Bridlington Town 4 Hall Road Rangers 1

Another away game, and again against our old adverseries. I love the ground, the club house the atmosphere especially when 100+ of the 147 are Brid fans. How do they know there were 147 in the ground ? When the guy on the turnstile didnt dish out any entrance tickets and didn’t or couldn’t distinguish between the number of oldies, kids and Brid faithful coming in.

Some of our old players are still there, though no Jamie Barmwell, but they had James McGarry within their ranks. It wasn’t cold cold, but chilly enough. And the atmosphere got even icier when McGarry bundles a ball home on 5 mimutes, this after we missed a couple of decent early chances. The game gets a little scrappy after this, but we dominate posession, but the pitch doesn’t help matters. We restore parity on 15 minutes when an unlikely hero smacks the ball into the roof of the net when the ball pings around the penalty area, at first I thought it was Frank that had blasted it, but it turned out to be Carl “Gibbo” “Fleshman” Giblin. And i am pleased for Carl, because he has been such a great player for Town and nobody deserves a goal more than him.

Mssrs Thacker and Palmer receive a very warm welcome from some of the away fans, in fairness to Martin, he takes some of it with a pinch of salt and a smile. The half finishes 1-1, in reality, we should have been 3 or 4-1 up.

The second half starts well and its not long before Danny Buttle is brought into the mix and nearly caps his start with a cross come shot come “oooh just inches wide” effort. Moments later he crosses in and Alex Rhodes looks “oh so surprised” when his effort actually goes in.

Somewhere around the second half, and Ash Allanson is fouled in the box by James McGarry and another defender and we gets another penalty. Frank steps up and belts it one, over the bar !! Flip he missed one. I think the pitch played a part, as I saw the ball bobble just as Frank was about to take the kick.

11 minutes later, I think it is Wayne Wallace that drives a ball at goal from outside the box and he hits it straight at Craig Burdicks face, Craig contorts his body, and probably his face too, to steer the ball into the goal.

Moments of the game left, Wallace hits another shot from outside the box and this time Tom Fleming steers the ball into the goal. We thoroughly deserved the win, we were by far and away the best team, and Tom Fleming was by far and away my Man of the Match, though special mention to Ash Allanson who had a good game and all the other lads, we also had the best fans, the best songs, the smartest fan (Jordan), the best put downs, the best goals blah blah blah. Stoke didn’t lose either.

A quick funny from Sundays FA Cup 3rd round draw, you know, thee most important draw of the year. I was painting my little ‘uns room when the draw was being made,3rd or 4th tie and Stoke come out as the home team (Number 36 – Stoke City). I’m shouting “Number 61….Number 61″ the lads going who’s that then….(Number 61) yeeeessss I scream, “its York City”  (YORK CITY) says the man on the telly, well Jim Rosenthal does. My lads going, “how the hell did you know it was 61 ? and how the hell did you know it was York City ? Is this recorded ?” ha, I was quite pleased with myself for that shout, which was probably a 57-1 chance or so, if only i’d had a fiver on it.

Bridlington 5 Scarborough Athletic 2

So, the quirky hand of fate had us all playing again, just 7 days since we were last at it. During the last week, we had played and beaten Arnold Town at their place in El Presidente’s Cup and Scarborough had a (soon to be) mid-table clash with Armthorpe, where it finished 1-1, nice.

The tingle wasn’t there this week, the cloud of doom from above my head had only just cleared from last week. Another healthy crowd drinking and eating plenty, the chairmen would be pleased.

Conditions for the game were not that bad compared to what had been happening – it had been lashing it down and swirling a gale just the night before.

We started off well, it was scrappy at times, but the majority of chances went our way. Our passing and movement was good, and the lads at the back were making some exceptional last ditch tackles to keep the lively Scarborough strikers at bay. Again it was Nathan that broke the deadlock, a “disputed” effort, as the lino had flagged for an offside, but stood where I was, Nathan had come through the line, but there was a player in an offside position (i think it was Frank Belt). Fair play to the ref, who I think had a great game, he had kept up with play and seen Nathans run, and quickly consulted with the lino to tell him he was wrong with his decision.

As we neared half time, it felt like I was living some kind of Groundhog Day, oh god we’re 1 up and Boro are getting back into the game, but thankfully Craig Burdick puts my mind at ease with a fine goal.

Second half and Scarborough do try and get back into the game, with a fine goal from Ryan Blott, shit it is happening all over again. However, this goal is only the start of an 8 minute period of goal action. Frank Belt scores another “belter” from outside the box in open play two minutes later. I have read on the Seadog forum that the keeper was at fault for letting this one go through him, in fairness, Frank hit it with such force that the keeper was shaping to save it, but it took a slight deflection on its way through, the keeper had little time to react.

Jordan of the Mafia, jumped onto the pitch to celebrate with Craig Burdick, and was promptly rugby tackled by a very very keen steward and frog marched out of the ground. If, a big if, the steward had done that to me, I would have been frog marched out of the ground by the rozzers, coz I would have chinned the steward for the way he handled the situation. 1) there was no need to man handle Jordan like that 2) whilst I don’t condone what Jordan did, some perspective of what the game meant to everyone should be observed, just someone showing a little passion. A good ticking off would have sufficed. 3) there are NO SIGNS saying to stay off the pitch 4) the stewards were probably pissed off at the singing and the fact we were whipping their arses on the pitch.

A massive four minutes later and the majority of the 1002 fans in the ground are cheering as Craig Hogg reduces the deficit again. But undeterred by this, we go up the other end, and Ash Allanson delivers a bullet corner that is met on the nearpost by Wayne Wallace with a thunder header. Wayne had an excellent game today and topped it off with an identically worked goal 10 minutes from time.

We did have a few other chances, but their keeper made some smart saves to keep our lads at bay. All in all a great day, great display by the lads, because they all played out of their skin, the back four were immense, the midfield made great runs with some slick passing and Palms up front, whilst he didnt get much of a sniff in front of goal, he did hold the play up and chase down their defenders and keeper.

The cloud of doom has been replaced by a sparkling ray of sunshine.

BionicBarmby has put highlights of the first half online, so credit to him for this footage, thanks.

Bridlington Town 7 (seven) Lincoln Moorlands Railway 0 (zip)

With the boy safely arriving in Milan for his week long school trip, I could fully concentrate on our next home game. Incidentally, the lad was swapping Queensgate for a trip to the San Siro tomorrow for the AC Milan v Chievo game – lucky sod….or so I thought, well no, I am really jealous.

However, to soften the blow the Brid Town lads put in one helluva performance that, for those who were there today, will not forget in a very long time. Scintillating, sublime, speechless, destructive, awesome, passionate, cracking, energetic, quick, magnificent, superb and “the dog’s bollocks”

It was raining, and it was horrible, sticky/clingy kind of rain. Not suitable for football at all. The ref had obviously decided he was in no mood for hanging around today and kicked off a couple of minutes early. And as i got to Phil and his raffle, Jack Wilkinson was already having a one on one with their keeper. The keeper making a fine save. Most of the crowd were huddled under the shelters of the main stand, the tea bar or the bus shelter. I’d decided to experience the persistent rain and stand over the far side, listening to the “reasonable” commentary from Talksport who were covering Stoke at Tottenham.

From the off, our lads were hungry, perhaps wanting to atone last weeks defeat, but they were untouchable. Jack, who had an outstanding game, (getting back to the sort of player he was a couple of seasons back but in a better team) got the opener after some excellent work from Nathan Hotte and Frank Belt. These two have now got such a great understanding, and work so hard getting up and down the right flank and put in some excellent balls and shots.

The second goal was probably thee best goal I have seen whilst following Brid from any side. Their must have been 12+ passes, mainly one touch, excellent movement that was started by, contributed by and finished by Ash Allanson – how many others were involved I don’t know – but this was scored in driving rain. And well deserved.

The third goal was similar, excellent passing and a cool finish from Craig Burdick, who was a real thorn in their defenders side the whole of the first half. Jack got his second just before the break. Half time and it was only 4-0.

Everyone was buzzing at half time. Stoke were drawing, only just.

Second half is only 3 minutes old and we are 6-0 up. Nathan has a shot deflected off a defender, who is credited for the goal (AFCW might be happy with that – £2 saved!!), but Nathan doesn’t disappoint and bags a beauty, literally seconds later.

After about 60-65 minutes, we aren’t as intense as we were, but you can understand that, as the lads had played their tits off. Perhaps it was the rain disappearing and the sun coming out that exhuasted them ? However, Moorlands were  still no match for us. Palms isn’t going to miss out on the goal fest and adds one on 79 to give us a handsome 7-0 lead.

Someone had put up on the forum a topic for predictions. At 1.15 or so, I had put 7-0 to us with an attendance of 144. final score was 7-0, attendance was …… 145. How close was that . so i go and get some lotteries and win chuff all, so it must have been a flukey guess.

Scarborough lose at Selby 3-2, and there seems to be some serious unrest there at the moment. Armthorpe lose at home to Hall Road 4-3, with James McGarry, Jamie Barmwell and Paul Palmer all netting. Rainworth win again at Arnold Town. Plenty of goals in the Pickering v Long Eaton game, with Long Eaton finishing 6-4 winners. Brodsworth still remain rooted to the foot of the table played 12, lost 12, goal difference -57.

My favourite team (Stoke) beat the team I hate the most (Tottenham) at White Hart Lane today with an 86th minute strike by Glenn Whelan. My other favourite team (Wealdstone) beat Aylesbury to reach the first round proper of the FA Cup, where hopefully they pull out Leeds, Darlington, Grimsby or some other Northern team, so I can go and watch them.

What a great day !!

Bridlington Town 5 Bottesford Town 0 (h)

Tonight we kicked off our NCEL Presidents Cup run against Bottesford, who are currently mid-table in the NCEL 1st division. We had a few first teamers out, well actually they were eating chips and drinking beer in the bar (but they were there to cheer on their team mates!!) and Bottesford by all accounts were playing a fairly youthful side.

Conditions were good, yet again the pitch is in excellent nick, but the mid week games are now starting off in full moonlit night, today was officially the last day of summer – someone should tell mother nature, that summer finished sometime in early June, and she owes me 3 months of bloody hot weather.

Didn’t think many would come, 108 in the end, not surprising really, when none of us know who the NCEL president is and which one of his cups we were playing for ?

We have vast swathes of possession in the game, and create enough chances to make it at least 12-0, but it takes us until 43rd minute to get off the mark and we get another about 40 seconds later. I only know this because someone told me, as I had gone to the bar for a drink and to see the last 5 mins of the 1st half of Leeds Liverpool. Bloody typical.

2nd half and I felt we lost our shape a little early doors, but our stamina and skill level shone through in the end, and we scored three very good goals in the last 15 minutes. to be fair to Bottesford they never gave up and with some better finishing themselves in the first half, could have scored two or three good goals of their own.

A good run out for the lads, better than a training session, however, Frank Belt, Nathan Hotte were subbed and both looked to be hobbling a bit – lets hope they are ok for the impending goalfest on Saturday against poor old Brodsworth who have played 7 lost 7 socred 2 and conceded 42. So 0-0 it is then … lol.

If i was playing NCEL championship manager 2010 on the Xbox for this Saturdays game, I would play the following formation(for this game only):

Wilberforce

Gibbo, Mountford, Dexter

Belt, Rhodes, Hotte, Allanson, Buttle

Palmer, Burdick, Wilkinson

For me, I can’t see them scoring many, if any against our normal 4-4-2. Lets go all out attack and aim for at least 12-15 goals, if they get one or two, so what? It’s not going to hurt us too much. (and as I have now built this thing up so much, I realise some changes need to be made as Burdick probably can’t play due to his suspension for his recent red card.) but you get my drift….if so, move Rhodes to front line, and bring in Dave Ricardo or Tom Lee into the middle.

Bridlington Town 4 Sculcoates Amateurs 0

Can someone please email dear old mother nature and tell that summer consists of sunshine, warmth and scantily clad women – not the drizzly, miserable wintry fayre we had today.

A very measly crowd of about 90 or so attended this one, where we playing our annual game against Scullies, this time for the Memorial Cup (kindly sponsored by Graham Hebden and family) -we are the current holders.

Some changes for Town after last weeks performance, probably to give some players a good run out before next weeks games (v Hull on Wednesday and Pickering in the league next Sat), especially as some 1st teamers have suspensions pending.

Scullies played well throughout and at times didn’t look to out of place alongside us, one or two of their players stood out – their young goalie in the second half was very good. We did have some opportunities to score a quite a few more, but were lacking that killer instinct in front of goal today – Palms could easily have had 4 or 5.

What was pleasing other than the result, was the fact my lad and me were able to update the Twitter part of the blog with the goals as they went in, and equally as pleasing was Gail’s chilli – not as hot as recent offerings, but pleasant all the same.

Good effort by the team today and its looking good for the weeks, months and season ahead. Roll on a nice big bumper crowd for Wednesday.