There was a notable change in the hosts’ starting XI, with Jarrett Rivers coming in to replace Donald Chimalilo, who recently completed a move to FC United of Manchester. Rivers' inclusion added a different energy to Whitby’s attacking line, and the home side would have looked to have started on the front foot.

However, it was Rylands who fashioned the first opportunity inside two minutes. Harrison Wood found space at the back post and met a dropping ball on the half-volley, but his effort drifted wide of the upright. It was an early warning sign for Whitby, who were forced to stay alert in the opening exchanges.

Whitby responded in the eighth minute when Layton Watts cut inside and struck from the edge of the area, only to see his effort flash wide. Moments later, the game burst into life defensively as Aaron Haswell produced a superb double block to deny George Waring and then Ben Hardcastle in quick succession, preserving parity with a display of bravery and positioning.

Rylands continued to threaten, and Shane Bland was called into action on 12 minutes, getting down smartly to keep out a low effort from Wood. At the other end, Whitby began to grow into the game. A flowing move in the 19th minute saw Watts race in behind the defence, but he could only fire straight at goalkeeper Luke Pilling. The rebound fell kindly for Matthew Tymon, whose header drifted wide.

The visitors remained dangerous from distance, with Hardcastle firing wide on 34 minutes, before another crucial defensive intervention followed. This time it was Harley Dawson who produced a perfectly timed sliding block to deny Ben Hough as he looked set to pull the trigger.

The deadlock was broken in the 37th minute. A cross to the back post caused problems for Whitby’s defence, and Patrick Gamble reacted quickest, calmly converting at the second attempt to give Rylands a deserved lead heading into the break.

After the restart, Whitby showed renewed intent. Jake Charles tested Pilling with an acrobatic effort in the 52nd minute, forcing the Rylands 'keeper into an impressive save. Watts remained at the heart of Whitby’s attacking play, curling another effort narrowly wide just after the hour mark.

As the pressure mounted, Pilling was again called into action on 68 minutes, producing a strong save to keep out Watts’ well-struck free-kick. It seemed as though Rylands might hold firm, but Whitby’s persistence paid off in the 76th minute.

From a corner delivered by Watts, Tymon rose highest to glance a header into the far corner, bringing the hosts level and sparking celebrations among the home supporters.

Rylands looked to respond quickly, but Jake Burton’s effort in the 88th minute was comfortably gathered by Bland. Despite late pressure from both sides, neither could find a decisive winner, and the points were shared after an entertaining and evenly contested affair.