Ahmed Salam hat-trick fires Bridlington Town to FA Trophy win against Congleton

Brid started brightly, creating the game's first real opening in the fourth minute when a neat passing move put Ben Tweed through, though his low strike was saved by the keeper. Congleton responded in the eighth minute with a long-range effort that Alex Baird had covered as it flew wide.

Baird was called into action in the 12th minute, getting down low to palm away an initial effort before flying across his goal to deny Congleton's attacker from two yards out with a massive hand to concede a corner.

Following a quieter spell where Congleton pushed without troubling Baird in the 26th minute.

Bridlington went close to taking the lead in the 31st minute when Destiny picked the ball up, battled past three defenders on the edge of the box, burst through and drove a shot against the supporting pole of the goal.

Drama erupted in the 33rd minute when Batty jumped to clear a ball away inside the six-yard box and appeared to be pushed in the back, but the referee initially awarded Congleton an indirect free-kick inside the box instead after Baird collecting the ball deeming it a back-pass.

Following heavy protests, the referee consulted his assistant and the decision stood in the 35th minute, Town lined up all 11 men on the goal-line and successfully blocked the strike from the free kick.

Bridlington took advantage in the 39th minute to break the deadlock.

Casey Stewart brought the ball down on his chest, turned his man with a lovely move, drove into the box, and cut it back from the byline for Ahmed Salam waiting on the edge of the box to smash home a rocket of a strike. Destiny almost doubled the lead in the first minute of stoppage-time after being played through by Tweed, but hit the side-netting to leave it 1-0 at the break.

Town went close again in the 49th minute when Destiny was played through, only to fire over the crossbar from two yards out. In the 52nd minute, Birdsall was played clean through on goal, knocked it around the keeper, and went down, but was booked for simulation as Congleton were awarded a free-kick.

Tensions flared in the 54th minute following a heavy challenge on Batty in front of the Seasiders dugout, resulting in a free-kick to Bridlington.

However, Congleton found an equaliser in the 62nd minute, pulling one back directly from a corner.

After Congleton sent a shot high over the bar in the 70th minute, Brid restored their lead in the 71st minute.

The ball was played forward to Salam who laid it out to Eddie Kettlewell and who put a low teasing cross, lifting slightly into the air for Salam to catch on the volley placing it into the far corner for his second.

Bridlington pressed for a third in the 76th minute when Salam blocked a long ball, pounced on loose possession, and laid it off to Tweed, who danced through midfield to feed Marriott for a shot tipped over the bar.

The decisive moment came in the 78th minute when Salam cleverly dummied a ball on the edge of the 18-yard box to Tweed, who took a quick touch and was clipped and awarded a penalty.

After a brief wait while the referee managed the box, Salam stepped up in the 80th minute to coolly convert into the left side of the net, completing his hat-trick and making it 3-1.

Marriott almost added a fourth in the 82nd minute when he was played through, outmuscled his defender, and saw his shot deflected just wide of the post.

Congleton pulled one back late in the 90th minute due to sloppy defending, allowing their number 16 to turn the ball over the line, but Brid held on to seal the victory.

Bridlington Town: 1. Alex Baird (GK), 2. Joseph Batty (off 56'), 3. Coist Walker, 4. Ben Tweed, 5. Tom Allan, 6. Joe Pratley, 7. Casey Stewart (off 68'), 8. Kyle Fanning (off 59'), 9. Charlie Birdsall (off 60'), 10. Ahmed Salam (Goals 39', 71', 80' pen), 11. Destiny Nnenanya (off 52').

Substitutes used: 16. Riley Cooper (on 56' for Batty), 17. Eddie Kettlewell (on 68' for Stewart), 18. Luca Bolino (on 52' for Nnenanya), 19. William Marshall (on 59' for Fanning), 20. Toby Marriott (on 60' for Birdsall).