Game 36 - Bridlington Town v Arnold Town Saturday 23rd January 2010 NCEL Premier

A trip to Queensgate, home of Bridlington Town is my chosen game today. Brid are top of the table on goal difference from Rainworth, having amassed 49 points from 19 games and scoring a whopping 74 goals. Arnold are in 7th place and so I'm looking forward to a good game. Although it is only 64 miles to Bridlington it takes 1.1/2 hours to get there but Ifind the ground very easily and I'm able to park very easily outside.

After taking photos outside I make my way into the ground. You enter in the corner with the main stand to your right and an open end to the left where the Clubhouse can be accessed together with a tea hut and shop.


I make my way round the ground starting off behind the open end in the picture above. To the right, the main stand has covered seating at this end with a standing area towards the other end. The opposite end has a covered standing area to the right with the rest being open to the elements with a huge sign reminding you where you are.


I carry on down to the other side where I meet the Arnold Town official photographer and we have a good talk about today's game and Arnold's prospects, which he does not feel are good! The dugouts are on this side of the ground and behind these is a small covered stand.


I make my way down this side to the other end and carry onto the corner where the covered standing is situated.

This is a very smart ground, well looked after and a credit to the people who run the Club. I'm now at the main stand and at this end it is standing.


Walking further on the stand becomes seated.


So to the game. It starts off very lively and but for a superb save by Brid's goalkeeper Arnold would have taken the lead after only 2 minutes. However it was the home side who took the lead on 11 minutes with a good volley from the edge of the box from Fleming. The lead was not to last long as Rob Gill equalised with a brilliant lob over the keeper. This stirred Brid into action and the chances came thick and fast. They were rewarded on 36 minutes when Hotte cut inside and shot past the goalkeeper. Arnold replied with a couple of good chances themselves but wasted them and the teams went in at half time with no further goals.
The second half was lacking in quality at first and while Arnold closed down Brid this had the effect of preventing them from making any chances themselves. The result was settled on 72 minutes when following a decent move by Brid, the ball fell to Fleming who scored off the underside of the bar to make it 3-1. Four minutes later it was 4-1 as Allanson fired home. Arnold's resistance was well and truly finished and fifth followed on 85 as Palmer scored from a free kick with the benefit of a deflection. Although Brid were not at their best today they were able to see out the game for a 5-1 victory.
Not a bad game and a nice ground. Good day all round.

More pictures of Queensgate here.

Bridlington Town 5-1 Arnold Town
Att: 184
Admission: £6
Programme: £1.20
Badge: £3