Whitby Town registered back-to-back away wins for the first time since September, with a thrilling victory at FC United of Manchester.

The Seasiders ran out 4-3 winners over their fellow play-off chasers, putting them level on points with fifth-placed Buxton, on 46 points.

Nathan Haslam and Lee Bullock made two changes from the late smash and grab victory at Hyde United, with Harry Green and Malik Dijksteel replacing Josh MacDonald and Coleby Shepherd, who both dropped to the bench.

A four-minute salvo inside the opening ten minutes yielded three goals - two for Whitby and one for the Red Rebels - in what was a high-energy opening to the play-off six-pointer.

Whitby could have led earlier than they did too. Daniel Rowe's commanding header was flicked on via the boot of Green to Jacob Hazel, who outmuscled his man and fired just wide.

Just two minutes later it was the Blues breaking the deadlock. Green - returning on loan from Middlesbrough this week - met Jake Hackett’s near-post corner and sent the ball across the face of goal with a deft touch, clipping the post on its way in.

The hosts levelled matters from a corner themselves a minute later when skipper Jonathan Smith turned the ball home, with Whitby unable to clear.

And the frantic start continued with Whitby regaining the advantage just moments later. Malik Dijksteel's mesmerising footwork left two men on the floor, before slotting through to Hazel. The Blues' forward saw his low effort palmed away by Dan Lavercombe, with Brad Fewster reacting quickest to tap home inside the six-yard box.

Bullock and Haslam's side enjoyed the running of the opening exchanges, with numerous opportunities coming to increase their advantage.

Hazel saw his low, drilled effort from the right sent wide via the foot of gloveman Lavercombe, while the FC United stopper was also forced into keeping out Rowe's header from the resulting corner.

FC United weren't without chances, and could have levelled for a second time minutes later. Michael Donohue's right-wing cross found Regan Linney at the far post, who could only head wide.

The Blues continued to probe and ask questions of the Red Rebels. Hazel, who had a brief loan spell with FC United earlier in his career, was unfortunate to not score when Smith's last-ditch sliding block sent his effort from close range over.

Centre-half Jonny Burn then went close to extending the advantage for Whitby, only to be denied by a world-class save from Lavercombe, the FC custodian tipping the Whitby man's volley on the turn onto the crossbar.

Whitby hadn't scored direct from a corner this season going into the trip to Broadhurst Park, but on half-hour, they had their second of the evening from a wide set-piece. Fewster's movement saw him meet Priestley Griffiths’ corner to head home.

FC United found a way back into the game minutes before the break, with another set-piece being Whitby’s undoing. Harry Wilson guided Donohue’s corner goalwards, with Hackett’s swiped clearance guiding the ball beyond Shane Bland at the back post.

And they could have levelled on the stroke of half-time. An awkward clearance fell to Donohue, who played Linney through. The forward could only fire over from a tight angle however.

After the break, the hosts looked for a leveller when kicking into their own fans, with the game's momentum swinging in their favour. However, for all their possession, chances continued to be at a premium.

Whitby looked dangerous on the counter-attack, with Hazel left wondering how he missed. The Seasiders broke down the right, with Fewster's early cross finding the Northern Premier League's top goalscorer via a poor touch from Morris. He could only fire wide though from point-blank range, with the goal at his mercy.

And it looked like the Blues would be left to rue the missed chance when FC United levelled just ahead of the hour mark. A free-kick from the left found Aaron Morris, who forced home from short range inside the six-yard box.

Whitby continued to look dangerous and managed to find a winner with twenty minutes left. Fewster capitalised on a mistake from Adam Dodd, playing through to Hazel who fired home a powerful effort inside the area.

Lavercombe was forced into action with three minutes remaining when Fewster released substitute Josh MacDonald, saving well with his feet from the on-loan Hartlepool man's effort.

There was still time for Bland to be called into action again too, as the dying embers of the game were played out. Josh Galloway - who signed for FC United earlier in the day on loan from Leeds United - fired a shot in from 20 yards, forcing the Whitby custodian to push away with seconds remaining.

FC United of Manchester: Lavercombe, Halls, Dodd, Smith (C), Morris, Jones (Ennis '60), Donohue, L. Griffiths, Linney, Wilson (Waddecar '67), Duckworth (Galloway '46). Subs not used: Gooden, Potts.

Whitby Town: Bland, Fergus, Hackett, Hawkins (Ible '68), Rowe (C), Burn, Dijksteel, P. Griffiths, Hazel (Sukar '78), Fewster, Green (MacDonald '51). Subs not used: Shepherd, Dyer.

Attendance: 1,573

Nahan Haslam's reaction

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