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Unibond League Division One
Clitheroe 2 Bridlington Town 0
The fat lady is about to deliver her vocals for a beleagured Town outfit,
who are now at last succumbing to the effects of knowing that the
debt-crippled club will almost certainly be returning to local football at
the end of this season. The hardy bunch of Seasiders’ fans who made the
long trip over the Pennines saw their team dominated by a side who they
beat comfortably at Queensgate earlier in the season, and up until recent
developments off the field became a factor, would have expected a similar
result against a mid-table side. What would appear to be the final nail was
banged home into the coffin lid after the game by the resignation of the
Town management team of Billy Heath and Mark ‘Bobby’ Carroll, who
have been
the inspiration behind the club’s rise from park football into the
semi-professional game over the last six years, but now understandably, feel
they have reached the end of the road at Queensgate. They leave with the
thanks and best wishes for the future from all at the club for their
fantastic efforts.
The game itself was a scrappy affair. Clitheroe looked a useful side, with
pace aplenty through the midfield, and Town struggled to stamp any authority
in this key area. Wide man Craig Sargeson got in behind the Town defence
after only 3 minutes but screwd a low shot wide of Town ‘keeper Nick
Tudor’s
post. The seasiders, with striker Ali Benson returning to the side from
injury to replace the holidaying Paul Wilson, then created a chance for Ben
Eastwood, who warmed Clitheroe stopper Pete Collinge’s hands with a well
struck shot.
Aside from Eastwood’s effort however, Town were creating little in the
way
of clear-cut opportunities, and this was largely down to the dominating
presence of Ryan Parr at the heart of the home defence, who kept Town’s
leading scorer Paul Palmer quiet throughout the 90 minutes. The
barrel-chested centre-half didn’t appear to miss anything in the air
all
afternoon, and was quick enough on the deck to snuff out any threat from the
lively Eastwood as well. His midfield colleague Paul Stansfield had a good
chance to give Clitheroe the lead on 19 minutes, as he clipped a curling
shot from the edge of the 18-yard box just wide of Tudor’s post, and
he was
again involved shortly after, threading a through ball into the path of
striker James Featherstone , who burst clear of the Town defence only to
shoot wide.
Town could have grabbed the lead on 23 minutes. A foul on Eastwood 20 yards
out brought a free-kick for Town, and the Holy Trinity of Martin Thacker and
Lee Harper again recreated the scene so familiar to Town fans, with the
midfielder delivering a perfect ball onto the head of his skipper, but with
the travelling support gathering breath to celebrate the goal, Harper’s
effort was just too high and a static Collinge was relieved to see it fly
over the bar.
With half-time approaching, Seasiders’ winger Wayne Wallace produced
one of
his trademark surging runs towards to home box, and cracked a shot that
fizzed inches wide. The added-time board was being readied Clitheroe
responded, and this time made the breakthrough. A square ball in from the
left reached Stansfield in space on the edge of the 18-yard box. His low
shot was well-struck, but the diving Tudor appeared to have it covered until
the ball bobbled up and over the Town ‘keeper’s gloves and into
the far
corner. Incredibly, deep in injury time, Harper had the ball in the
Clitheroe net for an apparent equaliser, but was pulled back for offside.
The second half did little to warm the crowd on a bitter day, as Town huffed
and puffed against the home rearguard to little effect. It came as little
surprise when on the hour, Clitheroe increased their lead to put the game
to
bed. A dubious free-kick gave full-back Scott Priestley the chance to
deliver a ball to the far post. Striker Andy Taylor and Town left-back
Martin Ramsay jumped for the ball, and although the Clitheroe man looked
have got clean contact with his header to power the ball past Tudor, the
strike was later credited as an own goal to the Town defender.
Town could have folded in the last half-hour, but to their immense credit,
didn’t throw in the towel. Centre-back Carl Giblin had another outstanding
game, and looks an even better player now than last season, when he was
attracting the attention of league clubs. His time at the higher level must
surely come next season. With Wayne Lewis replacing Benson for his
customary 15 minute cameo in the midfield, Town suddenly could have got an
unlikely result from the game. Eastwood’s persistence against the rugged
figure of Parr almost paid off, as for once he escaped the shackles of the
big defender to turn and crack a marvellous looping 20-yarder that Collinge
did well to keep out. A Lewis pass then found Wallace 30 yards out, and the
tall winger strode past 2 challenges to fire in a shot that cannoned off the
bar with Collinge beaten.
Town now have a double-header next weekend when they travel to Warrington
on
the Saturday, and host Colwyn Bay in a re-arranged game on the Sunday. With
Heath and Carroll departed, chairman Pete Smurthwaite and Town stalwart
Lewis now take the managerial reins for these games and for the rest of the
season. All Town fans will wish Pete and Wayne the best in their continuing
efforts at the Club.