Brid Town battle back for 2-1 victory at Grimsby Borough
Bridlington Town battled back from a goal down to earn a dramatic late 2-1 win at Grimsby Borough on Wednesday evening, Jake Day netting the winner for the Seasiders.
The hosts made a strong start, as a fourth-minute corner was whipped in and flicked on at the near post, just over the bar.
Six minutes later, a brilliant ball from Brid’s Alex Markham released Ben Farrar down the line.
The striker raced forward and whipped a dangerous cross in, but it was blocked behind for a corner.
It was a fairly even opening 20 minutes with not many clear-cut chances for either side, both teams feeling their way into the tight and competitive encounter.
On 24 minutes, Denny Oliver won it brilliantly in midfield and found Hamza Hamdosh, who released the overlapping Ahmed Salam down the left, and his dangerous cross flashed right across the box but evaded everyone.
Just before the half-hour mark, Edwin Essel put the home side ahead, Brid lost the ball in midfield, the ball was hooked over the top and Essel latches onto it quickly, poking it past the onrushing Baird with a clinical finish.
In the 38th minute, Brid keeper Alex Baird palmed a long-range effort from Grimsby away for a corner.
The home keeper Kian Johnson was forced into a fine save just before half-time, as a Brid corner was swung in and Tom Allan met it with a strong effort but Johnson reacted well to tip it over the bar.
The visitors were dealt another blow a minute before the interval as Joe Batty was forced off with an ankle injury, replaced by teenager Riley Cooper.
Brid boss Mark Hotte made another switch at the break, as Hamdosh was replaced by Destiny Nnenanya.
Seven minutes into the second period, brilliant play from Brid saw a slick move opens up the Borough defence and Johnson pulled off a double save to keep out a strong Nnenanya shot.
Hotte brought on Stan Hewitt and Jake Day for Eddie Kettlewell and Olly Green respectively as the visitors looked to get back into the game.
The Seasiders levelled shortly after as skipper Allan popped up again from a corner, a headed, powerful finish bringing the visitors level.
Twelve minutes from time great pressing won it back for Town high up the pitch. The ball was clipped over the top and Day brought it down with a superb touch before calmly slotting it home.
On 84 minutes, Nnenanya rounded the keeper on the right brilliantly but from a tight angle smashed it against the near post.
Brid, who are now five matches unbeaten, return to league action at home to fourth-from-bottom Blyth Town on Saturday, 3pm kick-off.