Six weeks after suffering a 3-0 league defeat, Bridlington Town gained their revenge with a nail-biting penalty victory over Sheffield FC in the FA Trophy at Queensgate on Saturday.
A topsy-turvy encounter saw six goals equally shared before the hosts held their nerve to win a spot-kick shoot-out 5-4 to book a home match with Marske United in the next round.
Town were without the injured Jack Bulless, Peter Davidson, Matty Dixon and Nathan Hotte but Ellis Barkworth had recovered enough from the injury sustained against Lincoln United and made the starting line-up. Harold Monkam dropped to the substitutes’ bench and assistant manager Joe Lamplough deputised as an emergency centre back in a depleted defence.
The first chance fell to Sheffield’s Marc Newsham but with Benn Lewis in close attendance he put his effort wide. Town began to push forward and gained three corners before Andy Norfolk had his shot blocked and the follow-up by Lewis was headed clear.
A head-on from Norfolk put Brett Agnew clear but he didn’t get a clean connection and goalkeeper Jonathan Hedge made a comfortable save.
In the 17th minute Joshua Burns was cautioned for clattering into Annan and after lengthy treatment the Bridlington midfielder limped off and was taken to hospital. New signing Elliott Williams came on for his Town debut. Nine minutes later Danny Earl was put clear, and he rounded Hedge to open the scoring. Both sides came close with Max Rhodes clipping the Town crossbar after good work by Luke Hall and a well-worked move from side to side ended with Lewis Dennison hitting a post with Hedge beaten.
Newsham hit his effort wide then at the other end Dawson found the side-netting from a good chance while Norfolk’s shot was saved and Agnew’s follow-up was deflected over.
After a bout of home pressure, Sheffield drew level three minutes before half-time when Rhodes broke down the left and crossed for the unmarked Newsham to score. In the build-up both Burns and Newsham were injured with Burns being replaced by Walshaw.
On the restart Sheffield started brightly and brought a smart save from James Hitchcock. Agnew missed a golden opportunity after Earl had battled well to win the ball and cross from the byline. Seven minutes into the half a ball in from the right gave Rhodes an open goal to put the visitors ahead. Several chances went begging for Sheffield as they pressed for another, and they rued the misses 20 minutes before the end when Jon Tindall Builder Man of the Match Earl scored his second goal with a deflected shot after Town had two attempts blocked.
The hosts picked up the pace however, with eight minutes left, Rhodes passed to Luke Hall inside the area and he put Sheffield back in front. Elliott left the field with an injury and with time almost up visitors’ substitute Yates upended Declan Parker just outside the area to earn a booking. Dawson stepped up to put the ball beyond Hedge into the top corner.
Hedge then saved well from Billy Logan to send the game straight to penalties.
Sheffield went first in the shoot-out and Hitchcock saved the opening penalty from Yates to give Town an advantage that they took by scoring all five spot-kicks with Lewis securing the victory with the fifth.
Town will welcome Marske to the Neil Hudgell Law Stadium on Saturday, October 30.
Bridlington Town: James Hitchcock, Ellis Barkworth, Benn Lewis, Will Annan (Elliott Williams 19) (Harold Monkam 85), Joe Lamplough (Billy Logan 64), Lewis Dennison, Leon Dawson, Declan Parker, Brett Agnew, Danny Earl, Andy Norfolk.
Attendance: 281
