Winterton 1 v 0 Bridlington Town
By Ben Edwards
After a hard-fought win against Liversedge Town, Bridlington Town put in a completely contrasting performance just 48-hours later which saw Winterton Rangers pick up their first win of the season, getting a deserved 1-0 victory.
Adam Barthram tried his luck after 10 minutes, dinking it over Joe Wilton’s crossbar. The shot-stopper, who put in a superb display for Bridlington Town, joined on a one-off basis from Tadcaster Albion to cover for James Hitchcock.
It was a big let off for the visitors, who had started the game slowly. An attacker got the better of Benn Lewis, who was forced to switch from right-back to centre-back as James Williamson pulled out late on with an ankle injury. The ball was spread to Jack Varley but he side-footed it over in lots of space.
Glen Sani did well to get in behind the Winterton defence, before unleashing the Seasiders first shot of the game, though Nathan Popple had no issues in making the save.
Wilton made a good save after Paul Grimes fired an extremely powerful free kick towards goal.
Andy Norfolk whipped in a deep free kick from the left hand side towards the back post, finding Lewis, but the defender volleyed off target.
Josh Walker did really well to turn away from his man in a tight space, but he fired over from inside the penalty area.
A minute later Steven Ridley was given too much space, and a great ball played him in behind, but he fired straight at Wilton.
Jack Walters launched a long throw into the penalty area, with Jack Bulless meeting it with his head, but he could only flick it into the hands of Popple.
Cam Cunningham almost found the opener with five minutes of the first half remaining, with his effort from 20 yards very close to crossing the goal-line. The ball made its way to Walters, who blazed it over from 25 yards.
Five minutes into the second half, Tom Algar – who was forced to replace Norfolk who suffered a hamstring injury in the final minute of the first half – mishit his volley, with the ball hitting the head of Sani before going wide.
Just past the hour mark, Wilton produced a massive save one-on-one, getting a hand to Adam Baskerville’s effort to keep the visitors level.
From the resulting corner, Algar made an unbelievable goal-line clearance and the rebound was volleyed over from the edge of the box – a lifeline for the Seasiders.
Just two minutes later Luke Anderson, who had a quiet game up front for the hosts, was awarded too much space in the penalty area, but headed straight at Wilton. Grimes’ effort then also fell nicely into the arms of the Bridlington Town shot-stopper.
Lewis produced a great block as Anderson struck, before putting the rebound wide. The Bridlington defender was then shown a yellow card for an extremely strong challenge just a couple of minutes later.
A deep free kick found former Bridlington Town player Jaime Ture, who put it wide at the back post.
With eight minutes to go, the ball fell nicely to Daniel Walker as Winterton unbelievably found themselves five-on-one.
The substitute drove towards goal on the left hand side, and opted to go alone instead of squaring it to a man in the middle, finishing excellently and giving Wilton no chance.
Max Ezard, on for Cunningham for the final 10 minutes, played a great ball through to Sani, whose one-on-one was well saved.
Lewis Dennison, who had struggled to impact the game, made a good dribble from the right into the penalty area but curled it over on his left foot.
