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Saturday 29th November 2003
Unibond League Division One
Bridlington Town 1-0 Gateshead
(Harrison 44 mins)
Att: 165
Referee: R.J.West
This was one of the top games of the day and was certainly an entertaining one to watch despite driving rain and gale force winds. The Seasiders took the points as Phil Harrison hit his fifth in three games to move Town up to second in the table with games in hand. Town were without Andy Thompson, Martin Thacker, Danny Drayton and Paul Farley to add to long term injury absentees Jason Harris and Lee Harper but still had enough to secure another three points.
The first half saw a tide of red take advantage of the wind at their backs to keep the visitors in their own half for much of the first 45 minutes. Town won corner after corner as Gateshead struggled to clear with the conditions helping the home side. Despite forcing 15 corners Gateshead looked to have held out to the break until a moment of genious decided the game. Shaun Baker and Craig Suddaby linked to clear and picked out Craig Burdick. Burdick looked up and picked out Phil Harrison with a slide rule pass and Harrison gratefully powered a 25 yard shot past Burke to give the home side the lead on 44 minutes. It was no more than Town deserved after piling on the pressure. Infact, Gateshead must have been relieved to have been only one down at the break with the knowledge that they would have the wind in the second half. Despite being against the wind in the second half, it was the Seasiders who had the better of the play. Harrison and Palmer were a constant menace to the Gateshead rearguard and Craig Burdick had the measure of the opposition with some scintilating runs down the right. Gateshead gave it their best to get back into the game with Thompson, and Colvin going close but on the rare occasions Town's defence was breeched, Keeper Gavin Kelly was allert enough to deny any openings for the Tynesiders. Gatesheads best effort came on 70 minutes. After winning a free kick down the right Morgan swung in the free kick and Curtis powered a header against the bar but Town reacted quickest to clear their lines. Town played some neat football at times and again made the visitors retreat as they broke forwards at pace on a number of occasions. From here on it was Town who looked most like scoring. Dave Ingram had a volley saved by Burke on 73 minutes then with 6 minutes to go Burke spilled a cross and Town's Burdick took advantage to drive in a powerful shot only for it to cannon off the post and across the face of goal before being desperately hacked clear. In the closing stages Phil Harrison beat the offside trap but over ran the ball when clear, though wide of the goal. A thoroughly deserved win for Town who dealt with the conditions admirably and recorded a winning double against one of the fancied sides this season.Man of the match Craig Burdick
Bridlington Town
1. Kelly, 2. Taylor, 3. Robinson, 4.Baker, 5.Suddaby, 6.Heath, 7.Burdick,
8.Lewis (12.Ingram 53 mins), 9.Palmer, 10.Harrison, 11. Baldwin
Subs 12. Ingram, 14. Richards, 15. Cass
Gateshead
1. Burke, 2. Harrison, 3. Morgan (12. Southern 85 mins), 4. Cattenach, 5.
Curtis, 6. Rasmussen, 7. Dibie (15. MacDonald 72Mins), 8. Blandford, 9.
Thompson, 10. Chilton, 11. Colvin,
Subs 12. Southern, 14. Buzzeo, 15, MacDonald