Bridlington Town 1 v 2 Matlock Town
By Alexander Fynn
Bridlington Town suffered their first defeat of the season on an emotional evening as they paid their respects to former club President Cyril Skinner, who sadly passed away on Sunday at the age of 93.
Cyril was a well-respected man across the Bridlington sporting scene, known by many for his encyclopaedic knowledge of various sports. Had it not been for Cyril, the club very well may not have still been in existence.
Before the clash, the Seasiders were unbeaten in the NPL East, as were Matlock, who sat above them by a point having played the same number of games, only losing away to Lincoln United 3-2 in their last outing.
The home side began on the attack from kick-off as Casey Stewart tossed and turned around his man before crossing the ball to Jake Day, although his volley landed on the roof of the net.
Jeremie Milambo earned the first chance for the visitors when he had an opportunity from the edge of the box; however, his effort was deflected for a corner by Benn Lewis.
Day came close to opening the scoring when Stewart once again whipped the ball into the box, and the shot came off the number 9’s knee and hit the post; however, the linesman flagged for offside.
Matlock earned a free kick on the edge of the box, but Milambo’s effort went over the bar.
Day opened the scoring for Bridlington Town when Stewart curled a cross into the box, with Jake Day making no mistake with a bullet header and leaving the keeper stranded.
Cameron Wilson produced a stunning goal to put Matlock back on level terms when he tried his luck from distance, and the ball landed wonderfully in the top corner.
The Seasiders began to capitulate as the visitors quickly turned the scoreline around. Tom Elliott struck from distance, and with Jonathan Dash being in no man’s land, the visitors were in front.
Ahmed Salam earned the home side a free kick, which was latched onto by Tom Allan; although his header went into the keeper’s gloves.
The second period started fiercely, with both sides attacking hard at each other’s goal. The Seasiders believed they had equalised when Salam shot from the edge of the box. The keeper parried it away to land in Michael Coulson’s path, and although his shot went into the back of the net, the linesman flagged for offside, leaving the players and fans frustrated.
Even though the home side were down a goal, the fans continued to back the Seasiders for that important equaliser.
Kasper Williams almost gifted Matlock a third goal when Kiyani Clayton crossed the ball into the middle; it came off Williams’s knee and into Dash’s gloves.
The Gladiators were truly pushing for that third goal. Elliott fired a shot from the edge of the box, but the low-driven effort went wide.
After being substituted for Will Annan, Charlie Dunkerley received the first caution of the game after what could be called a silly challenge on Liam Ravenhill.
Bridlington pushed in the final ten minutes to find the equaliser; although under most pressure, they were unable to break through and suffered their first loss of the season.
After the match manager Thompson said: “I feel the way the game was we deserved something from it and we have come away with a defeat. Yeah it is what it is we have to dust ourselves down from that. The positive is that we’ve played really well against a really well outfit and that’s good for us.”
Bridlington Town return to Queensgate on Saturday as they host Guiseley in the FA Trophy, with a kick-off at 3 pm.
