Athersley Recreation 3-3 Bridlington Town
This was another incident packed, keenly contested encounter between two sides that had met twice before back in
November when Town won both games by a one-goal margin.
In the absence of Tom Bennett and Frank Belt, Danny Brunton made his first start since the end of October and there
were just three on the substitutes’ bench. Athersley were without leading scorer Joe Thornton who was serving a
suspension.
The hosts went straight on the attack to earn a corner that was flicked towards goal by Adam White forcing Philip Dobson
to kick away and then punching clear from the return.
Matthew Thornton sent in a cross that was too high for Adam White, then the visitors conceded two consecutive corners
with Wayne Aziz blocking Jack Briscoe’s attempt from the second one.
Kyle Cook upended Joel Sutton 25 yards out and Town should have taken the lead after Tom Fleming headed on the
free kick to put Craig Hogg clear on goalkeeper Josh Herring. The striker put the ball past Herring only to see it come
back off the bar.
Athersley immediately went on the counter attack and were awarded a free kick just outside the Bridlington penalty
area by Tadcaster referee Anthony Murphy. After consulting his assistant, who had flagged for offside, he allowed the
decision to stand and Kieron Scargill struck the free kick into the top corner of the net off the underside of the bar to
give Athersley a twenty-first minute lead.
Sutton gained a corner from Joel Ramm’s pass but five minutes after the opening goal Town found themselves two down
to another decisive strike. This time Lee Bennett beat Dobson from 25 yards although there was another hint of offside
in the build-up.
Herring fumbled a Sutton effort and was happy to see it go behind for a corner. Dobson fared better when he dropped
on a low cross from Lee Bennett and when the striker made his way into danger area Aziz was on hand to clear for a
corner, which Dobson palmed over the bar and then caught the resultant flag-kick.
Aziz cleared from Scargill to set up a break from which Hogg was caught offside but the Athersley defence was picking
off most of the balls forward.
Declan Welford was struggling and was replaced a minute before the break by Ryan Blackburn but before he had settled
Town pulled a goal back. Craig Palmer had got forward and spotted a space through which to fire a low shot from the
edge of the area. Herring got his hands to the ball but it slipped through his fingers into the net.
Town were the more positive side after the break but when they broke three on two James Bennett put his pass straight
to a defender then Herring held a low effort from Hogg.
Palmer curled a free kick just past the post after Adam White had been booked for bringing down Sutton but then, slightly
against the run of play, the Penguins increased their lead ten minutes into the half when a mistake in defence presented
Lee Bennett with an opportunity to fire in off the far post.
After making three substitutions the Seasiders took the game to their opponents and got their reward after 67 minutes.
Cook needlessly gave away a corner and from Sutton’s kick Rikki Paylor pounced to force the ball home.
Lee Bennett, who was lucky not to be cautioned in the first half, was shown a yellow card for taking out Dean Craig and
as a precaution was replaced. Jack Briscoe followed him into the book for kicking the ball away after a free kick had
been awarded against Adam White for tripping Palmer.
Substitute Robert Cartwright headed a good chance wide while at the other end Sutton and Craig had their efforts
blocked.
The visitors were going all out for the equaliser and Sutton’s run from his own half to the by-line ended with Herring
punching away his cross then Wray scooped the ball over the top from Palmer’s centre.
With five minutes added time being played Town rescued a point right when Mr. Murphy adjudged that Scargill had
handled the ball in the penalty area and Sutton confidently hit the spot-kick past Herring.
Athersley lost their composure and there were three more yellow cards shown including a second for Adam White
resulting in his dismissal.
Man of the match:Wayne Aziz
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