BRIDLINGTON TOWN 0-0 CARLTON TOWN - MATCH REPORT

Both sides hit the woodwork and although Carlton started the better, it was the home side who finished the stronger. All in all a draw was a fair result and both sides will be reasonably content with the final outcome.

Carlton however will be concerned about a mounting injury list, with Nat Watson and Danny Elliott both having to leave the field before half time due to injury.

Mark Harvey and Tommy Brookbanks made two changes to the side which had beaten Hanley Town last time out with Watson and Niall Hylton coming in for Martin Ball and Tyler Johal. The changes saw Lawrence Gorman join Dan Brown at centre half, with Ryan Tait playing right back and Hylton playing left back.

With a strong wind at their backs the Millers enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half, but will feel they didn’t make goalkeeper James Hitchcock do enough in the Seasiders goal.

Brad Wells flicked on a Kyle Tomlin cross midway through the half to Tyler Blake, who saw his header drop wide of the post.

Wells and Blake then failed to get on the end of a dangerous Niall Davie cross but the ball was picked up by Tomlin, whose fierce drive was excellently saved by Hitchcock.

Watson had to go off with what looked like a hamstring injury just after the half hour and he was replaced by Alex Howes.

Shortly afterwards Howes won the ball in midfield, advanced down the right and crossed to Wells who was right in front of goal, but somehow Will Sutton was able to clear.

With the game in first half added time it was Elliott’s turn to have to go off injured. He was replaced by Johal.

Hitchcock made a comfortable save from a Howes effort early in the second half, and soon after was equal to a Hylton strike after a fine run and shot from the wide man.

Tomlin was having another fine game in midfield and after some delicious control, he sent a dangerous cross into the penalty area only for there to be no-one there to tap home.

Bridlington started to get on the front foot and Mikey Emery made an excellent save from Lewis Dennison on the hour and followed that up two minutes later with another save from the same player after a cross from Matt Broadley.

The Millers were desperately close to opening the scoring on 67 minutes when Wells ran onto a ball from Tomlin, lobbed the advancing Hitchcock and could only look on in agony as the ball struck the post and was cleared.

At the other end Broadley fired just wide as both sides looked to get a winner.

Bridlington passed up two great chances to win the game in the final stages. On 81 minutes Noah Stokes found himself unmarked when he met a Sutton cross, but could only head over the bar. Two minutes later a mix-up at the back saw Dennison clean through on goal but although his effort beat Emery, it struck the post and was cleared.

Gorman and Brown had excellent games at centre-half and were ably supported by Tait and Hylton (and later Johal) at full back. As such, that was more or less the last of Bridlington’s chances. Carlton did have one final effort in the last minute but Hitchcock saved from substitute Aaron O’Connor after a typical Davie run and the points were shared.

The Millers left the field to generous applause from the healthy travelling contingent in the crowd.

Carlton Town: M Emery, R Tait, N Hylton, L Gorman, D Brown, D Elliott (T Johal 45), N Watson (A Howes 32), K Tomlin, B Wells (A O’Connor 71), T Blake, N Davie. Unused substitutes: R Stainsby

Carlton Town Supporters Club MOTM – Dan Brown

Att: 265