By Ben Edwards
The Seasiders took advantage of Dunston’s squandered chances to pick up a draw on the road, thanks to Joe Norton’s first goal for the club.
Explosive winger Ali Aydemir was drafted back into the side after being unavailable last game. Noah Stokes also came into a midfield in which Mike Thompson tinkered slightly with the shape.
It was a poor start to the game for the visitors, as a ball over the top beat the Bridlington Town defence. Will Jenkins finished the move just four minutes into the game with an excellent chip over James Hitchcock, leaving the travelling supporters wondering if the side were in for a third consecutive heavy defeat.
Bridlington reacted well to going behind, preventing Dunston from having any attacking opportunities and began to impose themselves on the game 20 minutes in. Will Sutton took an audacious shot from distance, though it was easily saved by James Anderson between the sticks.
Though no real clear cut chances fell to Bridlington, their best opportunity of the game so far came when Sutton crossed the ball from the left. It narrowly missed Martindale in the middle, though it nearly found its way into the back of the net anyway, but Anderson slipped though he was able to parry the ball to safety.
A smart, training-ground routine corner almost saw Dunston double their lead. They put in a low ball from the right, with nobody tracking the run of Jenkins, but he fired over.
Aydemir had two chances in as many minutes with 15 minutes to go until the break. The first came as he found space on the edge of the penalty area, shot with the outside of his foot but it went wide of the left hand post. He then received the ball from Martindale and curled a left footed effort just off target.
Dunston had the better of the final 10 minutes of the first half. Richard Coulson got the better of James Williamson, but his square ball across goal was met by nobody. Jack Bulless then gave the ball away cheaply, but the hosts couldn’t capitalise on a rare mistake from the defender and it rolled through to Hitchcock.
The most clear cut chance came when Jack Elliott, who looked a constant threat on the left wing, put in a great cross to Jenkins. He brought it down well, took it round Hitchcock, but Benn Lewis made a superb block on the line. The Dunston players appealed for handball but referee Kieran Downey was uninterested.
Looking to replicate Dunston’s fourth minute opener, the away side almost found an equaliser just four minutes into the second half. Matt Broadley’s corner was met by Williamson unmarked, but his close range header landed just wide.
The second 45 minutes proved to be an end-to-end encounter, though Dunston created the most clear cut chances. Jenkins, who looked dangerous all afternoon, almost had his second as he was left in space on the edge of the 18-yard box, but he dragged his effort wide.
Two minutes later, Hitchcock’s ball out to Sutton was intercepted by Djalo, but his shot was blocked.
Dunston countered from a Bridlington attack, setting through Djalo, but Williamson and Bulless did well to prevent him pulling the trigger.
Aydemir had yet another effort when he was picked out by Jack Griffin, but put a left-footed effort over the crossbar.
With half an hour to go, Dunston were denied by a second goal-line clearance. A corner was met from close range, the header beating Hitchcock, only to be denied by Sutton on the line.
Yet another clear cut chance fell the way of the home side, as a strike from a narrow angle hit the inside of the right hand post and somehow stayed out.
Striker Joe Norton returned from over a month on the sidelines injured to replace Martindale with 12 minutes until full time.
Unbelievably, Dunston hit the woodwork yet again, as Coulson unleashed a brilliant effort on the break that just struck the left post, and the rebound was somehow not bundled over the line.
The last five minutes saw Town push for a last-gasp equaliser, and they made Dunston regret their missed opportunities in the 89th minute. Skipper Griffin’s long ball was won by Williamson, who nodded it down to Norton. The substitute bravely poked the ball beyond the oncoming Anderson in goal to net a scrappy goal to earn his side a point in what was the first time he netted for the club since joining from Beverley.
The Seasiders are in action again on Saturday 12th November, when North Shields travel to East Yorkshire.
