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Saturday 14th January 2005
Bridlington Town 1 Kendal Town 2
The proverbial six-pointer at Queensgate saw Town come off second-best to
a
robust and determined side who look more than capable of making one of the
automatic promotion berths their own come May. Surprisingly, given the
importance of the fixture, Town never really hit their straps, and despite
taking a second-half lead through Paul Wilson, the visitors would have felt
rightly aggrieved if they had taken nothing from the game.
The Seasiders opened brightly enough, Steve Underwood first to a flick-on
from Ben Eastwood to send a 20-yarder fizzing just over the bar. The lively
Eastwood was then denied twice in quick succession by the linesman, who
appeared to react more to the visitors’ appeals for offside rather than
forming his own decision. A fine set-piece on 20 minutes bringing again
involved Eastwood, as he provided the link from a Martin Thacker free-kick
to set up Paul Palmer, whose effort was well held by ‘keeper James
Salisbury.
Kendal gave notice of their intentions on 26 minutes, as frontman Russ
McKenna robbed Town centre-half Steve Heath of the ball on the edge of the
Town box, and cracked a first-time shot inches over the top. An intricate
set-piece from a free-kick 25 yards out on the half-hour almost unlocked the
Seasiders’ defence, but the final shot from Chris Ward was straight at
‘keeper Nick Baxter. Still Kendal turned the screw, and could not have
come any closer than in the 39th minute. Ged Smith took a square ball 25
yards out and crashed a fierce dipping shot that cannoned off Baxter’s
crossbar.
Yet again, Billy Heath’s half-time words appeared to have worked their
magic, as his charges took the game to Kendal in the opening stages of the
second half. Good work by Steve Underwood on the right flank earned Town a
corner, which Wilson swung in dangerously. The ball was half-cleared, with
Eastwood and Palmer then combining well on the edge of the box to keep the
pressure on the visiting defence, the latter sending in a fine snap-shot
which Salisbury did well to hold.
The seasiders grabbed the lead on 67 minutes. A cross into the Kendal
six-yard box produced a 30-second spell of pinball before Wilson eventually
stabbed home past a despairing Salisbury. It appeared that the Town players
were still celebrating along with the fans however, as they contrived to
lose the lead in the space of just one minute. A lightning move, virtually
straight from the restart saw John Osbourne deliver a fine ball from the
left flank, and Ged Smith stole in behind the Town defence to angle a fine
header across Baxter into the far corner.
It was a sickener for Town, who struggled to recover their composure.
Kendal began to dominate, with the physical presence of Ian Kilford in the
centre of the park proving a real handful for the Town midfield. A
concerted spell of pressure brought deserved reward on 76 minutes, as Town
struggled to clear their lines. The loose ball found Smith, who had time and
space on the edge of the 18-yard area to fire a measured shot through the
crowded box low into the corner past an unsighted Baxter.
Town went close in the dying minutes, as the impressive Wayne Wallace, on
as
substitute for Underwood, got among the Kendal defence down the right wing.
His low cross almost found Palmer free inside the 18-yard box, but the ball
held up in the mud, and a grateful Kendal defence were able to clear to
safety.
Town now have to re-group, with the three-hour trip to the Midlands to face
Gresley this Saturday. They have relinquished top spot with all of their
nearest rivals picking up points, and now lie third, but still well in with
the leading pack. After the run of form which took his side to the top,
manager Heath knows full well his side can still produce the goods, and will
hope this result was just a blip. The team return to Queensgate on Saturday
28th in a league encounter against Eastwood, which will hopefully bring a
better crowd than the disappointing 152 of yesterday.
Teams.
Bridlington Town
Baxter, Hyam, Ramsay, Tomlinson, Giblin, Heath, Underwood, Thacker,
Eastwood, Palmer, Wilson.
Subs. Baker, Wallace, Fyvie.
Kendal Town
Salisbury, Rigby, Roberts, Whittal-Williams, Taylor, P.Osbourne, J.
Osbourne, Kilford, Ward, McKenna, G. Smith.
Subs. Foster, Parker, P.Smith.