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Home > 2007-08 Season > Match Reports > Bridlington Town (22.09.07)

MATCH REPORT

Bamber Bridge 2 Bridlington Town 1

Northern Premier League 1st Division North

at Irongate

Saturday 22nd September 2007

By Dave Rowland

Bamber Bridge consolidated their position amongst the leading pack in the First Division North following a brace from striker Ryan Salmon despite a late rally by their hard working North Yorkshire visitors Bridlington Town. As a result, the South Ribble outfit preserved their fine unbeaten opening sequence to the season which now stretches to ten league and cup games. Nevertheless, the home side were made to work tirelessly throughout the whole 90 minutes against a resolute Bridlington Town side who were not short on endeavour.

Brig were especially keen to resume league action following two hard fought FA Cup ties during the previous week. They had slipped to third place in the table whilst engaged in cup duties, and as a result, were anxious to avoid falling too many games adrift of their top-of-the-table rivals Curzon Ashton and Ossett Albion. As for visiting Bridlington Town, they were striving to turn the corner after having won just one of their opening seven fixtures in the First Division North.

Brig manager Phil Entwistle was forced into making three changes (one positional) to his successful FA Cup line-up against Manchester side Flixton during the week. In the continuing absence of the experienced Paul McMenemy, Allan Fleming moved over to full-back replacing the injured Damian Dashti, with Steve Williams reinstated into the centre of defence. In midfield Lee Cooper took over from super goal hero (against Flixton) Danny Mahoney, who was serving a one-match ban imposed for collecting two yellow cards at Garforth Town on the 8th September. Meanwhile, Town boss Ash Berry gave a debut to his two new signings, former Bradford City pair, striker Joe Brown and midfielder Steve Mitchell.

This roses clash did not begin in any great earnest, but after the somewhat quiet start, a Tom Ince shot was parried around a goalpost by ‘Seasiders’ goalkeeper Matt Wright following a pin-point cross by Alex Porter which had split the home defence wide open on 7 minutes.

Brig struggled manfully for control as the resolute Yorkshire side competed eagerly for every ball. Indeed, the hosts had a narrow escape on 25 minutes when an Ash Dexter free-kick was headed narrowly wide by unmarked Town central-defender Carl Giblin who had moved forward in support of his strikers. He really should have done better from such close range with a gaping open goal at his mercy.

The game was evenly balanced though Bamber Bridge did have the edge and made the breakthrough six minutes before the interval. A free-kick drilled in from the right by Stephen Brown was bundled over the goal-line by the inrushing Ryan Salmon to put the home side in the driving seat.

Referee Stuart Mitchell was replaced by his senior assistant Simon Lomax at half-time after he sustained an achilles injury. The game was slightly delayed before local match official Bill Harrison was drafted in to fill the linesman vacancy thus created.

The home team opened the brighter after the restart with Porter and Ince prominent down the left flank. Brig were in a confident upbeat mood and began to show renewed determination against the spirited endeavours of their Yorkshire guests.

The game remained highly competitive but Bamber Bridge were just edging things and not surprisingly went further in front on 70 minutes. Despite the close attentions of a Town defender, Ryan Salmon claimed his second goal of the afternoon and his fifth of the season, when superbly heading home an Adam Tong free-kick which was powered in from distance.

To their credit Town battled on, going close twice after a flurry of corners. They were rewarded for their endeavours two minutes from the end when substitute Neil Towler stooped low to head home at the back post after the home rearguard had failed to deal with a Luke Smith free-kick from the left.

However, it was too little too late for the Yorkshiremen as Bamber Bridge deservedly took the honours after a doggedly determined performance against resolute opposition.

Bamber Bridge: McCormick, Fleming, M Mahoney, Williams, Tong, Steel, Brown, Cooper, Salmon, Porter, Ince. Unused Subs: O’Neil, Heywood, Carroll

Goals: Salmon (39 mins, 70 mins)

Attendance: 163