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DENE PARK, DUNSWELL
HALL ROAD RANGERS 0, BRIDLINGTON TOWN 3
On the hottest day of the year, Town dipped a tentative toe into the murky and unpredictable water of pre-season friendlies for their first outing of this campaign. They need not have worried, producing a fresh and sparkling display to comprehensively outplay the NCEL Division 2 side.
True to form in such games, a myriad of second-half substitutions from the Town bench saw manager Pete Smurthwaite as perhaps the busiest man at Dene Park, but his rotation was faultless, as every single player looked sharp and focused ,and some of Town’s passing and movement was out of the top drawer considering this was their first serious workout.
It only took 4 minutes for a fine Town move through midfield to find Ben Eastwood, whose partnership up front with Ali Benson seems to have clicked straight back into gear. He found Benson with a fine flick, sending the striker away to test home ‘keeper Tom Nicholson. This set the pattern for much of the first half, as Smurthwaite’s inventive young Town side probed intelligently down the flanks, and through ex-Hall Roader Jamie Barnwell in the centre. Debutee Drew McCoubrey, in the wide right slot, was also finding plenty of space, and got in behind the home defence on a number of occasions. He produced a cracker of a far-post cross on the half-hour that Anthony Bowsley met on the full only to crash narrowly over the bar.
Town finished the half well in control, as Shaun Baker was able to join the attack and fizz a 20-yarder inches wide. On the stroke of half-time another flowing move that brought no less than seven Town players into the action ended with Benson angling a drive wide of the post.
Town began the changes at the break, introducing a familiar face in midfielder Dave Ingram into the fray, along with ‘keeper Nick Tudor. Ingram’s persistence in the central role after 53 minutes enabled Town to break down the right, and a ball into the centre found Benson. His control was faultless, but with no-one in immediate support, he laid the ball wide again to Barnwell. It proved a wise move, as the new signing immediately curled a speculative cross-shot over Nicholson and into the top corner for Town’s opener.
With Town now firmly in the ascendancy, another great move involving Barnwell and Benson just before the hour was unlucky not to bring a second, but Eastwood made no mistake with a rare close range strike following a free-kick on 61 minutes, and Town were home and dry. Smurthwaite now went into substitution overdrive with the two-goal cushion, as Gary Wardell Danny Exley and Ben Davey were given a chance to shine. Wardell brought a combative touch to the left flank, linking well with the as usual impressive Carl Giblin. The three replacements combined themselves on 83 minutes as Town hit their third. Wardell won the ball out wide, lobbed a pass to Exley, who touched on to Davey in the clear. With the ‘keeper sprinting from his line, the frontman looked second favourite to get to the ball, but pace and strength won the day, and he strode clear past Nicholson to slot into an empty net.
Town go into their second warm-up this Saturday, albeit against a much sterner
opposition in Unibond Premier side North Ferriby, with a splendid confidence
boost under their belts. Smurthwaite was more than happy with the contribution
of all his squad, with another youngster in particular, Luke Harper, enjoying
an assured debut at centre-half. If this side can continue to gel together
then Town look to have their best side for some seasons.
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 22nd July 2006-07-22
Bridlington Town 0 North Ferriby United 2
Town’s first home friendly of the pre-season campaign brought la local derby with the visit of Brian France and his Unibond Premier side North Ferrriby, who showed their intent with the fielding of a full-strength side, including goalscoring talisman Gary Bradshaw. A superb playing surface that would have graced any stadium at any level of football greeted the teams, and immense credit is due to the groundstaff at Queensgate, who have only had six clear weeks in which to work.
Ferriby opened the stronger, with the predatory Bradshaw keeping the Town defence on their toes. The opening goal when it came on 11 minutes was from an unlikely source however. Left-back Mike Price advanced towards the angle of the 18-yard box, and lofted a speculative shot towards the far post which two covering Town defenders left to each other, and the ball crept in past an unsighted Gavin Kelly.
Ferriby went on to enjoy the majority of the play in the opening period, with Leon Wainman and Bradshaw proving a constant threat. Town had a golden opportunity to level minutes before half time as frontman Ben Eastwood skipped past two challenges to square the ball for strike partner Ali Benson in space who slipped as he was teeing the ball up.
The usual pre-season plethora of second-half substitutions surprisingly did little to impede the flow of what was now a cracking game. Ferriby looked ominously good through the midfield as Chris Bolder provided chances firstly for Wainman and then Bradshaw, but Town hot back on 65 minutes with their best move of the game, as a splendid left-flank move sent winger Danny Buttle free, only for his pinpont far-post cross to be cleared by the dominating figure of Paul Foot in the Ferriby defence. Foot had been a thorn in the side of the Town front two all afternoon, and it was easy to see how the big centre-back had been playing conference football with Scarborough last season. Their financial woes have certainly played into Ferriby’s hands.
Town continued to press, with substitute Drew McCoubrey lively on the right, and from his delivery on 70 minutes, Benson was inches away from levelling the scores.
The visitors put the game to bed against the run of play though in the 72nd minute, as a long diagonal ball out of defence found ex-Town right back Andy Thompson pushing up in space on the edge of the area, and he made no mistake with a cool finish across Kelly into the far corner.
Town still had chances in the closing stages, as Buttle crashed an effort
against the bar with ‘keeper Antoni Pecora well beaten, but Ferriby ran
out deserved winners in the end. A good workout for both sides, and certainly
no disgrace in defeat for Town, who will surely face few sides anywhere near
this calibre in Division One this season. Another major boost for the Seasiders
on the day was the news that influential winger Buttle has opted to stay with
the club after trying his luck at Conference North side Worksop, an ambitious
move on the part of the player which should be applauded. However, with the
guarantee of first XI football at Queensgate, he will stay in the Unibond
League, and will surely again prove a key figure in the side.
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
24 July 2006
BRIDLINGTON TOWN 1, HULL CITY 4
QUEENSGATE, BRIDLINGTON
Town proved the future is bright against the orange of Phil Parkinson’s Tigers with a spirited and accomplished display in front of a crowd of 292 at Queensgate on Monday evening. Town Chairman Pete Smurthwaite was full of praise for the attitude shown by the Seasiders’ Championship neighbours, who brought a strong side including such as Nick Barmby, and they were able to step up the pace when it mattered to put the game beyond the home side’s reach.
Even against such lofty opposition, Town fans’ nightmares would not have seen them conceding a goal after just 29 seconds, but it all went horribly wrong before many fans had taken their seats, as a misplaced back pass was gobbled up by Stuart Green, who strode around Town’s ex-City ‘keeper Gavin Kelly to slot home and stun the home crowd
Unbowed by the setback, Town set about their task on a billiard-table Queensgate surface that drew plenty of praise from the travelling City support, and wideman Danny Buttle was soon into his stride, attacking full-back Mark Lynch at every opportunity. On 10 minutes, a foul on Town debutee Mark Barber wide on the right earned a free-kick wide on the right, and a cracking delivery by Buttle over the top found Ben Eastwood at the far post, who squared back to Jamie Barnwell, the Town midfielder’s first-time shot being foiled by a brilliant point blank block from Curtis Aspden in the City goal. Buttle was again the provider as Town went close in the 25th minute, teeing up Barber whose 20-yard angled shot flew inches wide of the diving Aspdens’ post.
The influential Green was at the hub of City’s attacking play as they hit back, as he forced a fine save from Kelly on 29 minutes, and then Barmby showed his intentions from the rebound as he lofted a 25-yard chip back over the Town ‘keeper onto the post. With Town perhaps thinking they had done enough to go in at the break still in the game, City had other ideas, and a fine one-touch crossfield move released left-back Tom Matthews, who cut infield to drive in an absolute peach of a shot that arrowed straight into the top right-hand corner giving Kelly no chance.
A chance after half-time, as Town gave an outing to left-back Mark Willoughby, who registered an extremely promising debut against this class of opposition. Within seconds however , in a horrible echo of the first half, Town had fallen further behind. City attacked at pace through the centre, and a goalbound shot from Will Atkinson was brilliantly blocked by centre-back Carl Giblin, albeit with one minor hitch for his side. The method had been more Gordon Banks than Booby Moore and the referee rightly pointed to the spot. Striker Nick Featherstone almost burst the net with his spot-kick to make it 3-0 to City.
Kelly got his own back on the Tigers with another marvellous close-range block to deny Russell Fry as Parkinson’s side went for the throat, and then on 53 minutes, a classic counter attack earned City a deserved fourth. The ball went between the Town rearguard at pace for Featherstone to set up Barmby, who displayed his undoubted class with a delightful chip over the advancing Kelly.
Amazingly, within minutes, Town had got on the scoresheet, perhaps with the best goal of the night. Buttle took a pass from Barnwell to accelerate down the left, leaving Lynch in his wake to send over a textbook far post cross which Town full back Chris Hyam buried into the net with a fine diving header.
With the traditional friendly substitutions getting into full swing, both sides struggled to make an impact after Town’s goal. Atkinson produced a fine jinking run and shot on 65 minutes, and Towns replacement striker Danny Exley put in a lot of running against a robust City rearguard, now featuring local Brid youngster Brewster Frizzell.
Fry drew a splendid diving stop from Town’s reserve ‘keeper Nick Tudor with a fine 30-yard drive on 80 minute, but both sides now appeared content to play out time.
A good night on and off the pitch for Town, who on the basis of the last two games against higher opposition, look a good bet to be major players at their own level this season. With players returning from holiday and injury as the season approaches, Smurthwaite could well be left with the best sort of selection headache as he shapes his side.
Bridlington Town: Kelly, Hyam, Wardell, Suddaby, Giblin, Baker, Barber, Barnwell, Eastwood, Benson, Buttle
Sub: Harper, Exley, Willoughby, Davey, Harrison
Hull City: Aspden, Lynch, Matthews, Fry, Plumber, Byron, Bennett, Green, Featherstone, Barmby, Atkinson
Subs: Woodhead, McNamera, Belt, Devitt, Frizzell
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
1ST AUGUST 2006
BRIDLINGTON TOWN 0, SCARBOROUGH 3
A creditable performance from Town's young side against their East Coast neighbours, who brought their full-strength Conference North squad to Queensgate. The scoreline perhaps flattered the big guns, as only the lack of a linesman's flag and a couple of defensive slips made the difference. It was Brid youngster Ryan Blott who did the damage with two second half opportunist strikes in front of a healthy Queensgate cfrowd of 232.
Town winger Danny Buttle was the early danger man for the home side, showing plenty of pace and trickery. He got clear on 7 minutes to deliver a teasing far-post cross which Ben Eastwood headed back across the face of goal with ex-Town 'keeper Ricky Ossai beaten, but the ball ran agonisingly wide of the post. Scarborough showed their intent with a fine one-touch move down the left on 10 minutes, but young Town full-back Gary Wardell confidently snuffed out the threat.
Action was being mainly confined to the midfield, but on 22 minutes, Town gained a free-lick wide on the right from which Anthony Bowlsey cracked a brilliant 40-yard diagonal pass right into Buttle's stride on the left wing. Without breaking stride, the flying winger lofted another trademark delivery into the six-yard box where centre-back Mark Hotte beat Eastwood to the ball by inches to head behind and rescue his side.
Town were looking to close the half strongly, and another fine move on 39 minutes was sparked by Eastwood's intelligent front running as he robbed Ashley Lyth to lay the ball to Jamie Barnwell. His sweet first-time pass found Bowsley, who fizzed a rising shot past Ossai's post. With the break looming however, Scarborough took a shock lead seemingly from nowhere. With the Town defence expecting what appeared to be a nailed-on offside decision from a long ball over the top, the flag inexplicably stayed down and Darren Thornton was left with space and time to pick his spot past 'keeper Gavin Kelly.
With the traditional pre-season changes breaking up the rhythm of the game after the interval, the strength in depth of the Scarborough bench made the difference. Town had just put the ball in the net through Eastwood only to be pulled up for offside on 59 minutes, when justice was made even rougher by the visitors racing upfield to go two-up as Blott got on the end of the final ball at close range to fire home.
Eastwood and Buttle combined brilliantly on the hour with the winger providing another superb cross for the striker to power a header inches wide of a static Ossai. Town boss Pete Smurthwaite continued to ring the changes on 65 minutes with a frontline swap, Ben Davey replacing Danny Exley alongside Eastwood. Town were again unlucky not to get on the scoresheet in the next minute as Eastwood found full-back Chris Hyam charging forward near the byeline, whose shot was blocked well at the near post by Ossai. Hyam was in action again on 70 minutes at his own end, this time clearing off his own lineas the visitors attacked. He had done marvellously to foil the first shot, but the ball fell into the path of Blott who fired back into the far corner to give Scarborough a 3-0 lead and put he game to bed. Thee was still time for a late flurry from Town, as the industrious Barnwell teed up substitute Mark Willoughby for a fine angled shot which flew narrowly wide. The closing minutes saw another new face, striker Marcus D'Jie, take the field for Town as a replacement for Buttle.
Town return to Queensgate this Saturday when Barton Town are the visitors.
With the bombshell of striker Ali Benson's impending departure to the United
States, the number nine shirt alongside Ben Eastwood is again very much up
for grabs, and Smurthwaite will now have to decide whether to go with the
existing frontmen or put in the hours late in the day to unearth a quality
replacement. The squad has acquitted itself admirably against strong opposition
in the last 3 games, and still look a good bet to go well at their own level
when the season starts
Bridlington Town 0
Barton Town 1
This match should surely form the new definition of 'daylight robbery'.
The stage was set for ex-Seasiders' hero Craig Burdick, on his return to Queensgate
in the colours of Barton, to cosh his former teammates over the head, let
off the smoke bomb, and disappear out of the window with the spoils.
The plan went to perfection, as Town , despite dominating the game throughout
and contriving to miss a hatful of chances that on any other day they would
have gobbled up, switched off just the once, and that was enough for 'Bods'
to pounce with the only goal of the game. Town would perhaps have been better
off doing away with the conventional 11 footballers and signing Batman and
Robin for the day.
With frontman Ali Benson now departed to the United States, Town boss Pete
Smurthwaite opted for experience in attack alongside Ben Eastwood, with Jamie
Barnwell moving up from the midfield. The new combination looked extremely
effective in the opening minutes, as Town poured men into the visitors half.
Barton had no answer to the pace and trickery of winger Danny Buttle, and
carved out a cracking chance for Anthony Bowsley after only five minutes which
flew wide. Barnwell himself was next in the queue on 12 minutes following
clever hold-up play from Eastwood, sprinting clear only to see his shot blocked
by 'keeper Nicholson.
Mark Willoughby got in on the action shortly after, threading a fine through
ball to Buttle, who delivered another peach of a cross that Eastwood, with
only the 'keeper to beat from the six-yard line, somehow headed wide to the
disbelief of everyone in the ground.
The Town frontman was denied by Nicholson as he looked certain to open the
scoring on 16 minutes, with the jack-in-the-box 'keeper then springing to
his near post in the next attack to foil Buttle.
With the visitors penned in their own half, Town continued to ask all the
questions, and on the half-hour, Nicholson made a finger-tip save to deny
Town.
Town thought deliverance was finally at hand on 42 minutes, as after a sweeping
7-man move had split the Barton defence asunder, they had the ball in the
net only for Buttle to be pulled up for offside. The half finished with Barnwell
sending another 20-yarder fizzing over the bar.
The front combination of Eastwood and Barnwell carried on where they had left
off after the break, with both players going close before the 50-minute mark.
Then, on 53 minutes, out came the getaway car, swag bag and mask, as the Town
defence hesitated fatally, perhaps expecting an offside flag, to clear a long
ball over the top. Burdick was onto it like a shot, and with time and space
to burn, rounded a livid Town 'keeper Nick Tudor to slot home.
Town introduced substitute Danny Gildea into the right-wing berth on 55 minutes,
the youngest of a trio of brothers with a familiar name to observers of North-East
football. He got among the Barton defence immediately, and went on to feature
strongly in all of Town's attacking movement.
If his debut is any indication, no-one would bet against him making the grade
at the same level as older siblings Alex and Liam, currently in the Conference
North with Blyth Spartans.
Eastwood flashed a 20-yarder wide of the post just after the hour, before
he limped out of the action, with Gary Wardell also coming off the bench to
replace Barber. Town took a short while to regain their shape after the changes,
and Barton winger McKay got in behind the seasiders' defence on 80 minutes.
It took a good reflex block by Tudor to prevent a more embarrassing scoreline.
Great work from Gildea on 82 minutes should have at last earned Town something
from the game, as he played a delightful one-two with Wardell to race clear.
Nicholson got a hand to the shot, and pushed out the ball into the six-yard
box, sparking a goalmouth scramble, but again Town could not apply the finishing
touch, and the match then drifted to the inevitable conclusion.
Despite the slightly unexpected result, Smurthwaite could still take plenty
of positives as the season approaches on August 19th.
The squad is young, and should only get better, with several of the new faces
looking more than capable of playing UniBond level.
He has one or two key players to come back in, and the performance of Barnwell in the attack would suggest that replacing Ali Benson will not prove as much of a headache as it suggested
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
BRIDLINGTON TOWN 3 PICKERING TOWN 0
A welcome return to form for Town after the aberration of the previous Saturday against Barton. Town bossed the game against the NCEL outfit throughout, despite a potential lack of firepower with Ben Eastwood miising with a hamstring unjury. Pickering fielded Brid youngster Andy Wardell, who is signed for both sides, to line up against his brother Gary, but it was Wardell senior who enjoyed the more profitable evening with a sparkling display at right back.
Town recalled Drew McCoubrey, returning from holiday, to play alongside Marcus N’Jie in a new-look attack. Not surprisingly, the duo took a little time to gel, and real chances were sparse until N’Jie sent a looping header just wide on 23 minutes. Pickering frontman Phil O’Reilly had a glorious opportunity to give his side the lead minutes later, but dallied far too long in attempting to score himself when a simple square pass would have found Gavin Dickinson unmarked in front of goal. The visitors were made to pay on 29 minutes, as N’Jie fed McCoubrey with a great ball through the right-hand channel, and the young striker buried his shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the 18-yard box.
The strike inspired Town, and it was no surprise that they went further ahead on 41 minutes. Winger Danny Buttle sped down the left flank, and his perfect cross was snapped up by N’Jie at the far post who registered his first goal for Town. Town put the game to bed with a fine strike from McCoubrey on 45 minutes, as he took a fine through ball in his stride to go clear and slot under the ‘keeper.
Jamie Barnwell took a knock early in the second half and was replaced by
Mark Barber. Town continued to run the game, with a fine four-man move in
the 55th minute culminating in Buttle sending a skidding drive against the
‘keeper. Pickering’s attacking play was foundering against a solid
Town defence, in which the centre-back pairing of Craig Suddaby and Luke Harper
is really beginning to blossom, and the visitors had no answer to their dominance.
Striker Steve Roberts did get clear on 72 minutes, but drove his shot wide.
Town played out the game without any real scares, and go into the final pre-season
game this Saturday back on track.
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
BRIDLINGTON TOWN 2, SCULCOATES AMATEURS 2
Hardly what Town boss Pete Smurthwaite and the hardy Queensgate faithful would have wanted in the final game of the pre-season campaign. Played in staggering conditions for August which could have come straight from the ‘Day after Tomorrow’ set, any sort of constructive football became more impossible as the game progressed, and the referee could perhaps have blown his whistle on the hours mark to put all concerned out of their misery.
Town opened very brightly, and took a 5th minute lead, as Drew McCoubrey raced onto a through ball to take his tally to three goals in two games with a thumping low shot past Paul Drayton. Sculcoates’ Ricky Field ballooned a good chance over the Town bar when well placed, before Town increased their lead on 17 minutes. Striker Marcus N’Jie took a through ball from Danny Gildea to go between the centre-backs and through on goal. Drayton did well to block the initial shot, but had no chance as N’Jie drove home the loose ball.
Ex-Town frontman Danny Dratyon had perhaps the best chance of the half for the visitors on 42 minutes, looping a far-post header back across Town ‘keeper Gavin Kelly only for the ball to drift wide.
The conditions were worsening by the minute, and Town, now playing into the gale, were struggling to make any headway. They conceded a penalty on 69 minutes which Dave Gowans rammed home to bring his side back into the game. With Town fans huddled in small groups as far back into the stands as possible, their side appeared quite content to play out time, a fatal error for the seasiders, as Sculcoates drew level in the 85th minute. A diagonal ball across the 18-yard box reached Andy Finnity, who drove a low angled shot into the far corner.
With the referee sensibly playing a bare minimum of stoppage time, the game
drifted to it’s soggy, windswept conclusion, and both sides hurried to
the sanctuary of the dressing rooms. Smurthwaite will be hoping for good news
on the injury front this week prior to Saturday’s big kick-off against
Alsager at Queensgate, and received a timely boost after the game as key centre-back
Carl Giblin signed on the dotted line to commit himself to the seasiders for
this season.
UNIBOND LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 19TH AUGUST 2006
BRIDLINGTON TOWN 0, ALSAGER TOWN 4
MATCH SPONSORED BY VAN MONSTER, CARNABY IND. EST., BRIDLINGTON
MATCH REPORT BY JUSTIN CHOAT
An opening day shocker from the Seasiders, whose first half display was straight from the studios of Hammer. Town boss Pete Smurthwaite had all but one of his First XI squad fit for this first league fixture of the season, and Town fans were confident of taking the points going into the game against an Alasager side newly promoted into the division from the North-West Counties League.
That scenario was turned on it’s head inside 8 minutes. Visitors’ winger Paul Macari, son of Manchester United legend Lou, and no mean performer himself having plied his trade at Stoke City and Huddersfield Town, shrugged past the challenge of young left-back Gary Wardell to cross into the 18-yard box. Striker Rich Mitchell, with his back to goal, produced an instant turn and shot that gave Town ‘keeper Gavin Kelly no chance.
A sluggish Town side appeared not to realise that the season had started, and a rampant Alsager side, clearly intent on proving that they have not come into the league just to make up the numbers, went two-up on 13 minutes. A deft through ball from midfielder Glyn Blackhurst put striker Chris Budrys through on goal, and he made no mistake with a fine chip over Kelly. Town were unable to produce any real spark, and the visitors were unlucky not to increase the lead on the half hour as Karl Robinson’s rocket of a far post header was cleared off the line.
Town had an opportunity to get back into the game on 37 minutes, as Danny Buttle, who again enjoyed a fine game on the left wing, got in behind the defence and squared for Ben Eastwood, who just failed to get the final touch ahead of centre-back Steve Elks. Town paid dearly, as the visitors swept to the other end, and seconds later, Mitchell was through on goal to loft a shot over Kelly into the far corner.
With half-time approaching, more fine approach work from Buttle produced a goalmouth scramble but again there was no end product, and the visitors went in 3-0 ahead at the break. Town upped their performance visibly after the interval, with young striker Drew McCoubrey getting among the central defenders with a series of typically robust challenges. Town’s finest move of the match, on the hour mark, and hopefully a sign of what the side can do in games to come, saw a splendid one-touch four man combination split the Alsager defence for McCoubrey to fire in a low shot that ‘keeper Phil McGing did well to turn away for a corner. McGing was in action again from the flag-kick, diving to his near post to block a Jamie Barnwell shot. A fantastic weaving run from McCoubrey minutes later as he skipped past at least three challenges deserved a goal but the final shot was well held by McGing. It was now hard to believe Town were three goals down, as skipper Shaun Baker won a 50-50 ball with a crunching challenge to find Buttle scurrying in from the left, whose fine first time shot flew inches wide with McGing beaten.
Town had what certainly appeared to be a nailed-on penalty waved away by the referee on 80 minutes, as Eastwood, turning his marker inside the 18-yard box, was felled by the challenge, and the final insult was applied right on full-time with almost the last kick of the game. Town, still pushing up in search of an elusive consolation goal, were caught cold at the back, and Budrys had time and space to reach parity with his strike partner by slotting past Kelly for Alsager’s fourth.
Town now have the chance to put this one down to experience, and get back to playing the sort of football of which they are clearly capable on Wednesday evening, when they travel over the Humber to Brigg. Town fans who were criticising the team’s performance during the game may perhaps have short memories, as one recalls the side actually won 4-0 at Burscough just 2 seasons back on the opening day and were promptly relegated at the end of that campaign.
Town Man of the Match as sponsored by VAN MONSTER Carl Giblin
Bridlington Town:
Kelly, Hyam, Wardell, Baker, Giblin, Suddaby, McKay, Barnwell, McCoubrey, Eastwood, Buttle.
Subs. Gildea (for McCoubrey 81) Harper, Barber.
UNIBOND LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
BRIGG TOWN 0, BRIDLINGTON TOWN 0
A point made in all senses for the Seasiders, who after the collapse in the first game of the season the previous Saturday, journeyed over the Humber Bridge to a venue which has certainly not been one of the more profitable in recent years, and the fans making the trip through monsoon-like conditions to the Hawthorns may perhaps have been fearing the worst. Town’s young battlers however realised the size of the task, rolled up their sleeves, got down to some hard work, and got due reward for their efforts. Canny management by Town boss Pete Smurthwaite also went a long way to achieving the result, as a reshuffle in midfield helped shore things up through the centre while releasing Jamie Barnwell to partner Ben Eastwood in attack, and Drew McCoubrey to use his pace along the right flank. The plan worked to perfection as the home side had no answer to McCoubrey and left wingman Danny Buttle, and Town were unlucky not to have scored three or four.
On a flat and fast surface made lightning quick by the constant drizzle, Town had the better of the attacking play in the first half, with Eastwood and Barnwell both fashioning chances early on. Buttle was in near-constant action, tormenting the Zebras’ full-back Tom Spall to such an extent that the home side often doubled up on the marking duties. An alarm for Town in the 17th minute as ex-Hull City striker John Eyre stole in at the near post to meet a cross and should have done better than head wide from close range. Town what looked a nailed-on penalty turned down on 25 minutes, as Buttle again turned the unfortunate Spall this way and that before crossing to Eastwood, whose shot was clearly blocked by the arm of defender Dan Hope inside the 18-yard box. Somehow the referee waved played on, and Brigg almost dished out very rough justice, as the loose ball was swept to the Town end, and from a corner, Eyre skimmed the bar with a dipping 20-yarder. A flurry of chances just before half-time should have perhaps given Town a deserved lead, as first Barnwell, then Eastwood kept ‘keeper Damian Steer on his toes.
The seasiders still looked good value for the points going into the second half, as Barnwell headed narrowly over from a splendid Chris Hyam delivery in the 52nd minute. McCoubrey and Eastwood were beginning to cause real problems for a home defence perhaps more equipped to deal with an aerial threat rather than pace down the flanks. Town had another two glorious chances to bag the lead on 60 and 70 minutes, with Steer saving acrobatically from Matt McKay’s header, and Eastwood forcing the ‘keeper into a full length diving stop to push a shot around the post.
With Town pushing up in search of the elusive winner, gaps were appearing at the back, and despite a quite brilliant performance by centre-back pairing Carl Giblin and Craig Suddaby throughout the game, the home side almost snatched what would have probably been the decisive goal on 85 minutes. Fine work through the middle released Steve Housham for a crack on goal, and although the shot was blocked, the ball ran loose to spark a heartstopping goalmouth scramble that looked odds-on to produce the winner. Somehow, no Brigg player was able to apply the finishing touch, and Town ‘keeper Gavin Kelly gratefully fell on the ball to smother the threat. McCoubrey could yet have had the final say in a see-saw last five minutes, with Steer producing a top-drawer block to deny the Town youngster.
BRID TOWN:-
Kelly, Hyam, Willoughby, Baker, Giblin, Suddaby, McCoubrey, McKay, Eastwood, Barnwell, Buttle.
SUBS: Harper, G.Wardell, Gildea
26/08/06
UNIBOND LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 25TH AUGUST 2006
CLITHEROE 3, BRIDLIGNTON TOWN 0
The Seasiders’ hopes of building on the previous Wednesday’s point at Brigg were blown away by the Lancashire outfit, who maintained their record so far this season of an unbeaten record and three goals a game. They fully justified their 100% record, as their pace and movement going forward was breathtaking for this level of football, and Town should not come up against many sides of this calibre again during the season.
Just 3 minutes had elapsed when the home side built their first attack, and it brought instant reward. The ball was moved swiftly through midfield and into the danger area, and Town looked to have done the hard work by half-clearing the final ball into the 18-yard box, but striker Ian Johnson muscled in to regain possession and drove a low shot back into the corner past a helpless Gavin Kelly. Strike partner Paul Lamb almost got in on the act on 7 minutes as he turned to whistle a 20-yarder inches over the Town bar. Kelly brought off a fine save on the quarter-hour mark, diving low to hold a skidding drive from full-back Owen Roberts. He denied the home attack again on 22 minutes, as winger Simon Garner tormented the Town defence before arrowing in a far post cross which Lamb met with a firm head, only for Kelly to fling himself across his goal to turn the ball away.
The inevitable happened on 26 minutes. Town conceded a free-kick wide on the right, and the ball was swung in to the six-yard box. Again, Town failed to deal properly with the initial delivery, and Johnson popped up at the near post to nod home past a stranded Kelly. It took fully 40 minutes for Town to offer their first serious threat, and it should have really produced a goal. Danny Buttle, for once shackled well by his marker, at last got free to deliver a fine cross to the far post. Winger Drew McCoubrey laid a perfect pass back into the path of striker Ben Eastwood, but with the goal gaping the frontman hit his effort straight at ‘keeper Martin Fearon, and the chance was gone.
A positive start to the second half saw Town take the game to the home side with Buttle and McCoubrey getting among the defence. McCoubrey was unlucky to see his header flash narrowly over the bar in the 50th minute as Town chased hard to get something from the game. The home side soaked up the seasiders’ pressure however, and began to dominate the game again as the hour approached, with Kelly producing a stunning stop to deny Lamb from close range on 58 minutes. Town brought on Danny Gildea to replace McCoubrey shortly afterwards, but that did little to stem the tide of what was now becoming a one-sided game.
The increasingly likely third came on 78 minutes. What appeared to be a foul on Town skipper Shaun Baker in the midfield was waved away by the referee, and the home side gobbled up the loose ball to send Lamb clear on goal. The tall striker made no mistake with a crisp low shot past Kelly to seal the game for his side. Youngster Mark Barber came into the game late on as a substitute for Eastwood, but the home side should have had the final word, as a disbelieving Lamb saw his goalbound effort somehow beaten out by Kelly, and Town full-back Chris Hyam did his bit to keep the score respectable by clearing a shot off his own line in the dying minutes.
A blow for Town, but they will surely not encounter anything like this on a weekly basis. It was perhaps a below-par performance, but several of the side did perform well against top-notch oppostion, with left-back Mark Willoughby the pick of the bunch.
BRID TOWN:-
Kelly, Hyam, Willoughby, Baker, Giblin, Suddaby, McCoubrey, McKay, Eastwood, Barnwell, Buttle.
Subs:- Gildea (for McCoubrey 63) Barber (for Eastwood 80)
UNIBOND LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
MONDAY 28TH AUGUST 2006
BRIDLINGTON TOWN 2, WOODLEY SPORTS 1
MATCH SPONSORED BY VAN MONSTER, CARNABY IND. EST, BRIDLINGTON
Coming off the back of a convincing reverse at Clitheroe only 2 days previous, few of the Town faithful at Queensgate would have given their team much hope of getting a first win of the season against the highly-fancied Manchester side who finished last season well up in the play-off places. Pete Smurthwaite’s young battlers however ripped up the form book to emerge with a thoroughly deserved three points to kick-start their season, with midfielder Gary Wardell, who suffered a torrid time in the opening game as a temporary left-back, enjoying sweet redemption with a storming performance as a second half substitute in the midfield and the winning goal. Town also welcomed back striker Phil Harrison for his first game in the red and white for 2 years.
The seasiders started brightly, with winger Danny Buttle quickly getting the better of full-back Russ Headley on the left, but the new-look front two of Harrison and Jamie Barnwell were inches away from contact when it mattered. Woodley were taking time to get into gear, but threatened ominously on 20 minutes, and it took an acrobastic save from Town ‘keeper Gavin Kelly to keep the scores level, as he tipped the ball off the head of the advancing Daniel Douglas-Pringle at the far post with the goal gaping. Burly centre-back Carlos Meakin then muscled his way into the Town box to meet a far post cross only to head wide as the visitors turned the screw. Smurthwaite’s side battled back to weather the storm, and on 42 minutes took a lead with a simply stunning strike to register their first goal of the league campaign. A fine move through the midfield saw Mark Barber release winger Drew McCoubrey on the right, who cut in and unleashed an unstoppable 25-yard angled drive into the far corner that gave ‘keeper Liam Higginbotham no chance. Amazingly, the scores were level just 2 minutes later, as the old adage of a team being most vulnerable when they have just scored was never more applicable. Chris Young and Luke Horrocks combined to set Douglas-Pringle free inside the area, who appeared to go down perhaps a little too easily under a challenge, and the referee pointed to the spot. Adam Morning made no mistake from the spot with a low drive and Woodley were back on terms.
Town opened up after the break determined to make amends, and within minutes Barnwell set up Harrison to head inches wide of the post. Barber then made way for Wardell, who immediately set about making his presence felt in the centre of the park. A lightning break on 49 minutes produced a heart-stopping moment for Town fans as Morning raced clear of the defence, only for Kelly to rescue his side with a brilliant block from the frontman. The visitors were again denied by alert defending minutes later, as a corner to the far post was met by Meakin, whose header looked a goal all the way until the figure of Buttle popped up on the goal-line to save the day. With a point looking the most likely outcome, and one which most Town fans would have probably settled for before the game, the seasiders sent Queensgate into delirium with the decisive goal on 71 minutes. Again. Buttle was the catalyst, getting the better of Headley in what had developed into a fine battle of wits on the flank, and his delivery found Harrison lurking at the far post. The diminutive striker displayed superb vision to lay the ball back instantly into the path of Wardell, rushing in at the far post, and the youngster bundled the ball home past Higginbotham.
Town could have put the game to bed on 80 minutes, as a quick break saw the ball move at pace between Buttle and Harrison and Wardell, but this time Meakin did just enough to force the Town midfielder into sending his shot wide. Both teams left the field to a deserved ovation for a fine game of football and a superb advert for the Unibond League. Town now head into this Saturday’s FA Cup encounter with one-time giants of the competition Bishop Auckland at Queensgate (3.00pm) with their season very much up and running, and with prize money at stake in this game, it is one where Town must progress.
Brid Town:-
Kelly, Hyam, Willoughby, Baker, Giblin, Suddaby, McCoubrey, Barber, Harrison, Barnwell, Buttle
Subs Harper (for Willoughby H/T), Wardell (for Barber 47)
F.A. CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND
SATURDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER 2006
BRIDLINGTON TOWN 1, BISHOP AUCKLAND 2
MATCH SPONSORED BY VAN MONSTER, CARNABY IND. EST, BRIDLINGTON.
A shattering defeat for the Seasiders, who have now crashed out of the competition at the first stage for the second successive year. Town not only threw away a half-time lead, but also a guaranteed home draw in the next round , and most crucially, the £1,000 prize money picked up by the winners. It was hardly surprising that Town boss Pete Smurthwaite’s post-match speech in the clubhouse was a fairly muted affair.
The Queensgate crowd who braved the elements on another wet and wild afternoon were given no hint of what lay ahead as Town opened confidently, wingers Drew McCoubrey and Danny Buttle enjoying early profit against the Bishops’ full backs on a slippery surface made even quicker by the constant drizzle. From Buttle’s 4th minute free-kick centre-back Carl Giblin had the first good chance, rising to power a header narrowly over the visitors’bar. Town’s attack then switched flanks, with McCoubrey skipping through several challenges as he sprinted goalwards, until a fine interception by Rich Ward took the ball off his toe at the last moment. The youngster had the last word shortly after in the 18th minute however, as he cut in from the right to arrow in a cross-shot that picked up pace in the wind, and flew over a helpless John Collinson in the Bishops goal into the far corner.
Town’s strike duo of Jamie Barnwell and Phil Harrison were also linking well, and both frontmen had chances as 20 minutes passed. Bishops had appeared to have little to offer in attack playing against the wind until the 26th minute when ex- York City, Whitby Town and Turkish youth international Lev Yalcin showed he had other ideas by racing onto a through ball to go clear of the Town defence, only for ‘keeper Gavin Kelly to produce a brilliant point-blank stop. Barnwell fired a chance narrowly wide on the half-hour after a fine set-up from Harrison, but several of Town’s better moves were hampered by the final ball being over-hit in the wind, leaving Collinson with a simple clearing-up job in the six-yard box.
Bishops showed ominously early in the second half that they appeared to better able to play with the elements, as Rich Storr burst through into the box in the 51st minute, with Kelly again pulling off a splendid save to preserve the lead. Yalcin was now proving a constant menace, and it took a brilliantly-timed interception from Luke Harper to deny the striker what would surely have been the equaliser from close range minutes later. McCoubrey was unlucky with a 20-yarder that flew just wide as Town tried to find their rhythm, but on the hour, Bishops were deservedly level, albeit with a slice of good fortune. Winger Bryan Stewart’s inswinging corner in from the right provided a moment of ‘after you’ from the Town defence, with no-one seemingly able to put a name on it, and the ball was off the inside of the far post and over the line before Paul Campbell made sure by crashing home into the roof of the net.
Town had a chance to regain control of the tie in the 64th minute, as a fine through ball from Harrison sent Buttle haring away down the left. The Town flier cut in and drove in a shot that had Collinson beaten all ends up, but not the post, and the ball cannoned away to safety. McCoubrey was again looking dangerous, and on 67 minutes, he found space on the edge of the area to crack in an effort that looked goalbound until full-back Paul Crager popped up to block almost on his own goal-line. Bishops however wrested back the initiative, and Smurthwaite’s side were undone fatally on 77 minutes, as another catastrophic lapse at the back proved the key. A free-kick 25 yards out was snapped up by Yalcin, who took advantage of the referee’s quick whistle to send an instant shot past Kelly into the far corner.
A double substitution from Town minutes later almost proved inspirational, as Anthony Bowsley, one of the replacements, sent a fantastic delivery from the right into the six-yard box, and with Town fans willing Barnwell or Harrison to get the final touch ahead of the stranded Bishops’ defence for what would have been a certain goal, the ball bounced agonisingly inches in front of them both. Barnwell had the final opportunity on 82 minutes, but Bishops were able to control the closing stages of the game and run out winners to progress into the qualifying rounds.
TOWN MAN OF THE MATCH AS SPONSORED BY VAN MONSTER:
JAMIE BARNWELL
Bridlington Town
Kelly, Harper, Hyam, Baker, Giblin, Suddaby, McCoubrey, Wardell, Harrison, Barnwell, Buttle
Subs Barber, Gildea, Bowsley.
9/09/06
UNIBOND LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER 2006
BRIDLINGTON TOWN 1, HARROGATE RAILWAY 2
A harsh outcome for a Town side decimated by injuries, suspensions and work commitments, who more than matched a full-strength Rail outfit for most of the game. With at least four key players already absent, Town boss Pete Smurthwaite’s makeshift squad was further reduced just hours before the game as striker Jamie Barnwell was forced to pull out due to illness. Town gave a debut to young left-back Tom Carter, signed in midweek from Guiseley, and he responded with an assured display despite having not played a single game in over two months.
Rail took an early lead, which many home fans feared would open the floodgates, on 13 minutes. Nathan James took possession wide on the right, cut inside past a couple of weak challenges, and drove a cracker of a shot across Town ‘keeper Gavin Kelly in to the far corner. Town were struggling to get their shape and gain any footing in the game, and it was no surprise when Rail extended their lead on 28 minutes. A free-kick just inside the Town half was floated into the box, and burly centre-back Damian Henderson rose at the far post unchallenged to crash home a header.
With most of the Town faithful now expecting an avalanche, Smurthwaite’s young battlers had other ideas, and surprisingly after the goal, now started to get to grips with the game. A fine one-touch move saw the ball zip between Danny Gildea, Matt McKay and Phil Harrison, whose square ball in to the 18-yard box found Shaun Baker charging through from midfield, but the Town skipper drove his first-time shot just inches over the bar. A mazy solo run at the heart of the Rail defence from Gildea on 43 minutes was unlucky not to bring Town back into the game, as his final shot flew just wide of the post with ‘keeper Will Whitford beaten.
Town continued the tempo after the break, and got their reward on 57 minutes. McKay, playing as a makeshift striker for the day, showed great vision as he controlled a ball in from Mark Barber to set Harrison free with a fine lay-off. The pint-sized frontman accelerated clear of a ponderous Rail defence, and his shot past a flat-footed Whitford almost broke the back of the net. Town were now looking good value for at least a point, with Barber, conceding precious height, weight and experience to the Rail midfielders, enjoying a storming game in the Town engine-room. McKay, with ball to feet against the twin towers of Henderson and Rob Morgan, was looking far more dangerous, and he enjoyed by far his best game to date in a Town shirt. Youngster Gary Wardell, again forced by the circumstances to operate out of position, was unlucky on 74 minutes as he pushed forward to test Whitford with a crisp 20-yarder that the ‘keeper held well.
An off the ball incident saw Rail’s goalscorer James instantly dismissed by the referee on 75 minutes, and now against 10 men, Town continued to push forward in search of the equaliser. Within minutes, however, they were losing one of the few experienced heads in the side, as full-back Chris Hyam limped out of the action with an ankle injury to be replaced by Luke Harper.
Carter was somehow showing little outward sign of fatigue as he continued to support the Town attack from left-back, and he had a fine 20-yard shot acrobatically tipped over the bar by Whitford on 79 minutes. If the game had gone on perhaps another 10 minutes, most fans in the ground would have had Town good for at least a point, but the final opportunity came on 89 minutes. A corner from the left was swung in the six-yard box, and centre-back Carl Giblin rose highest to head the ball down across a stranded Whitford. For one moment it looked as though it would sneak in at the far post, but instead brushed the outside of the upright and the chance was gone.
Man of the Match as sponsored by VAN MONSTER:-
PHIL HARRISON
Town:-
Kelly, Hyam, Carter, Baker, Giblin, Suddaby, Gildea, Barber, Harrison, McKay, G.Wardell
Subs: Harper, A.Wardell
TUESDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER 2006
UNIBOND LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
BRIDLINGTON TOWN 0, BRADFORD PARK AVENUE 1
Another game, another different line-up for beleaguered Town boss Pete Smurthwaite, who now must rank hopes of fielding a full-strength team alongside the likelihood of finding Elvis or Lord Lucan in the crowd at Queensgate for the next home match. For this encounter, against promotion favourites Park Avenue, he was still without at least five first-choice names, but his side still managed to take the game to the high-flying opposition in the first half, and but for a couple of wayward finishes, could have emerged from the game with at least a point.
Target man Danny Drayton was back in Town colours for the game to help out the Seasiders’ boss, and his little-and-large partnership with Phil Harrison caused the Bradford rearguard genuine problems ion the first half. Drayton fired a header inches wide after only 7 minutes but was pulled back for offside, and then Harrison spurned a glorious opportunity on 16 minutes, as Drayton’s fine cross left him with only the ‘keeper to beat but he sent the header over the bar. Avenue had barely tested the Town defence before they took a shock lead on 23 minutes. Striker Lee Morris was the architect, as he chested down a long pass to lay a fine first-time ball into the path of Tom Greaves, who raced clear to strike a crisp low shot across Town ‘keeper Gavin Kelly into the far corner. Town appeared to have got a bad deal just minutes later, as Drayton advanced onto a through ball to attempt a lob over ‘keeper Piotr Skiba, who looked to have used his arms to block the shot well outside of the 18-yard box. With Town players and fans alike screaming for the decision, amazingly nothing was given, and the visitrs were able to clear. Midfielder Matt McKay was inches away from levelling matters just before half-time, with Skiba diving bravely at his feet to stop the Town man from converting Gary Wardell’s cross.
Avenue appeared to step up a gear after the break, and play was mainly confined to the midfield and Town’s third of the pitch, with ex-Bradford City and Barnsley midfielder Neil Redfearn now starting to orchestrate his side’s movement. The Town centre-back partnership of Carl Giblin and Craig Suddaby was again immense, with Tom Carter and Luke Harper also soaking up the pressure brilliantly against a lievley front line whoch will surely give most sides at this level problems. Despite the possession, Kelly was only called into serious action on 66 minutes, tipping over a blistering 25 –yarder from Morris. McKay sent a curling free-lick into the arms of Skiba as Town hit back, but Avenue were able to draw on their experience against the Town youngsters to run down the clock and return to West Yorkshire with the points.
Brid Town:-
Kelly, Harper, Carter, Baker, Giblin, Suddaby, G.Wardell, Ingram , Harrison, Drayton, McKay.
Subs:- Gildea, Douthwaite, Willoughby
Stocksbridge 2 - 0 Brid Town
Another trip to the pristine playing surface of the ‘Look Local’ stadium, perched on a gravity-defying hill just a few miles north of Sheffield, with unfortunately the same outcome as Town have garnered from the last three visits to what has now become a somewhat depressing venue for the Seasiders, ‘nil points’.
Still without key wingmen Danny Buttle and Drew McCoubrey, and midfielder Wayne Wallace, Town could at least draw on one major positive going into the game, as local ex-league striker Jack Wilkinson made his debut in the red & white. The youngster, recently released by Hartlepool, and with spells at York City and Whitby Town, looked a class act, with former Town centre-half Steve Heath, now in the colours of the home side, one of the first to commend the striker’s display. He featured in just about all of Town’s better attacking movement, and with the supply line restored to it’s full strength this week, should get off the mark rapidly.
The first half was a fairly scrappy affair, with a typically robust home defence mopping up any real Town threat with few problems. Wilkinson’s mobility and skill made him the Seasiders’ focal point going forward, and just after the half-hour clever link-up play with Jamie Barnwell gave Anthony Bowsley a chance with a header, but ‘keeper Steve Hodgson was well placed to make the save. Steels started to turn the screw before the break, and Town ‘keeper Gavin Kelly was forced into action with two fine stops, the first leaving winger Dave Cockerill staring in disbelief, as he and everyone in the ground thought his looping header towards the far post was a certain goal, until Kelly somehow leaped and twisted to fingertip the ball over the bar. He denied the same player just seconds later with a more routine effort, diving low to his near post to keep out a low drive.
Going into the second half with the scores level, most Town fans would have been more than happy for the end result to remain that way. The seasiders had however, again reckoned without the genius of striker Stefan Zoll, who according to the Steels’ players, had not had the best of starts to the season. That all went out of the window on 52 minutes, as he picked up the ball wide on the left, cut inside, and drove a trademark 20-yarder into the net leaving Kelly with no chance. He has now done exactly the same to Town in three out the last four games between the sides with carbon-copy strikes. It could have been a clean sweep but for the crossbar last season, but even that rebounded straight to a colleague who scored anyway.
Stocksbridge reinforced their superiority by bringing experienced ex-Farsley Celtic midfielder Curtis Bernard off the bench shortly after the goal, and his class told in the closing stages, as the home side continued to dominate possession. He set up winger Ruyan Ludlam for a stinging 20-yarder that flew just over the bar, before Bowsley hit back for Town with a long range effort that dipped at the last second and Hodgson had to be on his toes to palm over for a corner. With the clock running down, a late Steels attack saw Ludlam burst in the box from the left, and tumble theatrically over a challenge. Amazingly the referee pointed to spot, with some of the Steels’ players simply shrugging their shoulders in apology to an infuriated Town bench, and that man Zoll proved Town’s nemesis yet again with a confident spot-kick high into the corner.
Town:-
Kelly, Harper, Carter, Barnwell, Giblin, Suddaby, Bowsley, G.Wardell, Wilkinson, McKay, Gildea
Subs:- Douthwaite (for Gildea 63) Willoughby
UNIBOND LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
BRIDLINGTON TOWN 2, GOOLE 2
This was a cracker of a game even by local derby standards. Both sides threw the proverbial kitchen sink at each other throughout the 90 minutes, with yellow cards aplenty and goals for returning ex-Town men Martin Thacker and Paul Palmer. Goole thought they had twice done enough to win the game, only to be pulled back by a young Town side now almost back to full strength, and determined to make their mark on this league.
A fired-up Goole side sprang out of the traps like men possessed, and created all of the opening chances, as the Seasiders tried to maintain their shape and gain possession. Town ‘keeper Gavin Kelly had to be on his toes to save from Rob Constable’s swerving shot on the quarter-hour, before Goole took the lead on 37 minutes. Striker Chris Tate tumbled under a challenge in the Town area and former Queensgate hero Palmer stepped up to take the penalty to a chorus of boos. Kelly pulled off a quite stupendous save from the first spot-kick, but apparently had strayed off his line, and Palmer made no such mess of the re-take.
A more positive Town took the game to the visitors in the second half, with winger Drew McCoubrey chipping narrowly over Goole ‘keeper Chris Hill’s bar on 50 minutes. Sustained Town pressure gained due reward on 57 minutes, as left wideman Danny Buttle turned Goole full-back James McDaid inside out before delivering a far post cross which McCoubrey got the second touch on to hammer past Hill to level the scores.
Typically, on 74 minutes, Thacker looked to have broken the hearts of the Queensgate faithful, as Town conceded a free-kick on the angle of the 18-yard area. The chunky midfielder strode up to the ball and bent a perfect delivery around the wall and past Kelly into the corner in a carbon-copy of the sort of strike he delivered in Town colours, and the home crowd could only stand and applaud such quality.
With a vociferous away support now urging Goole on, it looked as though Town might struggle to get something out of the game. The Seasiders had other ideas, and silenced the away chorus on 84 minutes. A corner was sent to the far post by McCoubrey, and from the knock-back into the six-yard box, Jack Wilkinson, on his home debut, lashed the ball past Hill for the equaliser. Kelly saved his side with a fantastic tip over from Tate’s near post header in the dying minutes to preserve the point.
Town:-
Kelly, Harper, Carter, Baker, Giblin, Suddaby, McCoubrey, Barnwell, Wilkinson , Harrison, Buttle
Subs. G.Wardell, McKay, Douthwaite
UNIBOND LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
BRIDLINGTON TOWN 0, GRESLEY ROVERS 3
Just one point separated the two sides at the start of play, but the class of striker Aaron O’Connor made a nonsense of that with a lesson in finishing that the home side could simply not match, and Rovers should surely now start their climb up the table. Town frontman Jack Wilkinson was at the hub of the home side’s early attacks, and had two or three early chances gone in, the scoreline could have been very different.
O’Connor turned the game in the 28th minute, with his first real chance, appearing seemingly from nowhere to turn and crack a first time that flew into the top corner, and from then, Rovers assumed control. Midfielder Shaun Ridgway took advantage of slack defending to fire in a low 25-yard drive that went in off the far post to make it 2-0 at half-time, and a toothless Town side rarely threatened after the break, despite plenty of possession. O’Connor grabbed his brace on 57 minutes as he stole into the box to toe-poke home a cross from close range, and despite the return of key midfielder Wayne Wallace from injury, Town could little against the brick-wall pairing of Matt Millns and Andy Simpson in the Gresley defence.
STAR MAN AARON O’CONNOR (GRESLEY)
ENTERTAINMENT THREE STARS
Unibond League Division One
Monday 25th September 2006
Match Report by Justin Choat
Bradford Park Avenue 2, Bridlington Town 0
A vastly improved performance from a Town side, who few would have fancied getting anything from a midweek visit to a team that had hit three past previously unbeaten highflyers Cammell Laird on the Saturday, and with a squad packed with the majority of last season’s Guiseley side, are clearly a force to be reckoned with at this level.
A superb playing surface greeted both teams, but Town, again beset by injuries, struggled in the early stages against the power and pace of the home side, with veteran ex-league performer Neil Redfearn calling on his wealth of experience at the higher level to call the shots in the midfield. Such was the disruption to the Seasider’s squad that midfielders Matt Mckay and Shaun Baker were forced in to roles at right-back and centre-back respectively. Much of Town’s attacking thrust was also foundering on the rock-like figure of former North Ferriby centre-back Lee Connor, who cleared the Park Avenue lines in a typically robust fashion.
Seasiders’ goalkeeper Gavin Kelly, playing against one of his old clubs, was called into action more than once, producing his best save on the half hour from a Liam Flynn 25-yarder that was rocketing towards the top corner. Town began to figure more in proceedings as the break approached, with midfielder Wayne Wallace, still feeling his way back after injury, turning on the power in a trademark run past two challenges to set up Jack Wilkinson , who tested ‘keeper Piotr Skiba with a low drive. Avenue’s Rich Chattoe almost grabbed the lead for his side on the stroke of half time, as he strode onto Andy Lee’s lay-back in acres of space just outside the 18-yard box only to drive his shot over the bar.
A bright opening to the second half for Town saw Anthony Bowsley tee up Wilkinson with a sumptuous 30-yard crossfield pass from the outside of his boot, and the striker’s shot whistled just inches over the bar. Baker produced a moment of class on 53 minutes, as pacy frontman Tom Greaves sped clear of the Town defence to go clear on goal, only for the skipper to appear seemingly from nowhere to whip the ball off his toes with a perfectly timed tackle.
Avenue’s strength was now beginning to tell, and it was a tribute to Town’s young battlers that as the hour mark passed, the scoreline was still goalless. Still the home side pressed, but it took a fatal slip in the makeshift Town rearguard on 68 minutes to allow them the opener. As the ball was played over from the right, a misplaced defensive header in the 18-yard box directed the ball straight into the path of Avenue’s leading scorer Neil Ross, who made no mistake with a fierce drive past a helpless Kelly into the corner of the net.
Within 2 minutes, Avenue had put the game to bed against a heartbroken Town outfit. The attack came from the same flank, and this time wideman Dave Cooke had ghosted in past a tiring defence at the far post as the cross came over to loop a perfect header back over Kelly’s despairing leap and into the bottom corner. Barnwell had a fine chance to grab a lifeline on 77 minutes, as a superb exchange of passes in midfield sent the frontman galloping clear, but his curling shot flew inches wide of the post with Skiba beaten. Avenue came back strongly in the closing stages, with substitute Neil Grayston cracking an effort against the bar, and Greaves fizzing a 20-yarder over the bar.
Town can consider themselves unlucky to have played this calibre of side twice in two weeks as a result of the now familiar early season fixture rush, and a similar effort against one of the lesser lights in the league would surely have brought more reward. The return of Wayne Wallace is a major bonus, and the pairing of Wilkinson and Barnwell up front should soon bring dividends. With the injury situation set to lighten in the next couple of weeks, a fully fit and firing Town side with a slightly friendlier fixture list to contend with should surely begin to climb the table.
VanMonster Man Of The Match (Bradford game) Shaun Baker
Van Monster Man Of The Match (Gresley Rovers) Luke Harper
Brid Town :-
Kelly, McKay, Carter, Baker, Giblin, Bowsley, McCoubrey, Wallace, Wilkinson, Barnwell, Buttle.
Subs: G.Wardell, Harper, Willoughby
UNIBOND LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER 2006
CAMMELL LAIRD 2, BRIDLINGTON TOWN 2
Match Report by Justin Choat
A massive result for the Seasiders, who proved in this 90 minutes against the highly-fancied Merseyside outfit that they can mix it with the best this division has to offer. Lairds came into the game as second top scorers in the division, having only lost one of their 9 league games, and few of the Town fans who made the 4 hour coach trip to Birkenhead would have given their team a prayer of upsetting the form book. Events went grimly according to the script as Cammells cruised into a two-goal lead but a stirring late fightback sparked by a magnificent 25-yard strike from Jack Wilkinson gave Town a share of the spoils that their display certainly merited.
Lairds had most of the early possession, with frontmen Ian Cooke and Ronnie Morgan looking dangerous. Cooke’s shot in the 8th minute brought a bizarre decision from the referee, as the ball clattered off the hoarding behind the goal and instantly back onto the pitch, only for the official to wave play on, believing it had rebounded off the post. Town luckily gained possession of the loose ball, and Anthony Bowsley picked out striker Jamie Barnwell with a superb 40-yard ball straight from the Premiership. The Town hitman took one touch and blasted goalwards, but the hulking figure of the Laird’s ‘keeper Pete Crookes spread his considerable frame to produce a fine block and deny Town. The game was being played at a cracking pace, with both sides eager to attack. A hooked clearance from centre-back Lee Atherton over the top set Morgan free, and it took a similar one-on-one block from Town ‘’keeper Gavin Kelly to keep his side in the hunt. Lairds’ winger Eddie Jebb, who looked a very slippery customer on the right flank all afternoon, cut in to flash a rising drive inches over the Town bar. Cammells continued to pressure, and on 26 minutes, a diagonal ball released Cooke just outside the angle of the 18-yard box on the right, who took one touch and sent a delightful lob over a stranded Kelly into the far corner to give the home side the lead. Kelly was in action just minutes later as Cammells piled forward in search of a second, producing a fine double block at his near post from the rampant Cooke and Morgan. Town steadied the ship and almost grabbed an eauliser just before half time as winger Danny Buttle, who up until then had been effectively shackled by Lairds’ right back Derek Ward, got free to deliver a teasing far post cross that Crookes had to palm away to safety.
Town swapped left-backs at half-time, with Mark Willoughby coming off the bench to replace Tom Carter, and his first touch of the ball was to accidentally hoof a full-blooded clearance straight into the head his centre-back Carl Giblin, who staggered dazedly off the pitch for treatment. The Town stopper was thankfully restored to full working order quickly enough, and the seasiders then had a ten minute spell when they threw everything at the home side, but could not find a way past the brick wall of Crookes and his centre-backs. Barnwell, Buttle and substitute Drew McCoubrey, on for Phil Harrison, all had chances, but Lairds soaked it up, and hit Town with a classic sucker punch on 70 minutes. Crookes rose to claim a corner as Town again pushed forward, and his instant throw sailed long over the advanced seasiders’ midfield to find substitute Chris Mezyania, in what was clearly a well-worked training ground move. The speedy winger, in plenty of space, sped clear from the half-way line to plant a low shot past Kelly to stun the travelling support. A livid Town boss, Pete Smurthwaite, berated his players for falling to such a simple trick, and his afternoon dndn’t get any better when just minutes after the strike, midfielder Wayne Wallace won a one-on-one challenge with Crookes following a fine through ball from Wilkinson, but sent his shot against the post after going around the ‘keeper.
On 86 minutes, with everyone in the ground now expecting another three points for the home side, and Town fans resigned to making the long trip home with another defeat behind them, Wilkinson grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, and breathed life back into his ailing side with a goal of stunning quality on 86 minutes. Taking possession from a throw in some 30 yards out, he cut in from the flank, showed a lightning change of feet to send firstly Atherton, then Tony Sheehan, the wrong way, and unleashed a stunning dipping drive that flew wide of a helpless Crookes into the far corner. Town woke instantly from their lethargy, and with at least six minutes with added time still available, somehow wrenched a point from a stunned home side on 88 minutes. Barnwell, who had enjoyed another fine game in attack alongside Wilkinson with precious little reward for his efforts, took a through ball from Buttle on the left to glide past the covering Atherton into the area, where Crookes clumsily took man before ball, and the referee rightly pointed to the spot.
With the travelling support peering between their fingers, Buttle strode confidently forward to send a howitzer of a shot into the corner that gave Crookes no chance, and Town were level. Lairds’ still had time to mount one last attack to reduce the Town fans’nails still further, but the seasiders’ held firm to register perhaps their best result so far this season. A fantastic team effort from every single one of Smurthwaites’ side, with yet again, two or three players still playing out of position to cover injuries, and a repeat of this sort of attitude and form in the coming weeks will surely see them climb away from the wrong end of the table.
Kelly, McKay, Carter, Baker, Giblin, Bowsley, Harrison, Wallace, Wilkinson, Barnwell, Buttle.
Subs Tate, McCoubrey, Willoughby.
UNIBOND LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Match Report by Justin Choat
TUESDAY 3RD OCTOBER 2006
BRIDLINGTON TOWN 1, STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS 9
An absolute nightmare for the Seasiders, who after Saturday’s hard-fought point at Cammell Laird, went into this home fixture quietly confident of a result against the Sheffield outfit. That all went out of the window after just 3 minutes as veteran striker Mick Goddard too full advantage of slack Town defending to lob the opener into an empty net.
The livewire Steels frontline which have proved a massive thorn in Town’s side over the last couple of seasons then took control, with wideman Ryan Ludlam firing home from 25 yards on 11 minutes, then Stefan Zoll slotting home a penalty on 18 minutes, Town centre-back Carl Giblin surprisingly being given a straight red card for the challenge that led to the spot-kick. Steels were now flying, and Goddard made it four with a free header at the far post, before winger Dave Cockerill cut in from the flank to send a blistering 25-yarder straight into the top corner for the fifth on 28 minutes.
Town striker Jamie Barnwell reduced the arrears with a fine close-range header to make it 1-5 on 32 minutes, but disaster struck again for the home side shortly after, as Cockerill added Steels’ fifth from a lightning counter attack, and then Town ‘keeper Gavin Kelly was sent off following an incident in the 18-yard box as Steels pressured once more and the referee again pointed to the spot. Zoll made no mistake with the penalty past stand-in keeper Wayne Wallace to make it six at half-time.
Town could do little more than damage limitation after the break, and indeed it took Steels until the 70th minute against the nine men to break through again. The catalyst was substitute Curtis Bernard, who netted on 70 minutes, then went on to fire a splendid quickfire hat-trick against a shattered Town rearguard.
Town:-
Kelly, McKay, Willloughby. Suddaby, Giblin, Baker, Bowsley, Wallace, Wilkinson, Barnwell. Buttle
Subs:- Carter, McCoubrey, Tate
UNIBOND LEAGUE DIDIVSION ONE
SATURDAY 7TH OCTOBER 2006-10-08
BRIDLINGTON TOWN 1, SHEPSHED DYNAMO 2
Match Report by Justin Choat
A vast improvement from the nine-goal debacle of the previous Tuesday, but with ultimately the same outcome which leave the Seasiders perilously close to foot of the league having played more games than anyone else in the danger zone. Town boss Pete Smurthwaite rang the changes for this match, with flying winger Danny Buttle suprisingly relegated to a substitutes’ spot, and Shaun Baker taking over right-back duties from Matt McKay, who also stepped down to the bench.
Town came smartly out of the blocks to boss the opening stages, with the front pairing of Jamie Barnwell and Jack Wilkinson linking well. Town had enjoyed by far the better of the game, and it came as a shock when Dynamo opened the scoring with their first real attack, Darryl Thomas latching on to a long through ball to fire a first-time effort past a stunned Town ‘keeper Gavin Kelly. With the Queensgate faithful now fearing the worst again, Town roared back into contention, and leading scorer Drew McCoubrey fired them level on 27 minutes. A corner was swung in from the right which Dynamo only half-cleared, and from Anthony Bowsley’s diagonal chip back into the 18-yard box, McCoubrey hit a sweet half-volley into the top left-hand corner.
Somehow, and this perhaps sums up Town’s topsy-turvy form in a nutshell this season, Dynamo were in the lead again on the half-hour. Chaotic defending allowed Thomas a first crack at goal, and when the ball was then only spooned straight back to winger Andy Bourne, his first-time cross was met by Nick Hawkins who was as free as a bird at the far post to nod a simple header back across Kelly to leave the home crowd speechless.
Barnwell, who had a fine game in the attack and led the line superbly throughout the 90 minutes, went on a splendid solo run that ended with his shot flashing just wide of the post with Dynamo ‘keeper Jon Noon well beaten. The ex-Coventry City and Cambridge United man is looking better with every game, and on this form it is plain to see how he forged a career in the Football League. Midfielder Wayne Wallace was then unlucky to see his powerful header fly inches over the bar as Town poured forward in search of an equaliser before the break. It did not materialise however, and Town suffered another major blow on 55 minutes, as Wallace came out of a 50-50 challenge in the centre of the park with a badly gashed leg, and was immediately stretchered off. Luckily, the injury appeared at the time perhaps worse than it actually was, and he was able to return the Clubhouse well bandaged up but walking after the game. That was in the future however, and Town now had to deal with the immediate present again denied the services of one of their key players.
Buttle came off the bench to replace Wallace, and this gave Town more options down the left, as the wideman began to torment the Dynamo defence straight away. His delivery from the flank was again flawless, and Barnwell and Wilkinson both had chances as Town piled men forward. Noon’s goal led a charmed life. Wilkinson, who enjoyed another superb match, certainly deserved better than to see one of many efforts come off the base of the post on 75 minutes. Right until the final whistle Town were still battering away at the Dynamo rearguard, and the home crowd held their breaths in added time as another attack saw Noon flap the ball out to Carl Giblin on the edge of the 18-yard box, but the centre-back cracked his shot inches wide with the ‘keeper helpless.
VAN MONSTER MAN OF THE MATCH JAMIE BARNWELL
Town:-
Kelly, Suddaby, Willoughby, Baker, Giblin, Bowsley, McCoubrey, Wallace, Wilkinson, Barnwell, Carter.
Subs:- Buttle, Harrison, McKay.
UNIBOND LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 14TH OCTOBER 2006-10-15
ROSSENDALE UTD. 2 BRIDLINGTON TOWN 0
Match Report by Justin Choat
A trip over the Pennines to Dark Lane, not the happiest of hunting grounds for the Seasiders in the last couple of season, and this visit was no exception. With key men missing through injury, a reshaped Town side had no answer to a home side boasting ex-conference striker Phil Eastwood in their attack, and it was indeed the frontman who made his side’s day by netting both goals in an ultimately convincing win.
Town opened brightly, and left-back Tom Carter sparked an early chance as he raced clear to send over a cross towards an unmarked Wilkinson, but home skipper Bill Robertson nipped the ball off the Town striker’s toes. A livewire ‘Dale attack then reminded Town of their potential as winger Adam Cook fed the towering figure of Neil Zarac in the box, but the Town defence hustled the burly frontman away from the danger zone. Both side traded chances until the 23rd minute, when slack Town marking allowed wideman Anthony Taylor to cross into the 18-yard box, where Eastwood was able to control and fire a first-time angled shot across Town ‘keeper Gavin Kelly for the opener.
Town were not able to penetrate a rock-solid home defence in the second half, despite the non-stop effort of striker Jack Wilkinson, whose skill and work-rate surely deserved more reward. As the Seasiders pushed up in search of the elusive equaliser, the pace of the home side, with flying wideman Matt Edgington, who had destroyed Town in their visit to Dark Lane the previous season, on as substitute, was always going to prove a threat, and the breakaway killer second goal surely enough came on 67 minutes. A quick one-touch move on the right flank saw the home side outmanoeuvre the Town defence, and Eastwood stole onto a low cross to convert from close range.
The Seasiders continued to strive for a route back into the game, but it was not to be, and Town now find themselves firmly entrenched in the bottom three. Crucial games against fellow strugglers Chorley and Wakefield follow in the next two weeks, and these now assume must-win status if Town are to make any headway out of the drop zone.
Town:- Kelly, Suddaby, Willoughby. Baker, Giblin, Bowsley, McCoubrey, Barnwell, Wilkinson, Harrison, Carter.
Subs:- Harper, McKay, Tate.
VAN MONSTER Man of the Match:- JACK WILKINSON
FA Trophy
Match Report by Justin Choat
Bridlington Town 2, Stamford AFC 4
The seasiders’ first game under the watchful eye of new manager Paul Marshall, who will have drawn both positives and negatives from a game which saw Town majestic in attack but gift the visitors a route back when the hard work had apparently been done. Marshall had been working overtime in midweek to reinforce a threadbare Town squad, and gave a debut to right-back James Bonarius and striker Michael Vickers, who both looked promising acquisitions.
In a horrible echo of so many games this season Town conceded an early goal to put themselves on the back foot. Wideman Rob Harris ghosted in unchallenged at the far post to fire past a helpless Town ‘keeper Nick Tudor, in for the suspended Gavin Kelly. With the Queensgate faithful expecting the worst against a side ranked a division higher in the pyramid, Town stunned the visitors with an equaliser in the 10th minute. A fine move through the midfield saw Mark Barber chip a through ball to Jamie Barnwell, whose first time flick on found Jack Wilkinson, who appeared to have it all to do from a tight angle, but slotted a first time shot under ‘keeper Adam Jones to bring Town level.
A typically cagey cup tie ensued after the equaliser, until the visitors started to gain control of the midfield after the half-hour. Town repelled several attacks, until with the half-time whistle just seconds away, Stamford scored their second. Harris this time was the provider, as his ball into the box was tucked away at close range by Stu Wilson.
Town started the second half positively, with youngster Mark Barber pulling the strings in the centre of the park against an experienced and physical visitors midfield, and after Craig Suddaby had headed inches over the visitors’ bar, the seasiders drew level on 63 minutes with perhaps the goal of the game. Town tormented the Stamford defence along both flanks with a splendid 5-man move that finally released Barnwell to crack a superb 12-yard rising shot into the roof of the net.
Within minutes however, the visitors were ahead again, as kamikaze defending allowed Harris to coast into the box and square for frontman Garath Pritchard, who unmarked at the far post, almost apologetically sidefooted past a livid Tudor to regain the lead. Stamford wrapped up the tie with an 82nd minute goal, as substitute Jason Turner again took advantage of defending that would perhaps see Alan Hansen into the coronary ward, to fire home a close range effort to seal the game and see the visitors into the next round.
Town :- Tudor, Bonarius, Carter, Harper, Suddaby, Baker, Harrison. Barber, Barnwell, Wilkinson, Willoughby.
Subs:- McCoubrey, Vickers. Hyam
UNIBOND DIVISION ONE
Tuesday 24 October 2006
Match Report by Emma Choat
Wakefield 3 Bridlington Town 0
Town began the game with the purpose and positive attacking threat one would expect from a team fighting hard to improve their league position against a resurgent Wakefield side. Barnwell unleashed a powerful drive which shaved the bar and Wilkinson capped a magnificent solo run with a strike that fizzed only inches wide of the post, as both front men yet again displayed the class and enthusiasm which so regularly characterise their contributions. Unfortunately the errors which continue to haunt the team defensively proved costly yet again. Mark Townsend helped himself to a free header and the lead for Wakefield, after a calamitous slip on the left of the Bridlington defence allowed him to bullet past Tudor unopposed. Town responded with Willoughby, playing in the centre, and Harrison on the right spearheading renewed impetus from midfield. However despite their efforts, the Seasiders suffered another setback when Brighton Mugadza spotted his opportunity, cracking a long-range and speculative dig toward the Bridlington goal and beating Tudor on the stroke of half-time.
Marshall had clearly injected belief into his side during the break, Harrison and McCoubrey, as a replacement for the injured Carter, supplying some fine crosses and linking well with the attack. Wakefield soaked up the pressure and looked a constant counterattacking threat and their resistance took its toll and allowed them to find yet another hole in a tiring Town backline. Having saved with a fabulous block from Townsend, Tudor fell victim to a deft flick from Kyriacou who lifted the ball high and clear of the goalkeeper for Wakefield to claim the third.
As Town berated their luck in conceding a third, their disillusionment was further compounded when a majestic Bowsley free-kick deceived the Wakefield wall and goalkeeper, finding goal-side of the post only to rebound along the wrong edge of the line. Brid will feel the scoreline a harsh judgement of a determined performance but must take note of the ruthlessness that Wakefield displayed if they are to restart their Unibond campaign in similar fashion.
Bridlington Town:
1) Nick Tudor, 2) Luke Harper, 3)James Bonarius, 4)Craig Suddaby, 5) Carl Giblin, 6) Shaun Baker, 7) Phil Harrison, 8) Mark Willoughby, 9) Jamie Barnwell, 10, Jack Wilkinson, 11) Tom Carter
Subs: Michael Vickers, Anthony Bowsley, DrewMcCoubrey
UNIBOND LEAGUE DIVSION ONE
SATURDAY 28TH OCTOBER 2006
CHORLEY 2 BRIDLINGTON TOWN 2
Halfway there. A vastly improved display in a game where a point was the absolute minimum return. Town were certainly good enough for all three, on another poor surface at the Victory Ground, which suited a direct home side. Chorley were able to field new signings Kenny Mayers and Jordan Goodeve who had both joined the day before the game. Veteran frontman Mayers has plied his trade recently at Droylsden and Morecambe, while wideman Goodeve should be remembered by Town fans after scoring four goals in the two games against them with his previous side Mossley last season. That in itself illustrates the problem facing Town’s new manager Paul Marshall, with the sheer number of quality players available to the Lancashire sides always giving them a major advantage.
Town had to overcome even more handicaps going into the game, as it emerged that frontman Jamie Barnwell had cried off the night before to rejoin NCEL outfit Hall Road. That he had done this via text to a Town team-mate, and not fronted up to either the Chairman or Manager beforehand seems staggering, considering this is a player who has enjoyed a professional career, and should surely know how to behave in a similar manner. Defender Craig Suddaby had also withdrawn due to sickness in the morning to leave youngsters Gary Wardell and Danny Exley , showing a commendable attitude which their former team-mate would do well to copy, having to pull out of the reserves and travel across the Pennines to give Town a full bench.
The match itself should have seen Town go home with the points. The Seasiders coped well despite the upheaval, with Chris Hyam returning into the side at right back enjoying a storming game. New signing James Bonarius filled the hole left by Suddaby admirably and was another who had a flawless game, adding a much need physical presence to the Town back line.
It was Mayers who opened the scoring, against the run of play on 16 minutes, accepting a long diagonal pass to cut inside and crack a first time 20-yarder that flew past a startled Nick Tudor. With Marshall and assistant Mark Smitheringale urging Town not to let heads drop, the Seasiders roared back into the game as both Phil Harrison and Jack Wilkinson carved out chances, before a further attack on 28 minutes saw a crossfield ball from Wilkinson reach Drew McCoubrey, who took a touch and unleashed a belting 25-yarder that gave ‘keeper Brett Walker no chance.
Town were now in charge of the game, and both Wilkinson and strike partner Mike Vickers were unlucky to be denied by Walker from close range before half-time. Town continued to dominate after the break , but were given a scare on 50 minutes when a hopeful ball over the top found Mayers, who muscled through 2 challenges only to be denied by a fine stop from Tudor. Town got the goal their football deserved just two minutes later, as more fine work from McCoubrey on the right saw the winger thread a perfect ball through to Wilkinson, who launched a rocket of a shot over Walker from 20 yards into the top right-hand corner to spark delirium among the travelling support. Chorley centre-back and skipper, Ian Callaghan, was given a straight red card as he vehemently disputed the goal, which some of the home fans somehow saw as offside.
Even reduced to ten men, the aerial threat of Mayers and strike partner Dave Woodruff was still going to pose a major threat from set pieces, and despite the former being superbly shackled since the opening goal by Bonarius, Woodruffe found far too much space from an 81st-minute corner to head home from a corner to level the scores. Despite the equaliser, Town still sensed that three points were there for the taking, and should have won the game convincingly in the last tem minutes. Phil Harrison stood with head in hands after a superb jinking run into the box ended with his angled drive scraping the outside of the box with the diving Walker well beaten. Then, in the dying minutes, a moment which only the referee could truly explain the outcome of, as Wilkinson linked superbly with Vickers to send his colleague clear into the box. The Town striker, with the ball under perfect control, rounded Walker, only for the ‘keeper to produce a tackle rarely seen outside of a Rhinos versus Bulls game, but with everyone in the ground waiting for the official to confirm a cast-iron penalty by pointing to the spot, he confounded expectation and common sense by waving play-on, and Town’s chance was gone.
Town:- Tudor, Hyam, Willoughby, Bonarius, Giblin, Baker, Harrison, Bowsley, Vickers, Wilkinson, McCoubrey.
Subs:- Barber, G.Wardell, Exley
UNIBOND LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 4TH 2006
BRIDLINGTON TOWN 1, COLWYN BAY 1
Town continued their improvement under the stewardship of Paul Marshall and Mark Smitheringale, with a point against the Welsh side that started the day in sixth place.
Bay had the early chances as tall centre-forward Pete Smith drew a save from Town ‘keeper Gavin Kelly in the 5th minute, and then winger Martin Crowder was put through on goal, only for Chris Hyam to produce a splendid tackle to whip the ball off his toes. Much of the action was then confined to the midfield on a heavy pitch that did little to aid Town’s passing game.
All that changed on 38 minutes however, as Town broke swiftly through Drew McCoubrey down the left. Exchanging passes with Jack Wilkinson, he drove in a shot that cracked against the upright with ‘keeper Ryan Brookfield beaten. Mark Willoughby was first to the loose ball to ram it home and give Town the lead. The left-back, playing out of position in the centre of the park, enjoyed a fine 90 minutes, and the goal was just reward for his efforts.
With centre-back James Bonarius again having a fine game in the centre of defence, Town were able to consolidate their lead, and although chances were few at the other end, should have gone in ahead at the break. Bay’s last move of the half though brought the equaliser, as a ball into the box was only half-cleared, and Smith, looking suspiciously offside as he received a pass from Chris Priest, stabbed the ball into the corner.
Town had the better of possession in the second half, and were unlucky not to retake the lead. Anthony Bowsley produced a fine run through the centre only for centre-back Tim Brandreth to produce a last-ditch tackle. With youngster Mark Barber on as substitute injecting pace and urgency into the Town midfield, the seasiders carved out a series of openings, but the final touch was lacking. Another substitute, Mike Vickers, saw his powerful header whistle just over the bar from a corner, and then on 87 minutes, another fine move saw Barber link superbly with Wilkinson only to drive his 20-yard shot inches wide.
Town:- Kelly, Hyam, Carter, Bonarius, Giblin, Baker, Harrison, Bowsley, Wilkinson, Willoughby, McCoubrey.
Vickers, Barber, Suddaby.
Tuesday 7th November 2006
Unibond League Challenge Cup
Bridlington Town 1, Ossett Town 3
A game that certainly came at a useful time for Town boss Paul Marshall, as he was able to experiment with his side in a game that had no bearing on Town’s league position. In the event it was a partial success, with Town playing some fine football against a side ranked a division higher, and the reappearance of striker Kevin Smith in the red and white proving the major bonus on the night.
A groundhog day moment saw the Queensgate faithful let out a collective groan, as a long ball over the top of the Town defence resulted in a a mis-hit clearance falling straight into the path of Ossett frontman Andy Hayward, who snapped up the chance to fire home a gift from the six-yard line.
Town responded, and grew into the game more as the half wore on. Some splendid football through the midfield between Mark Willoughby, Mark Barber and Jack Wilkinson deserved more reward but an unforgiving Ossett defence was giving nothing away.
The second half started in shocking fashion for the Seasiders, who let all their hard work before the break go to prices as Ossett added a second in the 50th minute. Osseett broke out of the blue down the left, and a near-post cross saw Hayward again do the damage as he sneaked in to guide a deft shot past Town ‘keeper Gavin Kelly.
Town worked hard to repair the damage, but were again denied by a solid Ossett rearguard. Marshall brought on Smith and winger Drew McCoubrey in an attempt to restore the balance, and the move was unlucky not to pay off, as with the wideman delivering quality ball form the right, the burly frontman gave Town an immediate threat with his height and strength in the attack.
The visitors again stunned the home crowd with a third against the run of play on 82 minutes, Rob O’Brian taking advantage of slack marking in the box to slide home at the far post. It was rough justice on the Town defence, who had performed admirably against higher opposition. Town at last got the goal their efforts merited on 89 minutes as splendid work out on the right from McCoubrey saw him past two defenders, and his low cross into box was despatched into the far corner by Phil Harrison.
Town:- Kelly, Hyam, Wardell, Bonarius, Giblin, Harrison, Barber, Wilkinson, Vickers, Stilgoe.
Subs:- K.Smith (Vickers 69), McCoubrey (Stilgoe 71) Gildea (Wilkinson 76)
VAN MONSTER MAN OF THE MATCH :- DREW MCCOUBREY
UNIBOND LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2006
BUXTON 3, BRIDLINGTON TOWN 0
Not perhaps what the Seasiders need after their recent revival in form. A trip to the Silverlands to face the second-placed Bucks against a noisy and partisan home crowd of over 450 was always going to be a daunting prospect, and with a gale-force wind and a sloping pitch thrown into the mix, Town were up against it from the word go.
The home side threw the proverbial kitchen sink at Town from the off, with centre-backs James Bonarius and Carl Giblin coping well against the direct approach of the home side. New signing Martin Barnes, at left back, was given a baptism of fire in his first Unibond league game for the club, but showed up well and looks a promising acquisition. Forwards Mark Reed and Rob Ward were the main threat, but Town defended solidly until the 18th minute as a defensive slip let in Reed, who finished with a low drive past Gavin Kelly from the edge of the box. The second goal was unfortunate on Town, as Bucks' wideman Michael Blythen looked to be well offside on 27 minutes as the ball was played through, but play was allowed to continue, and Paul Walker fired home unopposed.
Town rallied after the break, with the slope and gale now in their favour. A couple of half-chances tested Bucks 'keeper Scott Hartley, but the home side bared their teeth again on the hour, as a lightning break found the ball zipping into the Town box, where Walker was felled for a penalty. Kelly kept the seasiders in the hunt with a fabulous stop from the spot-kick. Town were still looking to get something from the game, and a double substitution on 70 minutes saw frontmen Kevin Smith and Mike Vickers enter the fray from the bench.
Vickers was unlucky not to have an immediate impact as within minutes, his fierce drive cracked back off the bar with Hartley beaten. The afternoon was summed up shortly afterwards in the 83rd minute, as another breakaway finished with Walker slotting home from close range to put the game to bed for the home side. Phil Harrison had a fine 20-yard effort well saved by Hartley in the dying minutes, but the day belonged to the home side.
Town:-- Kelly, Hyam, Barnes, Bonarius, Giblin, Baker (Vickers 70) McCoubrey (Smith 70) Bowsley, Wilkinson (Wallace 78), Willoughby, Harrison
Subs: Vickers, Smith, Wallace.
BRIDLINGTON TOWN 2, HUTTON CRANSWICK UTD 1
ERCFA SENIOR CUP
The seasiders gained a measure of revenge for last year’s defeat in the same competition, although a spirited and skilful performance by the Humber Premier side against their Unibond League neighbours had left the result in doubt until the closing stages, when Town’s skipper Shaun Baker sealed the tie with a 25-yard curling shot worthy of winning any game.
Town pressured early on through Drew McCoubrey and Kevin Smith, but Cranswick came the closest to scoring as a low cross from Mike Tate somehow eluded Tom Cooper at the far post. Town’s defensive line-up was then reshuffled as Craig Suddaby limped off and was replaced by Chris Hyam. A good spell of Town pressure before the break saw efforts from Phil Harrison and Mike Vickers all blocked by a solid Cranswick defence, and McCoubrey left two markers for dead to crack a 20-yard angled drive against the post.
The visitors stunned Town, and the home crowd, with the opening goal in the first minute of the second half. A lightning break down the right saw the ball crossed in, and Town left-back Martin Barnes in attempting to clear, spooned the ball into his own net. Cranswick could have extended their lead and probably put the tie to bed if a couple of chances soon after the goal had been put away, but Town ‘keeper Gavin Kelly thwarted the lively Tate on a couple of occasions, and then Ryan Cairns.
Town levelled on the hour courtesy of a superb individual strike from Mike Vickers, who beat two defenders on the edge of the area to fire a cracking shot into the roof of the net. Multiple substitutions then followed as both managers saw their chance to win the game, but no clear-cut chances were created. With extra-time looming, Town seized their chance as a fine move split open the Cranswick defence, and Baker had time and space to angle a superb finish into the far corner for the winner.
Town:- Kelly, Bonarius, Barnes, (Perry 70) , Suddaby, (Hyam 29), Giblin, Wallace, McCoubrey, (Baker 68) Bowsley, Smith, Vickers, Harrison.
Hyam, Baker, Perry
VAN MONSTER MAN OF THE MATCH: SHAUN BAKER
UNIBOND LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 18TH NOVEMBER 2006
BRIDLINGTON TOWN 1, SKELMERSDALE UTD. 2
A shattering defeat for the seasiders which leaves them still marooned in the relegation zone of Unibond Division One. Manager Paul Marshall had spoken in the week of the importance of winning home games, and for a while it appeared that Town were good for the three points only for the defensive frailties that have bedevilled the side all season to surface again and wreck any chance of a vital gain on the teams above them. Despite having plenty of possession, and playing some fine attacking football throughout the game, Town could not make a host of chances count, and but for a string of superb saves from ‘keeper Gavin Kelly, the scoreline could have been worse.
With new left-back Martin Barnes having failed a late fitness test, James Bonarius moved over to fill the slot, with youngster Matt Perry making his first start in the centre. It quickly became apparent that this makeshift formation may struggle against a typically rugged visiting attack, and Kelly was in action after only two minutes, foiling an unopposed James Glendenning from point-blank range. Kelly was again the saviour just minutes later as ‘Dale sliced open the Town defence again, saving brilliantly at close range from Carl Osman. Town at last got into the game as the quarter-hour passed, with the front pairing of Jack Wilkinson and Kevin Smith looking increasingly threatening, and the seasiders mounted a series of attacks in a ten-minute spell when the visitors barely saw the ball. Smith showed superb ability to hold off two challenges and fire in a 20-yarder that warmed ‘keeper Terry McCormack’s gloves on 20 minutes, then Anthony Bowsley saw his 25-yard free-lick whistle just over the bar and Wayne Wallace was unlucky to see his far post effort from one of a string of corners flash wide. The marauding Smith then set wideman Phil Harrison free on the right, but with Wilkinson screaming for the square ball in acres of space in the centre, he delayed the pass and centre-back Steve Rimmer hustled the ball away. Yet another corner saw Town take a deserved lead on the half-hour. Wallace found Wilkinson with a headed lay-off, and the striker buried a superb shot into the corner past a helpless McCormack in the ‘Dale goal.
The visitors almost found an instant response as full-back Andy Barlow moved infield to hit a fierce rising 30-yarder that Kelly did well to turn around the post at full stretch. Another half-chance was well snuffed out by the Town defence, but in a grim echo of so many games this season, the equaliser came soon after on 38 minutes through defending that would see Alan Hansen into an early grave. With Skelmersdale pressuring, Town had several opportunites to put their foot on the ball and play their way out of trouble or simply hit the proverbial row Z, but failed dismally to do either, with the final ball into the box finding Glendenning unmarked in the six-yard box, and he made no mistake with a simple finish past Kelly. Town came straight back, with Smith again at the hub of the seasiders’ attack. Showing a surprising turn of pace, the big man left Barlow trailing to fire in a low cross that Paul McNally skewed away over his own bar. Town continued to press, but could not make the breakthrough before half-time.
Town started the second half strongly, with Smith again showing intent as he broke clear to fire in a 20-yard effort that McCormack tipped round the post. Skelmersdale replied quickly, and Kelly produced a splendid one-on-one block to deny Osman who looked odds-on to find the net. Town introduced winger Drew McCoubrey from the bench as a replacement for a limping Mark Willoughby, but the wideman had no chance to make an impact before ‘Dale grabbed the winner on 65 minutes to stun the Queensgate crowd. Winger Mark Byrne laid the foundations with a good run down the right, but the move hardly looked too threatening until his low cross to the far post found the Town defence AWOL yet again, and McNally was left alone in glorious isolation to tap home.
Town’s final throw of the dice came on 77 minutes, as Smith, who had run himself into the ground and given Rimmer, a player with league experience at Port Vale, a torrid time all afternoon, made way for Mike Vickers to a loud ovation from the home fans, and sighs of relief from the ‘Dale defence. The big man is now starting to realise the massive potential he clearly has, and while still not fully fit, had been by far the outstanding performer on the pitch. Vickers looked lively, and linked well with McCoubrey on 85 minutes who wriggled clear of Tom Hardwick to fire in a stinging drive that McCormack held at the second attempt, but Town were now battling against the clock, and despite the urgings of Wallace, and Shaun Baker, on as a late substitute for Bowsley, the ‘Dale defence held firm in the dying minutes to take the points. Town now head to Stoke next Saturday to face fellow struggler Kidgrove in what is a massive game if the seasiders are to perform the great escape.
Town:- Kelly, Hyam, Bonarius, Perry, Giblin, Wallace, Harrison, Bowsley,(Baker 79), Smith, (Vickers 77) Wilkinson, Willoughby (McCoubrey 61)
Subs: Baker, Vickers, McCoubrey.
VAN MONSTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: KEVIN SMITH
UNIBOND LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 2ND DECEMBER 2006
BRIDLINGTON TOWN 2, CLITHEROE 2
If the Seasiders are to remain at Unibond level, this will be one of the games that made the difference. Paul Marshall’s young side, hit by suspensions and other unavailabilities, looked dead and buried at 2-0 down with only 10 minutes to go, but hauled themselves up by their bootlaces to dig deep and grab an unlikely point from an opposition which had convincingly beaten them 3-0 in the away fixture earlier in the season. Striker Kevin Smith was the hero, converting a penalty to spark the fightback, then making sure of the man-of-the-match award by firing home a stunning 25-yard free-kick with only minutes to go to level the scores.
Town got off to the worst possible start, conceding the opening goal after just four minutes. Clitheroe worked to ball through midfield out to the left flank, where wideman Dave Dempsey took possession, cut back infield and cracked a rocket of a shot that flew past a startled Dane Whittleson in the Town goal. Left-back Martin Barnes tried a similar effort as the Seasiders responded, but his effort flew inches too high. Smith was beginning to link well with Drew McCoubrey, playing in a striking role as replacement for the suspended Jack Wilkinson, and the burly frontman was agonisingly close to connecting with McCoubrey’s clever through ball on 10 minutes. Smith then turned provider with some fantastic footwork out on the right to beat his marker, and his driven low cross was o