Bridlington Town 1 Boro 2

7th November 2009

A fantastic second half performance in front of a record crowd of 1,082 gave Boro all three points at Queensgate this afternoon

A Dave Hartas header, and a Scott Phillips penalty sent Boro back to the top of the table.

Report by Stuart Fairbridge:-

If there was ever a game made for the cliché “a game of two halves” this was it, as Boro fought back from a goal down, to take all three points with a stunning second half performance in this afternoon’s much anticipated top of the table derby clash at Queensgate.

There were two changes from last weeks win over Thackley, Rob Ellis replaced the suspended Joe Connor in midfield, and Joel Hartley came back on the right hand side for Mark Griffin.

Due to Boro’s mounting injury list, there was a place on the bench for reserve striker James Webb, alongside Craig Evans and Billy Logan.

Boro never really got into the game in the first half and were for most of it outplayed by the home side, who came storming out of the blocks and had their first chance in the opening minutes when winger Danny Buttle found space out on the left, but fired his shot well wide of Boro’s goal, still the home side didn’t have to wait long for their superiority to count when they took the lead after six minutes.

After good build up in midfield the ball found its way to Nathan Hotte, who easily skipped round Danny Moore and Dave Hartas and calmly slotted the ball past Boro keeper Arran Reid.

Boro were trying to get some sort of foothold in the game, and were nearly gifted an instant equaliser, when Richard Medcalf’s shot was saved by Bridlington’s keeper Tom Woodhead the ball rebounded off Frank Belt’s chest and hit the base of the post before being cleared.

That was to be Boro’s only real chance for the next twenty minutes, as the home side totally dominated, with aforementioned winger Buttle sending in a stream of crosses from the left, and only fine goalkeeping from Reid, and some stout defending from Hartas and Dave Kemp kept the deficit down to one.

Just before the half hour mark Buttle again sent in another pinpoint cross, which was met by a firm header from Craig Burdick, which was turned away by a fingertip save by Reid.

Then after Ellis had fouled Tom Fleming just outside the box, a training ground free kick routine led to Belt sending a screamer of a shot towards goal, this time it was acrobatically turned over by Reid.

Despite being under pressure for most of the half, Boro really should have gone in all square, when after a great run down the right by Hartley, he sent in a superb centre which somehow evaded both Ryan Blott and Craig Hogg with the goal at their mercy.

Whatever the management said to the players at half time certainly worked as Boro came out like a side possessed, firstly Blott teased a cross to the back post for Hogg, but his first time shot was off target, then Blott himself fired wide.

Then when Hartley went on a trademark run down the right, he played in Blott who was unceremoniously upended by Bridlington defender Tom Lee just outside the area, Patrick Miller came across and floated a perfect free kick into the near post, were it was met with a firm header by Hartas into the bottom corner of the net giving Woodhead no chance, unfortunately he was shown a yellow card for his exuberant celebrations with the Boro supporters.

Seven minutes later those same supporters were in dreamland when their side took the lead, albeit with a contentious penalty decision, a cross from the right from Medcalf found Scott Phillips unmarked at the edge of the area, he sent a powerful shot into the crowded penalty area, were it struck the hand of a Bridlington defender

The official pointed straight to the spot, and Phillips himself stepped up to easily beat Woodhead, sending him the wrong way.

The home sides first chance of the half came three minutes later, when they really should have drawn level, when after a through ball by Lee, Hotte rounded Reid but inexplicably missed an open goal from just inside the area.

Boro went back up the other end and Ellis was unlucky when his volley was straight at Woodhead, then Blott went close on two occasions, both times after beating Lee on the left, but failing to hit the target.

The home sides last chance fell to late sub Alex Rhodes, but his shot from the edge of the box was pushed away by Reid.

With the home side desperately looking for a equaliser, Boro really should have wrapped it up, when Blott had the freedom of Queensgate but took too long and was tackled by Ash Dexter.

That was to be the last chance in an enthralling game, which was watched by a record gate for a NCEL Premier Division game.

A special mention must go to Arran Reid for a Man of the Match performance in the Boro goal, and also to both full backs Danny Moore and Patrick Miller, who both produced outstanding second half performances.

Boro: Reid, Moore, Miller, Hartas, Kemp (c), Ellis, Hartley (Evans 90), Phillips, Blott, Medcalf, Hogg, Goals: Hartas 52, Phillips (pen) 59. Booked: Kemp, Hartas. Unused Subs: Logan, Webb.

Bridlington Town: Woodhead, Belt, Dexter (Brunton 79), Allanson, Lee, Giblin, Hotte, Fleming (c), Burdick, Palmer, Buttle (Rhodes 72), Goal: Hotte 6. Unused Sub: Harrison. Booked: Palmer, Fleming.

Attendance: 1,082.

Referee: G. Hock.