The Stan’s 6 match undefeated run in the league ended abruptly as they were deservedly beaten by Bridlington Town. They were 3 down at half time & Bridlington looked dangerous every time they had the ball in the 1st half. The Stan rallied in the 2nd half & got one goal back, but it was too little too late. There was one change from Saturday’s draw at Bradford Park Avenue with Walker replacing Payne.
The Stan started positively but there were 2 early attacks by Bridlington resulting, in the 3rd minute, in a corner that was eventually collected by Gordon. 2 minutes later & a 2nd Bridlington corner was punched clear by Gordon but the Stan counterattack came to nothing. Both teams were trying to attack but the Bridlington defence were dealing with the Stan attacks. In the 10th minute, the visitors broke & Capewell put the ball over the Stan bar. Gordon got up to catch the ball from the resulting corner.
In 12 minutes, the Stan were behind when a Bridlington player won the ball & broke & shot past a defender & Gordon. 2 minutes later, & an Errington ball into the box was cleared. He then attempted a curving long range shot which went over the bar. In 16 minutes, Bridlington were 2-0 up when a free kick, which was deservedly disputed by the Stan team & Army, was sent into the Stan box & was headed into the net.
Both teams had efforts cleared & in the 19th minute, from a Bridlington corner, there was a scramble in the Stan box but the ball was eventually cleared partially & then cleared again by Capewell. 2 minutes later, a Stan cross into the visitors’ box was kicked out for a corner from which Robson headed just wide. 2 minutes later & the Stan again headed wide from a corner. In 27 minutes, the Stan sent a ball across the Bridlington goal & although the keeper got a hand to it the ball landed with Beattie whose high shot went wide.
Although there had been a period of sustained Stan pressure, Bridlington were 3-0 up in 31 minutes when a counter attack saw a Bridlington player lose the chasing defender & passed Gordon to slot the ball into the net. In 36 minutes, a Stan ball into the Bridlington box was cleared. Soon after Bridlington had a corner from which Gordon did not hold onto the ball but he had been fouled. A minute later & Errington broke towards the outcoming keeper & defender & as they all came close together the ball flicked towards the empty net & was going just wide as the advancing Pearson made contact at a tight angle but the ball hit the side netting.
In 41 minutes, a ball from a Bridlington free kick was headed towards goal but Gordon easily caught. In 44 minutes the visiting keeper got out to clear but after one minute of added time the Stan were left with a mountain to climb in the 2nd half rather than a pleasant seaside stroll.
The Stan made 3 substitutions at half time with Milburn, Burn & Lamb replacing Beattie, Robson & Errington. In 47 minutes, Walker broke forward but the keeper got out to block him. Soon after, Lamb had a shot deflected & although the ball was sent back into the box by Evans, the keeper got up to punch it clear.
In 54 minutes, a Burn free kick into the Bridlington box was punched clear by the keeper & was headed back towards goal but the ball went slightly wide. The Stan were more in the match this half but they were no real threat to the Bridlington defence. Both teams continued trying to attack & in 68 minutes Bridlington had a shot deflected for a corner. The Bridlington keeper got down to catch in 73 minutes, & 6 minutes later sub Storey tried a speculative long range effort towards an empty goal but the ball went just wide.
In the 80th minute, the Stan got a goal back when Storey supplied the advancing sub Adamson who shot into the net from the edge of the Bridlington box. The Stan tried to step up a gear & Lamb had a shot blocked in 85 minutes as they continued to keep the pressure on Bridlington.
In 87 minutes, a Bridlington counterattack saw Gordon put an effort by them just wide for a corner. From it, Capewell had to head clear followed by Gordon punching the ball clear before a Bridlington player blasted the final ball over the bar. Into 4 minutes of added time & a Shepherd header & an Adamson shot were blocked by the Bridlington keeper. Shepherd was then brought down in the Bridlington box but nothing was given when it should have been a penalty.
Despite an attempted 2nd half comeback, a 3-1 defeat meant a disappointing night for both the players & the Stan Army. The Stan slip down the league but still sit comfortably in 13th place. Saturday involves a trip to Yorkshire to take on Garforth Town.
Heaton Stannington: Gordon, Evans, Beattie (Burn 46), Robson (Milburn 66), Capewell, Shepherd, Hopper (Storey 70), Slaughter (C), Pearson, Walker (Adamson 70), Errington (Lamb 46).
Goals: Adamson 80.
Supporters Man Of The Match: Richie Slaughter.
Yellow Cards: Evans, Robson, Lamb.
Attendance: 288.
Match Photos: Flickr.
Kevin Mochrie