Interim Brid Town boss Michael Coulson makes winning start at Bishop Auckland
Interim player-manager Michael Coulson marked his first game in charge of Bridlington Town with an excellent 2-0 victory at Bishop Auckland in NPL Division East – moving the Seasiders into fifth place.
The home side enjoyed most of the early possession after a cagey opening 10 minutes, while Brid sat in and stayed organised.
After 15 minutes there was a huge chance for the visitors, Casey Stewart whipped in a brilliant cross, Jake Day’s first effort was blocked and the rebound fell to Coulson, but the former Boro and York striker lifted his shot over the bar.
Soon afterwards the Seasiders opened the scoring. Day caused absolute havoc in the box, Stewart’s shot was well saved, but Ahmed Salam was quickest to react and poked it home past Bishops keeper Harrison Bond.
The hosts almost levelled a few moments later, as a brilliant cross found forward Mikey Roberts in space, but he fired it over the bar in a huge let-off for Brid.
Roberts went close once more a few minutes later, poking an effort just wide.
Ten minutes after the half-time break, Pete Davidson unleashed a stunning strike from distance, but Bond tipped it wide.
From the resulting corner, Tom Allan rose highest and powered a header into the net to double Town's advantage in tough conditions, with temperatures dropping and rain starting to fall.
Jonathan Dash maintained Brid’s lead with an excellent save in the 75th minute as the dangerous Roberts fired a low strike toward the bottom corner, but the Brid gloveman got down superbly to tip it wide.
The Town custodian made another top save on 82 minutes, reacting brilliantly, diving to tip a dangerous effort wide yet again.
Five minutes from time, SFS scholar Cam Blackburn came on for his Town debut to replace Coulson, a proud moment for the youngster.
The visitors held onto the lead and earned three points to lift them up into fifth place and into the final play-off spot.
Bridlington Town: 1 Jonathan Dash, 2 Matty Dixon (C), 3 Alex Markham, 4 Pete Davidson (12 Joe Batty 78 mins), 5 Kasper Williams, 6 Tom Allan, 7 Casey Stewart, 8 Charlie Dunkerley, 9 Jake Day (14. Jake Whiting 78 mins), 10 Michael Coulson (16 Cam Blackburn 85 mins), 11 Ahmed Salam.
Substitutes: 15 B.Francis, 17 A.Huntsman.