Hosts Bridlington Town battle back to net last-gasp Friday night draw with Whitby

Before kick-off, both clubs and sets of fans united for an impeccably observed minute's applause for the late Paul Ashby, a supporter of the home club.

When the action commenced, it was the Seasiders who looked the more dangerous side, starting firmly on the front foot and looking sharp in the final third.

An early Ahmed Salam free-kick found Tom Allan, who volleyed just over the bar, setting the tone for a dominant opening spell.

Moments later, furious appeals from the Bridlington coaching staff went unanswered after an off-the-ball challenge on Joe Batty by former Brid Town man Stan Hewitt, but the hosts refused to let frustration disrupt their rhythm.

As the first half progressed, Bridlington turned up the heat.

A superb last-ditch challenge from a Whitby defender denied Salam what looked like a certain tap-in.

Minutes later, Billy Marshall found himself one-on-one with the keeper, only to be denied by another desperate block, before Allan headed just over from the resulting corner.

Despite a glaring miss from Destiny just yards out in the 29th minute, a home breakthrough felt entirely inevitable.

Football can be a cruel game, however, and completely against the run of play, it was the visitors who struck first.

In the 34th minute, Hewitt found the net at the near post following a sharp through-ball, leaving the hosts undeservedly behind at the break.

The Seasiders’ luck did not improve early in the second half, with Whitby doubling their advantage to make it 2-0, after a lapse in judgement allowed the attacker to round keeper to find the back of the net.

Yet, Bridlington refused to fold, and their second trialist goalkeeper of the evening kept the hosts in the contest with a smart reflex save at his near post, laying the vital groundwork for what was to come.

The manager reshuffled his deck in the 53rd minute, introducing Riley Cooper, Casey Stewart, and Joe Pratley – a triple substitution that would ultimately prove to be a tactical masterclass.

Tempers flared shortly after, with handbags on the edge of the Whitby area resulting in bookings for both sides.

The rising tension soon worked in Bridlington’s favour. After Salam saw a spectacular 30-yard free-kick tipped over the crossbar.

Moment later Whitby’s Callum Hickman received a second yellow card in the 69th minute for obstructing a quick free-kick on the edge of Bridlington's box.

With a man advantage and a home crowd behind them, the Seasiders launched an all-out assault for the final fifteen minutes. The grandstand finish began in earnest in the 82nd

minute when super-sub Riley Cooper halved the deficit, ghosting into the area to slot home and breathe life back into the stadium.

Just three minutes later, the sensational comeback was complete.

In the 85th minute, fellow substitute Casey Stewart picked up the ball on the right side of the pitch, travelled inside, and expertly picked out the bottom left corner, sending the home support into raptures and sparking belief that a winner was on the cards.

Bridlington pushed forward relentlessly in stoppage time and almost found a dramatic winner when Tom Allan volleyed just over at the back post, but the referee's final whistle brought an end to an enthralling, breathless contest.

While Bridlington will feel their first-half dominance warranted all three points, the immense character, tactical depth, and relentless spirit shown to fight back from two goals down bodes incredibly well for the challenges ahead.

Bridlington Town go again on Tuesday night as they face Scarborough Athletic at the HDM Energies Stadium in Bridlington, kick off 7:45pm.

Tickets are available online now https://bridtownafc.ktckts.com/event/brd2627psf04/bridlington-town-v-scarborough-athletic