Bridlington Town 3 Thackley 3

Thackley, it’s true to say, have a propensity to enjoy a day at the seaside. Over the past few years we have achieved some notable results at Queensgate not least last year’s outcome when a brilliant goal from Dan Broadbent capped an outstanding display and sent the Thackley faithful home with a smile and a victory. Bridlington are one of those teams that are consistently pushing for the title so a result at their ground is no mean feat. So, with a degree of optimism on a beautiful day we arrived at the seaside.

Thackley have been fortunate to retain a good many of last season’s players and, despite several very useful Summer additions, the team had a familiar look about it. New Summer recruits Ben Grech-Brooksbank and Owen Murphy were on the bench but the starting eleven contained players that had all been used last season. The playing surface at Bridlington is always a credit to the club and Saturday was no exception and with Summer weather it was a perfect day for football.

Both teams began brightly and for the first ten minutes there was an element of cut and thrust about the game with both teams coming close to creating a chance but not quite achieving it. The front trio of Normanton, Matthews and Muller were always likely to cause any defence problems and so it proved after fifteen minutes, when an astute pass by Matthews down the side of Normanton fully utilised his speed as he outpaced his central defensive marker, Papprill to convert an excellent chance into the bottom corner of Hitchcock’s goal. Unfortunately, the lead was short lived, Broadley curled a right footed corner from the left and despite what looked like an unfair imposition on Wilson, the ball drifted into the top corner. Soon after, misfortune struck when Matthews went down with an achilles injury and was replaced by Grech-Brooksbank who came on for his first competitive Thackley game. The football continued to flow and half chances were snuffed out before real danger threatened. Thackley were able to take the lead ten minutes before half time when White’s goal bound effort from a corner was headed away by Norfolk only to bounce off the unfortunate Papprill back into his own goal. Again, the lead was short lived, a long cross from the right was retrieved by Broadley with a straining header back across goal for Birley to head into the net from point-blank range.

Half Time: Bridlington Town 2 – 2 Thackley

Thackley began to have more of the play at the beginning of the second half, although Bridlington showed potential to create danger when they advanced forward. Grech-Brooksbank was proving a very capable replacement for Matthews and his control and passing were beginning to cause problems. Normanton’s pace is always likely to tax defenders and his movement across the front line makes it very difficult for central defenders to pick him up. He demonstrated both of these attributes when he broke through the defensive barrier but from a narrowing angle could only hit the side of the upright. Broadley at the other end blazed a wild shot over the bar. Thackley regained the lead for the third time just after the hour mark. A mix up between defenders and Hitchcock allowed a cross from the right to bobble dangerously into the six-yard box and Grech-Brooksbank had the simplest of tasks to head the ball over the line. The goal prompted Bridlington into more concerted action and they began to attack with greater purpose, but many of their attacks were denied by a resolute midfield and defence. Just when we were beginning to contemplate another success, Bridlington were awarded a penalty which Nathan Walker efficiently dispatched. A fine end to end game and a great advert for our level of football.

Final Score: Bridlington Town 3 – 3 Thackley

Bridlington Town: Hitchcock, Lewis, Danby, Norfolk, Papprill, Dennison, Broadley M, Taylor, Walker, McFadyen, Birley. Subs: Broadley W, Gargett, Bulless, Jordan, Ward

Thackley: Wilson, Marsh,Hunter, Whiteley, Thompson, White, Rothel, Boote (Sibanda 84), Muller (Hines 85), Matthews (Grech-Brooksbank 24), Normanton. Subs not used: Hargreaves, Murphy.

Attendance 218

Referee: David Jones