Whitby Town made it five unbeaten in pre-season as they retained the Mickey Skinner Memorial Trophy, despite a first half performance that disappointed joint-manager Lee Bullock.

The Blues ran out 3-0 winners over Northern League side Guisborough Town, courtesy of a brace from Brad Fewster and a Priestley Griffiths strike.

However, Bullock’s assessment of the first half, in which Whitby took the lead, was a poor one.

“The first half wasn’t great,” he said.

“We weren’t at the races, we conceded too much possession and too many chances to a Guisborough side who we gave confidence to.

“That’s the first time the lads have dipped a little so far, so we told them at half-time that the standards had to be better and I thought second half we were a lot better value with our performance.”

The early stages saw the Priorymen shade proceedings, though both sides found themselves having chances. Brad Fewster stung the palms of Will Cowey early on, while Jason Blackburn and Ben Jackson were causing issues for the Whitby backline.

It was Fewster who opened the scoring for the Seasiders, capitalising on a loose ball to dink the ball over Cowey.

Fewster, Harry Green and Marcus Giles all looked to add to Whitby’s advantage in the moments after the opener, though the Priorymen gloveman was equal to two of the efforts, while Green could only hit the side netting with his.

Guisborough looked to find a leveller themselves. Cole Kiernan’s headed effort was saved by Bland, before the rebound was poked wide.

Just before the break, Ben Jackson rode the challenge of Jonathan Franks and broke into Whitby’s half. His powerful 25 yard strike was pushed away by Bland however.

After the break, Whitby looked to liven up, and doubled their advantage after just nine minutes, when Priestley Griffiths capitalised on Cowey spilling Nicky Walker’s cross to fire into an unguarded net.

And four minutes later, the Seasiders had their third. Fewster was on hand again, timing his run to perfection before finishing neatly into the bottom corner.

And Bullock noticed an uplift in Fewster’s offering in the second period.

“He was one that got a few words at half-time,” the Blues’ joint-manager added.

“His goal was really well taken, but other parts of his game were lacking a little.

“You know when Fewster has a chance that more often than not he hits the target, and in the second half his link-up play was a lot better and his second was a lovely finish.”

Guisborough, despite the blow of two goals conceded in just four minutes, pushed for a route back into the game. Kieran fired an effort at Bland, before a trialist was unable to trouble Blues substitute goalkeeper Nick Cranston, despite being in plenty of space at the back post.

Whitby could have added a fourth, ten minutes from time, when a trialist could only guide his diving header wide of the mark.