinging to a place in the Evo-Stik Division One North have taken yet another blow as they failed to win their crucial clash against fellow relegation candidates Whitby Town on Saturday.

The task for Jimmy Quinn's men will get even tougher if they fail to get any points from hosting fourth-placed North Ferriby United this weekend, kick off 3pm.

Dabbers were first to show, coming within inches of taking the lead as Glynn Blackhurst's dribble and shot rebounded back off the posts and into the grateful arms of Whitby keeper Dave Campbell.

Blackhurst's presence was vital at the other end too, as he prevented a certain goal in the seventh miunte to keep the scores level.

But gaps began to appear in the Nantwich rear guard and Whitby soon had the ball in the net when Andy Campbell found acres of space to drive home from 10 metres out.

Nantwich were getting out fought by the more physical Whitby team and soon had the mammouth task of coming from two behind when the hosts romped down the right wing and fed Jimmy Beadle, who clinically dispatched his chance to double thier lead.

Dabbers fought well and only Jason Oswell's hesitancy in front of goal prevented him from taking advantage of a Campbell mistake, while Blackhurst continued to threaten with shots from the edge of the area.

But even in the second half Nantwich failed to convert their chances, with Lennon and Blackhurst creating opportunities that slipped beyond the visitor's grasp.

Whitby put the game beyond the guests nine minutes from time, midfielder Dave McTiernan latching onto an cross from the Nantwich right to beat the keeper from three metres out.

Dabbers grabbed a consolation two minutes later as Sam Aspinwall controlled well and fired an angled shot into the bottom corner, but once again for Quinn's struggling Town side, it was too little, too late as they fell to a crushing defeat.