Lee Bullock and Nathan Haslam's side dominated proceedings against the Cheshire outfit, but their opponents defended solidly throughout the 90 minutes.

After a 4-1 drubbing at Buxton in midweek, the Town joint-managers named three two changes to their starting XI but even a more attack-minded side couldnt' find a way through.

Marcus Giles went close on a couple of occasions before Saunders, son of former Wales international Dean, gave Witton the lead against the run of play.

He cut inside before slotting the ball low beyond Shane Bland after 23 minutes.

Whitby reacted well and should have been level when Daniel Rowe fired over the crossbar following a corner minutes later.

Jassem Sukar then made Greg Hall parry his long-range strike but Witton escaped with Jacob Hazel unable to get a connection on the rebound. Giles would then strike over the bar with an overhead kick.

Giles then went close again, only to be denied by Hall once more, before Witton should have doubled their lead through Jawad Jebrin who hit a tame effort at Bland after doing all of the hard work in the build-up byt shrugging off a couple of Whitby defenders.

Early in the second half, Bradley Fewster and Hazel and Giles all had attempts for Whitby but they were frustrated on each occasion, largely down to the continued heroics of Hall.

Again frustrations would grow in the 83rd minute when Witton were awarded a penalty after a foul on Tom Owens. On this occasion, Bland would come to Whitby's rescue as he denied Saunders well with his feet.

And while Whitby contiued battling until the final whistle, they rarely looked like finding an equaliser and lost their fourth match in a row in all competitions.