Result of the Season for Battling Brid

A 1-0 victory at home against 2nd-placed Stockton Town made it back-to-back league wins for the Seasiders, extending their unbeaten run to five games in all competitions.

It was great to see local talent rewarded, as Bridlington Town Rovers player Sam Flowerdew made the bench for the first time. 

There were two changes, both on the wing as George Harrison and Nick Hutton both missed out through injury, so in came Ali Aydemir and Matt Broadley.

It was a fairly uneventful and even opening 20 minutes, with the only shot coming the way of Stockton, but a first time volley from Nathan Mulligan on the edge of the penalty area flew miles over.

A deep free kick was whipped in by Brid skipper Jack Griffin, just finding Benn Lewis at the back post who was stretching and the ball ended up going behind for a goal kick. 

Matty Dixon’s good cross found Lewis Dennison, who got a slight head on the ball but glanced it wide. Just a minute later, Broadley was played in behind, but his heavy touch saw the ball roll through to the keeper.

Just before the half-hour mark, a corner from the right found Jake Martindale. He gave the ball to Williamson, who laid it off back to Martindale. His powerful first-time strike was just wide - a warning sign that he will be dangerous.

It was a let off for Bridlington in the 44th minute, when shot-stopper James Hitchcock tried to control the ball on the edge of the area, but his heavy touch gave the ball to Elliott Beddow. Dixon did well to apply pressure and delay the shot, which eventually went wide.

A minute later, the hosts had the advantage. Ali Aydemir made a superb run down the right hand side, before dinking the ball to the back post, where Jake Martindale was free at the back post to head home on the brink of half time - his first league goal of the season!

The Seasiders were forced into a change at half time. Dixon was withdrawn due to a quad injury, so Jack Bulless entered the field with Benn Lewis switching from centre-back to right-back.

Six minutes into the second half, Hitchcock made a good save with his feet, after a powerful shot from the left-hand side of the penalty area.

Bridlington countered but Broadley’s dangerous cross was just over Dennison, who then turned on the edge of the penalty area but curled an effort just wide of the right hand post.

With just under an hour played, Stephen Thompson should have done better with a close range effort for Stockton, which he put over the bar. 

Two minutes later, the visitors had another gilt-edged chance at the back post, but it was put wide. Another let off for Bridlington with Stockton putting on the pressure.

The ball was almost bundled home shortly after by Williamson from a Bridlington Town corner, but he couldn’t quite get the ball over the line.

With 15 minutes to go, substitute Mackenzie Warne played a brilliant ball through to Dennison, but he was closed down well before he could pull the trigger. Eddie Rogerson then played a superb ball to Martindale, whose effort was straight at Henry Popple in goal.

The hosts came unbelievably close in the 81st minute, when a corner found Rogerson, whose strike was phenomenally saved. Bulless latched on to the rebound but fired over. That appeared to be the final notable opportunity for either team, with the game concluding 1-0.

Costello caught up with Brid Town TV after the final whistle:

Bridlington Town are back on the road next Saturday, making the long journey to Long Eaton United, a game that has been re-arranged on three different occasions.

Star man: Ali Aydemir

Entertainment rating: 3 stars