It’s the first league away game in over a month for Bridlington Town, as they make the trip to the Home of Football Stadium to take on Sheffield FC.
Saturday’s hosts, who are recognised by FIFA as the oldest existing club in the world, have enjoyed good home form so far this season, having picked up three draws and two wins in all competitions.
Away from home, however, they have been less successful, having lost all five away games. That includes their last two fixtures, a 3-2 loss to Liversedge before bowing out of the FA Trophy 2-1 to Hanley Town last Saturday.
They’ll make it three away games on the bounce on Tuesday evening, travelling to Newton Aycliffe in a bid to turn their away form around. No doubt, they will be looking forward to returning to familiar territory against Bridlington the following Saturday.
Tuesday’s game gives Sheffield the chance to climb as high as seventh, with them currently sitting on seven points in 14th place after six games.
The Seasiders lie two places below Saturday’s opponents, with the same points tally though they have played two more games due to less cup commitments.
Similarly to Sheffield, Bridlington Town have, for the most part, done well at home so far this season. That was until they picked up back-to-back home defeats, 5-1 and 3-2 against Belper Town and Cleethorpes Town respectively, ending their unbeaten home run.
Having netted a second half brace to comeback from a 1-0 deficit, Ali Aydemir was then shown two yellow cards, his second for pulling his man back to prevent an attack. Consequently, the winger was sent off and will now miss the Sheffield game due to suspension.
From the resulting free kick, former Seasider Will Annan converted to net a last minute winner for the Owls.
Matty Dixon is another player who will miss Saturday’s game, with him still set to be out for another 2-3 weeks with a knee injury. Matt Broadley and Max Ezard also missed the Cleethorpes game due to knocks.
On a positive hand, Andy Norfolk returned from a hamstring injury to make the bench, albeit as an unused substitute.
Adrian Costello says had the game not been as tight, the assistant manager would have got some time on the field, after having trained well in the week. The manager says to expect him to feature in some capacity against Sheffield FC.
It’s not just home form where Sheffield FC and Bridlington Town are similar, as on the road the Seasiders have also lost all five games this campaign.
Hoping not to make it four losses on the bounce in all competitions, Costello also admitted he expects three points this afternoon, demanding a reaction from last Saturday.
Should that be the case for the Seasiders, it will be a first league win against Sheffield since Bridlington Town were promoted to the Northern Premier League.
In their debut season at step four, Bridlington Town were defeated 3-0 and 2-0 by Sheffield, though they did knock them out of the FA Trophy in the Second Qualifying Round on penalties 5-4, with the game finishing 1-1 after 90 minutes.
Benn Lewis netted the winning penalty on that afternoon at Queensgate, with Leon Dawson’s last minute equaliser from a free kick sending the game to a penalty shootout.
Last campaign, it was two 1-1 draws against Sheffield FC, with the home game being Adrian Costello’s first game as manager of Bridlington Town.
