Scarborough Athletic dig deep to win Dave Holland Memorial Trophy against Bridlington Town

Boro won 3-2 to retain the Dave Holland Trophy against a Bridlington Town squad including six ex-Boro players.

Brid went close after just four minutes, when Ryan Whitley’s point-blank save kept out a Jake Day shot, then a Benn Lewis strike was deflected wide by Richie Bennett, and Tom Allan headed wide from an Ahmed Salam corner, writes Steve Adamson.

Stephen Walker celebrates scoring the winner for Boro at Bridlington Town. Photo by Zach Forster

placeholder image — Stephen Walker celebrates scoring the winner for Boro at Bridlington Town. Photo by Zach Forster

Boro’s first attack saw Harry Green, who was in fine form down the right, pass forward to Rio Allan, but a strong Tom Allan tackle halted his run.

Green again fed Rio Allan, and this time he calmly side-footed past keeper Jon Dash to open the scoring.

Rio Allan scored twice in the first half of the 3-2 win for Boro at Brid Town. Photo by Zach Forster

Lewis Maloney sprayed some wonderful passes around, but the Brid defence, with Tom Allan and Matty Dixon in good form, was rarely troubled.

Michael Coulson laid off to Day, whose shot was blocked on the goal-line by Dom Tear, but Brid drew level when a Salam corner was headed in by Alex Markham.

Boro were back in front within four minutes, as Tear passed to Green on the right, he ran forward and squared to Rio Allan, who again netted from close range.

Both Rio Allan, then Day for Brid had goals disallowed for offside, but it became 2-2 when Salam fed Coulson, who slotted into the bottom right corner.

Alex Wiles looks on during Boro's win at Brid Town. Photo by Zach Forster

Will Annan sent a ball forward, and Day’s low shot was met by a good diving save from Whitley.

Boro were much better after the break, with Maloney again impressing, Alex Purver starting to dominate and Luca Colville coming on to inject extra flair in midfield.

Boro old boy Day had a shot blocked by Kieran Weledji, before Greening’s team took control of the game.

Weledji headed wide from a Colville corner, but the winning goal arrived when Colville passed to Rio Allan, who sent a fabulous through-ball that sent Ste Walker one-on-one with the keeper, and he slotted neatly past Dash.

The Boro and Brid teams walk out before the Dave Holland Memorial Trophy match. Photo by Zach Forster

Maloney bent a 25-yard free-kick narrowly over, Rio Allan, looking for his hat-trick, had a shot blocked by Tom Allan, then Alex Brown, wide on the left, passed inside to the lively Walker, who curled his shot just past the far post.

In Brid’s best attack of the half, Thornton’s sliding tackle foiled a run into the box from Salam.

Walker dinked the ball towards Colville, who crashed his shot against the post, and late on, Alex Wiles teed up Colville, who forced a terrific diving save from Dash.

Boro volunteer photographer John Westgarth is running a photo exhibition in St. Helen’s Square from July 22-28, where he will be selling Scarborough Athletic prints and numerous Boro postcards to raise funds for the club.

Stephen Walker in action against Brid Town. Photo by Zach Forster

BRID TOWN - Dash, Markham, Whiting, Dixon, Lewis, T.Allan, Annan, Dunkerley, Day (c), Coulson, Salam, subs used - Voase, Stewart, Davidson, Sedman, Scotter, 2 Trialists.

BORO - Whitley, Duckworth, Brown, Weledji, Thornton (c), Purver, Tear, Maloney, Bennett, R.Allan, Green, subs used - Marshall, Walker, Colville, Wiles, Gibson-Booth, Trialist A.

REFEREE - Matty Wright

BRID GOALS - Alex Markham 15, Michael Coulson 25; BORO GOALS - Rio Allan 9, 19, Stephen Walker 54.

GOAL ATTEMPTS - BRID 8 (5 on target) BORO 11 (5 on target).

CORNERS - BRID 5 BORO 4.

OFFSIDES - BRID 1 BORO 3.

BORO MAN OF MATCH - Lewis Maloney.

ATTENDANCE - 580.