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Unibond League Division One
Bridlington Town 1 Kidsgrove Athletic 1
A fine result for Town, who shrugged off the midweek departure of 3 more
players from the cash-strapped club to produce their most fluent performance
for some time. Manager Pete Smurthwaite threw in new signing Danny Buttle,
from Humber premier side Westella & Willerby, and the youngster responded
to
the challenge with a sparkling debut on the left wing. With Andy Wardell
also enjoying another good game on the left flank, Town looked to have a
balance and potency in attack that has been missing in recent months. The
only disappointing element on the day was another poor attendance figure of
only 111, with Smurthwaite’s appeals for local fans to turn out in force
again falling on deaf ears. With all the focus lately on the financial
situation at Queensgate, people would appear to have forgotten the club is
still well-placed in the league, and on this performance, have no intention
of throwing in the towel.
The visitors had the upper hand in the early stages, winger Ash Miller
catching the Town defence square to go clear and fire a low angled drive
across the face of goal. Town were struggling to clear their lines, and it
took a good ten minutes to get into gear, but gradually, Buttle and Wardell
began to impose themselves on the flanks, and with the imposing figure of
Wayne Wallace getting to grips with the Kidsgrove midfield, Town took
charge. Frontman Ben Eastwood had a shot from the edge of the 18-yard box
well held by ‘keeper Rob Powner, on 18 minutes, then following a corner,
strike partner Ali Benson saw a goalbound effort blocked by centre-back
Wayne Johnson. Eastwood was enjoying a fine spell, and was unlucky not to
give Town the lead on the half-hour. Showing tremendous tenacity to win the
ball from right-back Andy Thomas, he cut in past 2 challenges and drove a
curling 20-yarder just wide of the post. Buttle was also finding plenty of
freedom on the left side, and his pace and trickery saw him able to get in
behind the visitors’ defence on more than one occasion. Wallace got on
the
end of a another fine low cross from the Town winger on 40 minutes, but
slipped as he was was turning to shoot, and the ball was cleared.
A bright opening to the second period saw Town take a deserved lead on 55
minutes as the Benson-Eastwood partnership worked to perfection. A Carl
Giblin clearance out of defence was flicked on by the ex Hull-City man into
the path of Eastwood, who raced between the centre-backs to send a fine lob
over Powner.
The visitors responded just minutes later, as Rich Eyres sent in a stinging
20-yarder that Town ‘keeper Gavin Kelly held well. Smurthwaite then sent
on
striker Andy Neill as substitute for the tiring Wardell, who had worked
himself into the ground on the left flank, and the stocky hitman, in perhaps
an unfamiliar role, began to pose problems almost immediately with his
physical presence. He found the predatory Eastwood on 70 minutes with a
great through ball, and Eastwood held off his marker to force a fine save
from Powner. Kidsgrove grabbed what looked a fortunate equaliser on 77
minutes, as a free-kick into the Town box looked to have been dealt with,
only for Miller to charge down the clearance, and with the element of
surprise in his favour, struck an instant low drive past Kelly into the far
corner. Town were saved from what would been a terrible injustice shortly
afterwards as Miller was this time denied what looked a certain winner by
a
brilliant reflex stop from Kelly. With legs tiring on a heavy surface in
the closing minutes, both teams appeared content to play out time for the
point, and the Queensgate faithful afforded their team a deserved ovation
at
the final whistle. With the experienced heads of Shaun Baker and Wayne
Lewis proving vital alongside Town’s youngsters again, Smurthwaite confessed
to being ‘delighted’ by his new-look team’s performance, and
if just a few
results go Town’s way in the next couple of weeks, his side could still
make
the play-offs and end a troubled season on a well-earned high.
Teams:
Brid Town:
Kelly, Hyam, Lewis, Baker, Giblin, Suddaby, Wardell, Wallace, Eastwood,
Benson, Buttle.
Subs: Neill, G.Wardell
Kidsgrove:
Powner, Thomas, Fitton, Kielty, Johnson, Vickers, Eyres, Robinson, Read,
Twigg, Miller.
Subs: Jones, Bostock, Smith