Chances limited in goalless draw at Queensgate.
Bridlington Town 0 v 0 Grantham
By Ben Edwards
Bridlington Town held strugglers Grantham Town to a 0-0 draw at home, a scoreline many were likely to predict prior to the game as both sides have struggled for goals recently.
Manager Mike Thompson was forced to name a makeshift side due to multiple injuries and a suspension to Jack Bulless.
Amongst just three substitutes were Lewis Dennison, making his return from two months on the sidelines ; Harvey Carew who has been out on loan at Brigg Town and winger Matt Broadley.
The opening half hour saw limited action in terms of chances, with set pieces being the main method of attack for both teams, which included five back-to-back corners for the visitors, which eventually saw the ball roll out for a free kick.
An opportunity did come, however, 27 minutes in when Andy Norfolk was excellently picked out in space on the right. He drove towards the goal and fired a powerful shot which was saved by Dan Haystead.
Seven minutes later, Ryan Caulfield found room in the middle of the park and unleashed a shot from 40 yards, though it was straight at Haystead. With that being the final shot of the opening 45 minutes, the two teams went into the break deadlocked.
Norfolk whipped in a dangerous corner ten minutes into the second half, which was met by Jake Martindale but his volley was blocked before Matty Dixon’s effort from outside the box flew a long way over the bar.
Just a minute later, Grantham had their best chance of the game when a long throw was brought down well by Harry Wood, but his shot with the outside of the foot from 10 yards was wide of the left post.
Town goalkeeper James Hitchcock launched a good ball over the top of the Grantham Town defence looking for Joe Norton. Haystead was able to come out his penalty area to clear, with the ball finding Ali Aydemir whose hooked effort was over.
With twenty minutes to go, Dennison, who replaced Jack Yates ten minutes earlier, won a free kick after he was fouled on the edge of the penalty area. Man of the match Norfolk stepped up to take it. He struck it excellently and looked to have beaten the Grantham shot-stopper, but Haystead saved superbly.
The resulting corner, again taken by Norfolk found Norton free at the near post, but he got underneath it and headed over.
The hosts put on the pressure in the final five minutes, with a cross from the left being fumbled by Haystead and a corner resulting. Dennison was first to the ball from the set piece but glanced it over.
In the final minute of injury time, Broadley curled an effort from the edge of the box which looked as though it would have beaten Haystead had it not been blocked by a defender.
The Seasiders have another home game to look forward to, when they kick start December by Welcoming Hebburn Town to the Hudgell Solicitor Stadium
