Looking to put their midweek setback behind them, the Seasiders started brightly and thought they had taken the lead inside three minutes when Stuart Rose found the back of the net. However, celebrations were cut short as the referee adjudged a foul in the build-up and the goal was ruled out.

Rose remained at the heart of Whitby's attacking play and tested Theo Avery with a low effort from distance shortly afterwards, while James Dillon glanced a header over the crossbar from a corner as the hosts continued to press.

Ilkeston offered a threat on the break, but Whitby largely controlled proceedings throughout the opening period. The visitors' best opportunity arrived after 34 minutes when Jevin Seaton beat the offside trap and rounded Jack Norton, only to fire into the side netting from a tight angle. It proved a major let-off for the Seasiders, who otherwise looked solid and organised defensively.

The first half was not without disruption for the hosts, with Stan Hewitt forced off through injury after 20 minutes and replaced by Lucas Reed.

Despite the scoreline remaining goalless at the break, Whitby had shown enough to suggest a breakthrough was only a matter of time.

That breakthrough duly arrived after the restart as the Seasiders raised the intensity and began to pin Ilkeston back inside their own half. The ball was nodded into the path of Joey Phuthi who smashed the ball towards goal which was enough for Avery to spill the ball and see it trickle across his goal-line.

The second goal would ultimately provide the breathing room the hosts deserved. It came from the penalty spot after Sam Kay had been tripped, and captain Rose stepped up to emphatically send Avery the wrong way.

Ash Hunter came close to getting a goal back for Ilkeston with a left-footed effort that took the slightest touch off Leon Gibson-Booth before drifting wide, but Whitby continued to create openings against a tiring Ilkeston defence.

Changes from the bench helped maintain the momentum, with Jack Kilpatrick introduced for Rose for the final ten minutes. The substitute almost made an immediate impact, finding himself with a golden opportunity inside the area two minutes from time, but he was unable to make clean contact with the ball.

By that stage, however, Whitby were firmly in control. Norton and his defence dealt comfortably with any late Ilkeston pressure, ensuring the visitors were unable to find a route back into the contest.

After the frustration of Tuesday evening, this was exactly the response Whitby Town were looking for. Disciplined at the back, energetic in midfield and carrying far more attacking purpose, the Seasiders delivered a professional performance to secure all three points and record a welcome clean sheet. Most importantly, they showed the character to bounce back immediately and get their season back on track.