Beeden's last-gasp header separated the two sides at the Towbar Express Stadium at the Turnbull Ground, with Beeden himself also hooking a Rylands effort off the line earlier in the half.

Nathan Haslam's charges dealt with the strong attacking threat posed by their opponents.

Ahead of kick-off, the home faithful were given the welcome news that Lewis Ritson had returned to the match day squad, on the substitutes bench, after more than a year out with an ACL injury.

Town began with intent, pressing at every opportunity, but real chances took time to arrive. The visitors' four attacking players of Mo Touray, Kelly N'Mai, Dylan Vassallo and Sean Cooke kept Whitby's backline occupied and the latter fired a free-kick just past the upright before Lewis Hawkins replied with a wayward shot of his own.

Shane Bland was called into action to deny Touray, who broke into the area and struck a tame effort which was heading on target before the Whitby stopper's intervention to smother the ball.

Just before that, the Seasiders nearly the lead themselves when Josef Wheatley combined with Bradley Fewster down the right. Wheatley's cross was met by Fewster and looked to be heading on target, until a timely defensive block.

Both N'Mai and Kallum Mantack came close in the early stages of the second half, and the latter saw his strike from inside the area cleared off the line by Beeden. N'Mai was also denied by a fantastic save from Bland in the 54th minute, the Whitby gloveman tipping his effort over the crossbar.

Priestley Griffiths went close with a dipping free-kick at the other end, reminding the visitors of the threat posed by the Seasiders, before the in-form Bland denied N'Mai again, the goalkeeper this time tipping the strike around the post, halting the talented Salford City loanee.

Deep into stoppage time, a free-kick was awarded to Whitby close to the half-way line. It was this set piece that brought the hosts' late winner however. Griffiths floated the ball forwards which found its way to Connor Simpson at the back post. He took a touch before crossing perfectly onto the head of Beeden and he fired home from close range.