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Saturday 4th February 2006
Bridlington Town 1 Fleetwood Town 1
East coast met west coast at Queensgate on Saturday, and Town shrugged aside
the off-field problems of the last week to produce a superb battling display
against their top-six rivals which manager Billy Heath rightly hailed as
‘massive’. Victor Gladwish, of shirt sponsors Gladwish Land Sales,
also
paid a surprise visit, journeying all the way from the South Coast on the
morning of the game, and the team ensured he maintained his record of never
having seen them lose.
Town looked in positive mood early on, with Martin Thacker and Wayne Wallace
both enjoying plenty of freedom on the left of midfield. It was from a
trademark Thacker free-kick from a foul on Paul Palmer in the 17th minute
that Lee Harper was unlucky not to give Town the lead, angling his header
inches wide of the upright.
Fleetwood, roared on by an impressive travelling support, got into their
stride shortly after, as Jonathan Smith tested Town ‘keeper Nick Baxter
with
a 20-yard shot on 24 minutes. Both defences seemed to have the measure of
the game however, and genuine chances were at a premium. There was uproar
on 40 minutes, as an apparent elbow by Fleetwood skipper Steve Macauly on
Town striker Ben Eastwood somehow went unpunished by the referee.
Town poured forward as the half drew to a close, with Steve Underwood
finding space inside the visitors’ box, only for Mcauly to deny the Town
midfielder with a more legitimate challenge. Shaun Baker then saw his
goalbound 20-yarder blocked on the 6-yard line before the half-time whistle
brought relief for Fleetwood.
The seasiders were almost caught napping immediately after the break. A
ball through to striker Phil Denney saw the striker race clear, only to fire
his shot into the side netting. Town woke with a start, and straight away
launched their own move down the right with Carl Giblin finding Eastwood
with a fine through ball. The Town striker almost put fellow hitman Paul
Palmer clear but the lay-off fell just short and the ball was cleared.
Town grabbed a deserved lead on 55 minutes. More pressure down the left
flank earned a corner, and from Thacker’s pinpoint delivery, Eastwood
ghosted in at the far post to smash his effort past ‘keeper Andy Banks
to
silence the raucous away fans. Now it was Bridlington voices that could be
heard, as the home fans saw the imperious Wallace surge past 3 challenges
in
the midfield to set up Palmer for a shot which Banks did well to hold.
Fleetwood reminded the seasiders why they are also vying for the top 6, as
a
lightning break on 76 minutes released Denney again. Baxter charged from
his goal and the home fans held their breath as the pair collided inside the
box. The referee kept his whistle firmly in his pocket, and apart from a
slightly groggy goalkeeper who was fine after treatment, Town had lived to
fight another day. Indeed, they went straight back on the offensive. The
visitors’ midfield simply could not contain Wallace, and he again powered
his way to the edge of the box only to be felled by Lee Pryers, an action
which rightly earned the Fleetwood left-back a yellow card. Thacker’s
delivery looked perfect, but with Banks stranded, the ball brushed the side
netting.
With time running out, Town looked to have held on to claim the three
points, but in the 85th minute, a rugged clearance out of defence saw
Pryers, this time as a makeshift frontman, get his nose in front in the race
to the loose ball to poke past the advancing Baxter for a heartbreaking
equaliser. Town had little time to regroup, and there was to be no last
minute winner for the Queensgate faithful to celebrate.
With Mossley now back in form, and disappearing over the horizon towards
the
Premier Division, Kendal look a good bet to claim second spot, but the 4
play-off berths are still very much up for grabs. Billy Heath’s side
are
very much part of the shake-up at the top of the division, and all Town fans
will be hoping that the financial issues surrounding the club are quickly
resolved so Heath and his men can make the long return trip to Fleetwood
this Saturday in confident mood.
Teams:-
Bridlington Town.
Baxter, Giblin, Ramsay, Baker, Harper, Heath, Wallace, Thacker, Eastwood,
Palmer, Underwood.
Subs. Wilson, Fyvie, Hyam
Fleetwood Town
Banks, Robinson, Pryers, Moran, Macauly, Pond, Beech, Smith, Denney,
Stevens, Milligan.
Subs. Allen, Nay, Myers.