By Ben Edwards
Bradford Park Avenue 3 v 1 Bridlington Town
Bridlington Town fell to a 3-1 defeat against Bradford Park Avenue in the Northern Premier League East Divisision. Despite going into the interval level after a competitive first half, substitute Myles La Baside struck twice to earn his side the three points on Friday, December 13.
A frustrated Denny Ingram said: “I thought first half, we controlled the game really well.
“(We) got in a few times into good area, it’s just the final decision making wasn’t quite right.”
Captain Simon Heslop and Danny Earl returned to the side after injury, replacing Pete Davidson and Nathan Dyer, who had a sickness bug.
Ahmed Salam, signed on a 28-day loan from Alfreton Town, made his debut from the start. Benn Lewis also came in, with Sam Kay and Tom Allan missing through suspension. Three local lads were named as substitutes in Coby Scotter, Ryan Bemrose and Billy Ripley.
Earl, operating on the wing, had the first effort of the game, as Sebastian Malkowski’s long free kick found him running in behind. Earl hit it first time on the half-volley, and Jack Hall palmed the ball away to safety.
Sam Leverett then came close as his shot from the edge of the penalty area was tipped over by Hall, with the Seasiders creating the half-chances early on.
However, it was the hosts who oppened the scoring after 15 minutes with their first shot. A low cross found Connor Shanks, and the Bradford captain finished past Malkowski.
With 35 minutes played, Bradford were forced into a change with La Bastide replacing Brad Williams, though it wouldn’t be until the second half until the right winger would make an impact.
Just before the half-time whistle, Coulson’s inswinging corner found Lewis, though he was off balance and headed wide of the right post.
That being said, the defender would go on to score from the next corner just three minutes later, after Dan Hartley’s shot was deflected behind after a Leverett free kick.
Leverett took the resulting corner, and Lewis produced a beautiful header into the top right corner to get the visitors level just a minute before the break.
Bridlington thought for a moment that they were going into the break ahead, as Salam got in behind and finished one-on-one with Hall, but the linesman’s offside flag denied him a debut goal.
The Seasiders started second half as they ended the first, with all the momentum, though a lack of clinicality cost them once again.
After defending well initially, producing two heroic blocks before a Bradford effort went over, Bridlington were the side in control.
Malkowski came out to claim a dangerous looking free kick, and immediately set his side on a counter attack. Earl played the ball to Coulson, whose shot was blocked for a corner.
On the hour mark, Lewis mis-hit a clearance and the ball fell nicely for La Bastide, but he could only fire wide.
Alex Peterson tried his luck from 25 yards, though that proved to be his last action of the game as just two minutes later, he was forced off with what Ingram confirmed was a broken arm.
The hosts regained the lead with 20 minutes remaining, as danger man La Bastide cut inside from the right flank and produced an outstanding finish into the top left corner, leaving Malkowski with no chance.
A moment later, the substitute could have had another, as a mix-up between Malkowski and Hartley saw him nick the ball, but his dinked effort was off target.
La Bastide did find his second after 79 minutes, though, with another excellent finish inside the penaltyu area.
The right winger had a chance for a hattrick as he pounced on Lewis’ slip, but Malkowski produced a good save and the follow-up was blocked for a corner.
From the set-piece, Davidson was beaten in the air, but it was glanced wide.
Going into injury time, it was still Bradford creating the chances, as this time it was Heslop’s error from which they looked to capitalise, nicking the ball off the midfielder, but Shanks shanked it wide at the near post.
