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Home > 2007-08 Season > Match Reports > Bridlington Town (22.12.07)

MATCH REPORT

Bridlington Town 0 Bamber Bridge 2

Northern Premier League 1st Division North

at Queensgate Stadium

Saturday 22nd December 2007

By Dave Rowland

Bamber Bridge came through this ‘roses’ tussle in fine style with two goals deep in the second-half to break the hearts of a resilient Bridlington Town at the Queensgate Stadium. Attacking virtually from the first whistle, the South Ribble side went on to totally dominate proceedings, but were made to work hard for the points, as the struggling ‘Seasiders’ defended their goal with typical Yorkshire grit throughout the afternoon.

Brig travelled over to the North Yorkshire coast looking to get back on track following two recent cup defeats, and, more importantly, were hoping to keep in touch with runaway leaders Curzon Ashton and second placed Bradford Park Avenue in the First Division North title chase. Their hosts, struggling Bridlington Town, who had won only one out of their previous five games in the league, were anxious to climb away from the bottom grouping in the table.

Phil Entwistle made three changes to the line-up which faced Conference Premier side Rushden & Diamonds in the FA Trophy seven days previously. Steve Williams was brought back into the centre of defence with George Melling moving over to right-back. Glenn Steel was thus removed from his full-back duties, duly returning to midfield, replacing Matty Mahoney, who was named as one of the substitutes. After being cup-tied for the last two games, Dave Eaton returned to the colours in preference to leading marksman Ryan Salmon.

Brig came out of the blocks quickly and went close after only two minutes when Dave Eaton volleyed just over the crossbar following a fine cross from the right by Stephen Brown. It was to set the tone for the rest of the first-half as the visitors remorselessly stormed the breaches.

Brig remained on the offensive and Sean O’Neil powered his header just wide of goal with Town goalkeeper Mick Clark beaten following an Alex Porter corner-kick after 14 minutes.

Little was seen of the North Yorkshire side as an attacking force and they came under increasing pressure as the game progressed. A sweeping move down the left hand channel involving Porter and Eaton nearly brought some tangible reward, but O’Neil was closed down quickly on the edge of the box as he moved in to finish off the manoeuvre.

Brig almost got their noses in front on 20 minutes when Adam Tong saw his header cleared from the goal-line from a pin-point Porter corner on the right.

Brown, who was to be Town’s ‘tormenter-in-chief’ all afternoon, made the first of many mazy runs through the home defence on 24 minutes, but disappointingly shot wide when his enterprise and bravery clearly deserved far more meaningful reward.

Danny Mahoney showed great presence of mind when sneaking a neat through-ball beyond the home defence four minutes later to put Brown through on goal, but luck deserted the Brig wingman as his well-struck drive flashed inches past the far post.

Brig continued to dominate despite the lack of any goals as justifiable reward for all their efforts. However, the ‘Seasiders’ remained a potential danger and if proof were needed of their potency, they provided it in full measure on the half-hour mark when Brig goalkeeper Terry McCormick was forced into making two superb saves within as many minutes. An excellent cross from the left by full-back Luke Smith deceived the visitors defence and Wayne Harratt moved in to send a bullet header towards the top corner of the net. McCormick acrobatically dived full-length to turn the shot aside. Brig’s ‘number-one’ followed this up with another fine save to deny Town striker Tom Greaves who slammed in a full-blooded drive from just outside the box.

Bamber Bridge finished the first-half the stronger and Danny Mahoney stung Clarks hands with a rasping snap-shot just before the break following good work down the middle by Adam Tong and Sean O’Neil.

The second period opened in a similar vein with the visitors pushing forward at every given opportunity. Brig full-back Paul McMenemy put Eaton through on goal with a perfect pass out of defence on 51 minutes but Clark got down quickly to smother the effort.

Eaton was again close on the hour mark following yet another jinking run down the right flank by Brown and six minutes later the Brig wingman shot across the face of goal following some enterprising play by Danny Mahoney.

Brig nearly got caught out on 70 minutes as Town began to grow in confidence. An Ash Dexter free-kick caused all kinds of problems for the visiting defence and McCormick made a tremendous stop to cut out the danger following a goalmouth scramble. Then McCormick changed direction in mid-flight to saved a Neil Redfearn effort down at the foot of the post after the shot deflected off the legs of Adam Tong.

However, the Lancastrians soon resumed back on the offensive and an Eaton cross was met by the inrushing Glenn Steel on the edge of the box but Clark made a fine save at full-stretch to keep out the midfielders low drive.

The visitors patience finally paid off on 78 minutes with a goal of real quality. Neil Spencer, on as a 75th minute substitute, soon made his presence felt with a quickly taken throw-in down the left to Sean O’Neil. O’Neil’s cross found ALEX PORTER in space some 25-yards from goal and the Brig skipper blasted home an unstoppable dipping shot with great aplomb.

Town were stung into action and responded immediately when veteran Redfearn tested McCormick with a well executed free-kick but the Brig man saved comfortably.

Brown intermittently continued to ferret with runs at the home defence and almost got on the score-sheet on 86 minutes. He wriggled his way through Towns massed ranks before seeing his pot-shot narrowly clear Clark’s crossbar.

Brig wrapped the game up in the dying seconds with a goal of consummate simplicity. In search of parity the home side had become stretched and the visitors took full advantage. Porter worked his was down the left before delivering the perfect cross for the unmarked SEAN O’NEIL to side-foot home. It was game, set and match.

Bamber Bridge: McCormick, Melling (M Mahoney 86mins), McMenemy, Williams, Tong, Steel, Brown, D Mahoney, O’Neil, Eaton (Spencer 75mins), Porter. Unused sub: Fletcher

Goals: Porter (78mins), O'Neil (90mins)

Attendance: 235