UniBond League Division One
Queensgate Stadium, Bridlington
Saturday, 10th September 2005, 3.00pm
Late goal denies Gresley
Gresley Rovers made the long trip up to the East Yorkshire coast for their first meeting with Bridlington Town since their FA Trophy semi final clash back in March 1993. And the visitor's almost gained revenge for that defeat but were denied by a missed handball that led to the equalising goal with just two minutes remaining.
Bridlington opened brightly and were soon testing the resolve of Gresley keeper James Pemberton when he had to deny Wayne Lewis by making a fine save at the base of the post.
Matt Millns then thought he'd scored on 11 minutes but his header from Gary White's corner was blocked on the line by Bridlington keeper Nick Baxter.
Ten minutes later Nathan Tate's cross found Chris Gray at the far post. He returned the ball low across the box which was blocked by a defender. The ball found Mickey Lyons but his shot was deflected away for a corner.
Gresley didn't have long to wait for a goal, however, and on 21 minutes grabbed the lead. Gary White had put a short corner to Aaron O'Connor and after collecting the return swung in a cross to the far post. Bridlington Nick Baxter, instead of letting the ball go for a goal kick, tried to grab it but ended up doing neither and Paul Edwards was on hand to stab the ball home.
The home side responded well and almost equalised on 28 minutes but Seb Towse's shot skimmed over the cross bar. A minute later they did grab a goal. Towse's cross was only half cleared by Andy Simpson and the ball fell kindly to Paul Palmer who gave keeper Pemberton no chance smashing the ball home.
The Seasiders then had a chance to take the lead when Mark Swales caught Edwards napping before putting a fine pass through to Ben Sherwood. However, his shot went wide of the mark.
On 37 minutes Tate hit a magnificent shot that Baxter acrobatically tipped over the bar. Gary White took the corner and his inswinging ball was allowed incredibly to go in at near post by Baxter.
Then two minutes later Baxter made up for his folly when he saved superbly a 25 yard shot from Lyons.
Pemberton was alert early in the second period making saves from both Martin Thacker and Palmer.
Gresley were fairly comfortable for the remainder of the half preventing any attacks from the home side from causing any real threat.
Gresley did have another couple of good chances with 15 minutes or so remaining. Millns put a header narrowly wide from Allan Davies's cross and when Tate flew down the wing before sending over a cross that found O'Connor. O'Connor then laid the ball back for Gray who could only send his shot past the post.
Then Bridlington equalised in somewhat controversial circumstances. With only two minutes of normal time remaining Palmer (who after the match admitted the offence) controlled the ball with his hand before setting up Swales who got the beater of Gary White before firing a low shot past Pemberton.
Manager's View
"I think there were only two people in the ground that didn't see the hand ball - the linesman and referee. Their bench said they thought it was a handball and their number nine, Palmer, admitted it afterwards.
"It feels like we've been robbed and it feels like a defeat rather than a draw because we should have won the game. I'm gutted because it was a great opportunity to have picked up three points.
"I definitely felt we deserved the win and thought we put in a good performance away from home. Our goals were thanks in no small part to their keeper, but we reacted well for the first, then Whitey has put in a fast inswinging corner for the second which asked another question of their keeper.
"In the second half our composure let us down a bit as we had chances, especially from a move involving Chris, Aaron and Holmsey just before they scored."
