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SATURDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER 2005
SEEL PARK, MOSSLEY
Att: 231
MOSSLEY 6, BRIDLINGTON TOWN 1
Town were blitzed by the strong and pacey Manchester outfit, who on this
showing totally justified their position of promotion favourites. Only a
world-class display by ‘keeper Nick Baxter kept the score to single figures,
with even the home fans affording him a deserved ovation at the end of the
game.
Mossley looked the sharper from the off, with Josh Howard turning on the
edge of the 18-yard area after only 2 minutes to fire in a shot which Baxter
held well. Minutes later, another effort from the same player was turned
away by Baxter for a corner. The ball came in and Danny Meadowcroft was
unlucky to see his thumping header come off the crossbar. Brid replied with
Paul Palmer flicking on a Martin Thacker ball for Steve Swales, whose rising
drive flashed over the Mossley bar.
The home side continued to dominate however, and took the lead on 18
minutes. Steve Sheil was first to another corner, and his header evaded
Baxter to creep inside the post. The ball was instantly hacked away, both
sides looked to the linesman, who correctly flagged for the goal.
Town had a marvellous chance to draw level on 22 minutes. Jordan Goodeve
had drawn another fine block from Baxter, whose vision released Ben Sherwood
down the right flank. A quick passing movement found Paul Palmer, who raced
clear of a static defence. His shot was well struck, but keeper Lee Bracey
rescued his side with a fine stop.
Mossley quickly regained momentum, with Goodeve again being thwarted by
Baxter twice in quick succession. A plunging dive to the near post was
followed by an acrobatic tip-over as the home side poured forward. The
second was only a matter of time it seemed, and Mossley duly obliged on 35
minutes. A corner was swung in. and Melford Knight was left with a free
header from the 6-yard line to give Baxter little chance.
Town tried manfully to get back on terms before the break. Manager Billy
Heath reshuffled the pack, sending on Craig Suddaby for Chris Hyam in
defence. The lively Sherwood looked to wriggle free of close marking on the
edge of the box, and the excellent Steve Swales was a constant source of
encouragement and distribution on the left. Mark Swales again looked the
part alongside the tireless Palmer in the attack, but both Town men were
being given little change by the home defence.
HALF TIME
MOSSLEY 2 BRID TOWN 0
A more promising opening to second period saw Town in the ascendancy at
last. Sherwood was now playing in a more central role, and the ex-Ferriby
man competed well alongside Thacker against a physical midfield. He was
fouled at the end of a sparkling 4-man move on 58 minutes to gain a
free-kick 20 yards out. Thacker stepped up to send a absolute pearl of a
delivery over the wall and beyond Bracey to spark wild celebration among the
small but vocal away following.
Back came the home side looking to restore their cushion. Brid looked to
have remained switched on in the crucial period following the goal, until
on
61 minutes Chris Downey was allowed far too much space on the right to turn
an fire in a rasping drive that Baxter somehow turned onto the bar. With
the Mossley man and the home crowd in disbelief at the initial save, Adam
Morning kept his head to react first to the loose ball to fire home from
inside the box for a savage injustice to the Town keeper.
Town again had a chance to drag themselves back into contention minutes
later. Sherwood found space to beat his man, and cut the ball back to Mark
Swales. His low shot beat Bracey but not the feet of Cooke on the line.
Mossley turned defence into attack instantly, and Goodeve was again the
unfortunate victim of Baxter’s heroics as his shot was brilliantly fisted
away.
Again it seemed that the law of averages would produce another goal for the
home side. Baxter produced another top-drawer flying save to deny Knight,
but Mossley were not to be denied. The 75th minute saw substitute Joe Shaw
finally break clear of the tiring Town defence to slot the ball home.
Downey wrapped matters up with a quickfire double in the 79th and 83rd
minutes as all Brid resistance crumbled. It was heartbreaking for Baxter,
who simply did not deserve to be on the losing side, let alone by such a
margin. The Town players offered apologies to the travelling fans before
leaving the field, but all those present agreed that the effort on the day
was not in question and their side had just been beaten by the better team.
Town can have a route back to winning ways this Tuesday (20th) when they
entertain Spalding at Queensgate. Billy Heath’s side have not become
a bad
side overnight, and if the application is right for this game, then the
goals and points will come.
BRID TOWN : BAXTER, HYAM, LEWIS, BAKER, GIBLIN, HEATH, SHERWOOD, THACKER,
PALMER, S SWALES, M SWALES SUBS: SUDDABY, CATTERMOLE, TOWSE
MOSSLEY: BRACEY, COOKE, SHEIL, VERNON, MEADOWCROFT, KNIGHT, HOWARD,
THOMPSON, GOODEVE, DOWNEY, MORNING SUBS: DENNEY, SHAW, PILKINGTON