There were three changes to the Seasiders’ starting XI, with Lewis Hawkins returning to captain the side, Sam Collins coming in for the injured Nathan McGinley, and Aaron Haswell replacing Sunderland loanee Charlie Dinsdale. The adjustments brought energy and intent, and Whitby started brightly.

The first opening fell to Layton Watts after 15 minutes, but his effort from the edge of the area drifted wide. Leek responded midway through the half when Hayden Campbell fired over from distance, but Whitby continued to look the more composed side in possession. Haswell tested Dino Visser with a low left-footed strike on 30 minutes, and moments later Jake Charles saw a dangerous low cross-shot flash across goal, agonisingly out of reach of James Harrison at the back post.

The pressure continued as Harley Dawson reacted quickest to a loose ball in the area and teed up Haswell, whose pair of efforts were bravely blocked by the Leek defence. At the other end, Shane Bland was called into action, tipping Louis Potts’ low drive around the post before denying Ollie Heywood from the resulting corner.

Whitby’s persistence was rewarded just before the break in spectacular fashion. Captain Hawkins produced a moment of real quality, unleashing a stunning strike from around 30 yards that rocketed into the top corner to give the visitors a deserved lead.

Leek came out with renewed urgency after the interval, though Bland remained assured, comfortably gathering Campbell’s looping header early in the second half. However, the hosts drew level on 53 minutes when Lucas Weir capitalised on a defensive lapse, with Collins and Dawson unable to react in time as the ball broke kindly for the forward.

The game turned further against Whitby as Leek began to exploit gaps at the back. Potts made it 2-1 on 69 minutes, reacting quickest after Collins’ initial touch failed to clear a low cross. Despite efforts to regain control, Whitby were dealt another blow nine minutes later when Weir grabbed his second, once again punishing hesitant defending.

To their credit, the Seasiders refused to fold. Haswell played a key role in setting up a late lifeline, peeling away at the back post before squaring for Harrison, who made no mistake from close range to reduce the deficit in the 87th minute.

Whitby pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages but were unable to find the decisive moment, leaving them to reflect on a performance that showed promise in one half but a lot of questions to be asked of the second.

The result means Whitby Town’s survival will be decided on the final day of the season. A draw against Cleethorpes Town at the Towbar Express Stadium will be enough to guarantee safety, setting up a tense and decisive finale in their fight to avoid relegation.