Brid Victorious in Friendly Run-Out

Bridlington Town thrashed Beverley Town on Saturday.

The Seasiders came out 5-0 winners in wet and thundery conditions at Beverley Leisure Centre’s 4G complex. 

The team consisted of a mixture of familiar faces and new signings. Two trialists, a right-back and a right-winger, started the game whilst new goalkeeper coach Marc Wain put his gloves back on to play the full 90 minutes in place of the unavailable James Hitchcock.

The first chance on goal came after five minutes, when a free kick from the left was headed away by a Beverley defender but only as far as Eddie Rogerson, whose volley from 18-yards went just wide.

Three minutes later, Trialist B was played in behind, but his shot towards the near post was blocked for a corner.

After 10 minutes a Beverley midfielder unleashed a vicious 30-yard effort that flew just wide.

Trialist B again got on the end of a good ball in behind, but he blazed the ball over the crossbar.

It was Trialist A this time who was played in behind, but his shot from a tight angle flew over the crossbar.

Two minutes later the visitors whipped in another free kick from the left which found new captain James Williamson. He was unmarked but stretching and put his header over.

Just after the half-hour mark, Trialist B cut inside his man excellently, but curled his shot over on his left foot.

Great link up play saw Trialist A play the ball into the feet of Lewis Dennison, who spread the play brilliantly to Trialist B, whose shot was too high.

Debutant Wain was called into action with five minutes of the first half remaining, when he saved a volley from the edge of the penalty area.

Just a minute later Trialist A made a great block from close range. Wain made a good save from the second curled effort. The rebound was headed home by a Beverley man, but the offside flag was raised.

The hosts then beat the offside trap before laying the ball back to a midfielder who unleashed a curled effort, but Wain was again there to make the save, with the teams going into the break deadlocked.

Manager Adie Costello made a number of changes at half-time: Wain, Jack Bulless, Matt Broadley and Dennison were the only players that stayed on the pitch having started the game.

It was Broadley who had the first effort of the second half, his tame effort from the edge of the penalty area going wide.

New signing Max Ezard opened the scoring after 57 minutes, his superb finish from a tight angle came off the left post and into the back of the net.

Broadley doubled the lead just six minutes later, after great work from Trialist B to beat his man and square it to Broadley, where the left-winger tapped the ball into the open goal.

Not long after Broadley, Dennison and Trialist B were replaced by Will Sutton, Williamson (who operated in the unfamiliar striker position) and Trialist A.

Former Seasider Alex Knaggs rose highest as Beverley whipped in a corner, but he headed over from just a few yards out.

Makeshift forward Williamson was played in behind, seeing his decent effort well saved by the Beverley shot-stopper.

After 76 minutes, Trialist A, now operating further forward at right-wing, linked up well on the right before finishing to make it 3-0.

With five minutes to go, Trialist E made it 4-0 with a good finish inside the box.

Will Sutton, playing slightly further forward at left-wing, beat his man and cut inside onto his weaker right-foot, before seeing his effort saved for a corner. From the resulting corner, Ezard leaped well to head the ball into the back of the net to cap off an excellent display with a brace.

The next friendly will prove to be a tough challenge, as the Seasiders travel to Scarborough Athletic on Tuesday evening for the annual David Holland Memorial fixture.

Costello spoke to Brid Town TV after the clash:

INTERVIEW - PART 1 | Adrian Costello after today's 5-0 victory against @bevtownfc in our first pre-season friendly! pic.twitter.com/bjlOwpXqdZ

— Bridlington Town AFC (@BridTownAFC) July 8, 2023