Disappointing Ambers lose to Brid

Jas Colliver made just one change to the starting eleven from Tuesday’s draw against Liversedge, the newly re-signed Jon Hedge making his first appearance of the season between the sticks, and it was a positive opening by The Ambers which saw Ryan Carroll volley one well over the top before spurning a glorious chance when he muscled his way into the Bridlington box but just failed to hit the target as Barford closed him down.
Brad Nicholson was showing well in midfield and his excellent tackle on the halfway line released Ollie Fearon whose run and subsequent shot almost broke the deadlock, but again the final effort was just off target, as was a long range free kick by Ozzie Radford and a Jon Froggatt header after some good link up play between the front three.
As Town weathered the early storm, their confidence grew and they started creating their own opportunities, Modest fluffing his lines when he failed to get his shot away cleanly after finding room in the box, and Norfolk’s goal bound effort being blocked well by Lee Cooksey.
As the game ebbed and flowed, The Ambers almost grabbed the lead when a great cross from Nicholson found Fearon at the back stick but his stretching volley again ended up the wrong side of the post, and Brid finished the half strongly, Dennison and Adams both hitting long range efforts over the bar.
The second half was only 4 minutes old when The Ambers inexplicably switched off and failed to close down marauding centre back Papprill whose ambitious long range strike crashed off the underside of the bar and in to give the visitors the lead, and that should really have been doubled soon afterwards when Modest headed a good chance wide from Norfolk’s cross.
Handsworth hit back and missed a glorious opportunity of their own after Fearon’s run down the right caused problems for Brid and when the ball fell invitingly for Danny Buttle twelve yards out, the winger blasted his effort wide. The Ambers continued to push for an equaliser but the quality did not match the effort and Fearon, Froggatt and Nicholson all saw half-chances come and go, before Town hit them with a sucker punch seven minutes from time. Modest broke away down the right and his perfect cross was cleverly clipped in by McFadyen to ensure the points were deservedly heading back to the East coast.