GLS Football

Tuesday 20^th April 2004

Unibond Division One

Bridlington Town 3 (1)(Heath 35, Palmer 50, Thompson 89)

Leek Town 2 (2)(Danylyk 10, Macari 18. )

Att: 163

Referee: D.Babski – Scunthorpe

It was a while coming but Bridlington Town eventually rounded off their home campaign with their first win in eight games after a fine second half performance in total contrast to the first half hour of the game.

After early pressure from Leek, Bridlington broke and Richards and Palmer combined but the ball ran behind as Richards closed in. McPherson for Leek set Hadland on his way but Brid’s Suddaby marshalled the ball out. Bridlington attacked after Andy Thompson intercepted and won a deep throw but Leek regained possession. Wooliscroft and Hadland managed to get down the right for Hadland to cross for Leek but Harper headed clear. Leek attacked again with some neat play but Ridley fired well wide. In the tenth minute a cross Leek switched play across to the left, Hassall crossed in and Danylyk headed home to open the scoring for the visitors. Bridlington were back up field from the kick off but the ball was soon back at them. A scramble in the home defence was eventually hoofed up field by Heath. Ingram, Taylor and Palmer worked in on the right for the home side but Ingram’s cross could only find visiting shirts. Just after the quarter hour Danylyk went on a run and tricked his way into a shooting position but pulled the ball well wide. Bridlington were struggling to get to grips with the visitors and the ball kept coming back at them. Once more the ball came in from the left and Bridlington’s defence missed the ball and Paul Macari was on hand to side foot home Leek’s second goal on 18 mins. A free kick to the home side down the left hand side was swung in. Hodgson puched clear, Richards fired the ball back in for Bridlington but Hodgson saved. On 25 mins a long free kick found Palmer and he turned and shot but wide of the mark. Bridlington were beginning to make more inroads but Leek still looked the more composed side as the half hour approached. Bridlington pressed but Leek managed to defend crosses from both Andy Taylor and Andy Thompson. More home pressure finally resulted in a curling shot from Taylor but Hodgson saved once more. A free kick gave Bridlington the chance to pressure further. Thacker lifted the ball in, Harper flicked on and Steve Heath got the final nod to loop the ball over Hodgson to pull a goal back on 35mins. A scramble on the left brought a “drop ball” and Bridlington gained a throw in. Robinson crossed in but Hodgson gathered easily. A long ball through from Leek saw Baxter and Robinson look to defende against Leek’s Macari with a goal kick ensuing. Baxter launched the ball forward and as Palmer looked to knock the ball on it hit Cartwright full in the face on the stroke of half time.

Manager Billy Heath gave the Bridlington players a stinging rebuke for their first half performance and brought on Phil Harrison for Jamie Richards. Bridlington attacked and Harrison had a couple of chances blocked before Paul Palmer lashed the ball home for the equaliser on 50 mins. Another chance came soon after following a foul on Palmer 35 yards out but Hodgson gathered and launched the ball back the other way. A free kick for Leek was fired in by Ridley and Sucherewycz headed over. Back at the other end Taylor forced the Leek defence to concede a deep throw in. Leek managed to scramble this away for another throw, then a third. Still working the right, Bridlington kept the pressure on eventually getting a corner but once more Leek cleared. With things all square both teams were committing to some “tasty” challenges and several free kicks came for both sides. A long free kick for Leek was headed behind by Harper for a corner. Another free kick for Leek saw Macari get too much on it to head behind. Play and possession kept changing direction. Ingram played Palmer through on the left for Bridlington and the Harrison was caught just offside. Hadland for Leek attacked down the left then Cartwright lifted in from the right. Into the last ten minutes and a through ball from Thacker found Palmer and Hodgson had to be out quickly to save, then Harrison and Palmer were caught offside. Ingram fed Harrison who fed Thompson before Leek cleared out for a throw. Ridley broke forward for Leek but a superb tackle from Bridlington’s Robinson set Palmer forwards again. Leek returned play and gained a free kick for a dubious obstruction 30+ yards out. Ridley’s effort struck the wall and Bridlington cleared. A free for Bridlington saw Thacker swing the ball in and though it went behind with Bridlington appealing for a corner, a goal kick was given. Bridlington regained possession and won a throw deep in the leek half. The throw came to Taylor who crossed and Thompson rose at the back post to head home and put Bridlington in the lead on 89 mins. Three minutes of time were added and Leek pushed up in search of an equaliser but Sucherewycz put the ball over the bar. Leek regained possession mid field with a free kick but this went behind.

Bridlington Town GLSFOOTBALL.com Man of the Match: Martin Thacker

Bridlington Town: 1.Nick Baxter, 2.Andy Thompson, 3.Steve Robinson, 4.Dave Ingram, 5.Lee Harper, 6.Steve Heath, 7.Andy Taylor, 8.Martin Thacker, 9.Paul Palmer, 10.Jamie Richards(12.Harrison 45), 11.Craig Suddaby, 12.Phil Harrison, 14.Mark Carroll, 15.Carl Giblin

Leek Town: 1.Steve Hodgson, 2.Ashley Wooliscroft, 3.Gary Sucharewycz, 4.Martin Ridley, 5.Wayne Johnson, 6.Shaun Cartwright, 7.Philip Hadland, 8.Anthony Danylyk, 9.David McPherson, 10.Paul Macari, 11.Jon Hassall, 12.Matt Haddrell, 14.James Sheldom, 15.Adam Sheldon