The Seasiders’ performance was flat just two days previous, however their showing just 48 hours later was much more promising and a lot closer to what Town fans had enjoyed in the early weeks of the season.

Once again, it was Jacob Hazel at the double for Whitby with another two excellent goals to give his side all three points against their North-East rivals at the Towbar Express Stadium at the Turnbull Ground.

Liam Noble had the first chance of note after four minutes but his long range effort was never going to trouble Shane Bland as it flew high over the crossbar.

The sixth minute brought Whitby’s first attack, and also their first goal of the afternoon as the Blues punished their opponents for failing to clear their lines.

Lewis Hawkins got his foot on a ball backwards that lacked pace allowing Hazel to take a couple of touches before unleashing a powerful, curling effort right into the bottom corner of Daniel Low son’s goal from 25 yards.

Three minutes later and Morpeth were given a decent opportunity to level matters straight away but Ryan Donaldson hit his free-kick too high, before Jack Foalle sent his effort wide under pressure from Jassem Sukar just a minute later.

The 20th minute saw Whitby have a corner which was played low into the area. Hazel got a touch on the ball but he could only fire wide with defenders around him.

But just a minute later, Whitby would have yet another chance when Marcus Giles broke into the area and had a go from a tight angle. It looked as if it should have been a comfortable save, however Lowson wasn’t convincing with his goalkeeping, almost letting the ball sneak through his legs.

There was a controversial moment on 28 minutes when the away side were awarded a penalty following a corner. Hazel did have hold of Carl Finnigan, but as did Finnigan of Hazel. Referee, Martin Conroy, adjudged Hazel to have been the culprit and a spot-kick was given.

It was ex-Hartlepool United captain Donaldson who stepped up but he struck the crossbar from 12 yards before Foalle headed over on the rebound.

Seven minutes later, Whitby could and maybe should have had a second when slack Morpeth play allowed Hazel to intercept a loose pass before playing a ball across the box for Giles. He was just behind the ball meaning that it got away from him despite his best efforts to slide the ball home from close range.

But Hazel went close himself moments after, only for him to be denied by Lowson who got down well to save his long-range effort.

Liam Cooke was next to go close for the Blues, but his effort somehow didn’t go in as his curling effort seemed to swerve along the goal-line before being cleared.

Following the clearance, Josh MacDonald called Lowson into action again as he had to top his powerful effort over the bar.

An eventful first half ended with further chances from Cooke, who volleyed wide, and then Daniel Rowe who headed into the hands of Lowson following a corner.

Morpeth started the second 45 minutes brightly and did have the ball in the net early on, only for Finnigan to be flagged for offside.

Visiting skipper Wayne Phillips almost had Morpeth level when he struck the post from inside the area with a sweet left-footed strike.

It would have been a shame for Whitby to lose the lead after all of their first half work, and the chances created and they did go close to a second from a Lewis Ritson clearance which found Hazel. After breaking into the area, he could only fire wide.

There was more controversy on 64 minutes when Finnigan and Rowe got into a bit of a scrap. Finnigan clearly had hold of Rowe’s leg but then claimed that Rowe should have been sent off for his reaction. Rowe was only given a yellow.

And then five minutes later the pair were at it again, this time with Finnigan managing to break Rowe’s nose after he led with his elbow when challenging for the ball in the air. He too was also booked.

The Whitby captain did have to be taken off and he is now set to miss the next couple of weeks with his injury.

The Seasiders did continue their search for a second and Giles put an effort wide on 76 minutes, before Hawkins then curled wide himself six minutes after that.

Whitby did finally get their second in the 86th minute though and it was their top scorer Hazel once again.

Adam Gell’s pass took a touch on the way though but this suited the Whitby forward perfectly as he used his strength to break away from two defenders before eventually smashing the ball beyond the helpless Lowson who had no chance.

Morpeth did get one back in the fourth minute of four added at the end though Connor Oliver but that had no bearing on the outcome as Whitby returned to winning ways. The only disappointment will have been that they couldn’t hold on for a clean sheet.