By Ben Edwards
Having picked up 25 points at the Hudgell Solicitor Stadium so far this campaign, Bridlington Town will be looking to make it 28 in their last home match of the 2023/24 season on Saturday.
Ossett United are the opponents, and it’s a crucial game for them. With Grantham Town improving their form and picking up results to drag them out of the relegation zone, the threat of relegation is still there for David Brown’s side, who are just two points above the drop, but with a game in hand.
It was three losses in a row for Ossett, including two heavy defeats (3-0 and 4-0) against Liversedge in six days. Sandwiched in between those matches was a 2-1 loss away from home against Grantham.
However, they did win on Saturday 13th, picking up a 1-0 victory over North Ferriby. They’ll travel to Carlton Town on Tuesday evening in their first of three consecutive away games, before taking on Bridlington Town and then Hebburn Town.
Bridlington Town also earned their most recent victories against North Ferriby, on Easter Monday, when they won 2-1 in a phenomenal performance.
An entertaining affair then saw the Seasiders lose 5-3 against Newton Aycliffe. After falling 4-0 behind, Bridlington came back to 4-3, before conceding again in injury time.
It was a much improved defensive performance in Bridlington’s most recent game, a 0-0 draw on the road against Stocksbridge Park Steels.
With Jack Bulless, Ellis Barkworth, Tom Algar and Alex Markham all missing, it was a depleted squad, including youngsters Adam Stockhill and Bobby Attree starting.
Nevertheless, every player put in a good shift, which gives Adrian Costello a selection headache as some players are expected to return for the Ossett game.
Earlier in the season, the Seasiders came from behind to equalise late on, thanks to Jack Walters’ 89th minute goal. They were under different management in that game, with Brown as assistant to Grant Black, who departed on Christmas Eve.
