'Bridge 'A' find their "Shooting Boots"

Boroughbridge AFC 'A' 8, Kirkby Malzeard 0

Harrogate League Division 2 – 29.03.08

"Football's not just about scoring goals - it's about winning" - Alan Shearer (1970-) This truth of this statement is always more pointed when your team is fighting for a title or, in the case of Bridge, fighting to avoid relegation. It doesn't matter where the points or goals come from, you take them. Against an initially resolute Kirkby Malzeard side Rob Lowe would have been a happy man to scrape a 1-0 win against all odds. As it was, he was laughing at 5-0 and joking that he wasn't sure what to do as he had never had the luxury of a five goal cushion! Fortunately his team had no doubt and went on to complete what was easily their biggest win of the season - in truth it could have been more, but under the circumstances the win was all that mattered.

Lunchtime sunshine gave way to persistent rain and blustery conditions, Bridge kicking off into the face of the wind. Kirkby Malzeard are undergoing a period of strengthening following management changes, and whilst the job has obviously some way to go, they settled quickly and looked the brighter side in the opening exchanges. In a game of 8 goals for the home side, my match notes for the first 25 minutes are almost exclusively about Kirkby attacks; the pattern of the game is demonstrated by the fact that my notes for the last 65 minutes are almost exclusively about 'Bridge attacks. If Kirkby could have made use of that early pressure, the day could have turned out so differently for Rob Lowe and his men. That said, after a fairly tame opening spell, Paul Scaife was the first to trouble my notes in the 10th minute - as a parried effort from Chris Chapman fell into his path, he steadied and committed his marker before calmly placing a low shot to his left beyond John Hunt in the Kirkby goal for the opener. This seemed to awaken the visitors and a decent spell of possession and chances followed but they failed to capitalise on it. Stu Clarke forced the ball against Richie Renton's leg when placed one-on-one; Chris Kirby lobbed over the bar from the left wing; Clarke and Jason Horne combined in a five pass one-two on the edge of the area before Clarke put the ball out for a goal kick, and John Galiazzi lofted the ball to the right of the post from 25 yards. The best chance for the visitors came on 24 minutes when Tim Maynard floated a long ball in from the right wing that caught the wind and seemed initially to deceive Renton in the 'Bridge goal, but he adjusted his footing well managing to get back across his area to get a hand to the ball to ensure it dropped safely on the left wing. This was to mark the turning point in the game, and the chances began to happen at the other end, although shortly before Maynard's effort, Jonny Brear's run to goal had seen him sprawling in the area but no penalty followed. After another chanceless period, a 3 man 'Bridge move saw Mark Burniston and Justin Sinclair link up to feed Chris Chapman, but his effort was put to the right of the post. Man of the match Jonathan Ibbotson began to show, teaming up with Scaife but failing to control the ball in a one-two that gave Kirkby no problems. He had no problems in the 40th minute though to give his side what seemed at the time to be a vital 2 goal cushion. Chapman played a great ball out wide to Justin Sinclair on the right who took the ball to the line before playing back in to Scaife. His shot was well stopped by Hunt, but from the corner, taker Tom Ekin picked up a returning ball and dropped it beautifully into the centre of the area, where Burniston was able to loop it back towards the left post. Ibbotson rose well despite attention from the visiting defenders and placed a firm header beyond the outstretched arm of keeper Hunt. If Kirkby were to have any chance in this game, they needed to respond as they had to the first goal, but except for a 35 yard effort from Galiazzi that was easily collected by Renton, the resistance seemed over, and it was up to Scaife to finish the half with another calm finish from a Chapman cross. As the teams left, the scoreline seemed harsh on Kirkby but 'Bridge were in front and looking to drive home the advantage in the relegation battle.

Half Time – Boroughbridge AFC 'A' 3, Kirkby Malzeard 0

Still in the game, only a goal down and fighting with five minutes to half time, Kirkby were definitely finished only a minute into the second half as Jonny Brear stroked home the simplest of chances for a 4-0 lead. The complexion of the match was now totally different as the visitors had been forced into a half time swap of left back Chris Alcock with John Hunt in goal. Hunt immediately took up a forward role, but the die was cast, and chances were coming thick and fast for the home side. Straight from the restart after the fourth, Chapman had a simple chance for another, and he fed Scaife shortly after but his shot was wide. He made no mistake in the 54th minute though, another calm finish from a move involving Burniston and Scaife to move on to 5-0. The remainder of the game was an attempt to see how many chances could be converted, as Scaife, Chapman, Burniston (3 times), Sinclair, Ekin, Ibbotson and sub Gary Watts (3 times) all tried their luck without success. Watts first move as a sub was to run on to a Tom Ekin pass from 25 yards before slotting past Alcock for the 6th on 65 minutes. Seven up came 6 minutes later, young Mark Burniston capping another fine showing by shooting to the right of Alcock after finding himself space. It looked like 8-0 and Chapman's 2nd on 85 minutes but the effort was ruled offside. Ibbotson though was able to apply the final blow with a minute to go as his right side corner drifted back on the wind and into the net without any other assistance. Kirkby might have felt that it summed up the way their afternoon had turned in the last hour.

With Ripon beating Spa 3-1 in the other basement battle, 'Bridge moved up a slot and are still in contention to avoid the drop. Their next game away for Sherwood is tough, But Spa's is tougher, away to Clifford. With both teams still to meet each other and Bridge to travel to Kirkby Malzeard, a nail biting climax to the season is in store. In the final analysis goal difference could be crucial; in that event the goals scored here might just be as important as the win, despite Mr Shearer's comments.

Full Time – Boroughbridge AFC 'A' 8, Kirkby Malzeard 0

Man of Match – Jonathan Ibbotson

Boroughbridge AFC 'A' - R Renton, J Sinclair,C Wood, C Tetley, P Norfolk, C Chapman, M Burniston, J Brear, P Scaife, T Ekin, J Ibbotson. Subs - G Watts, D Edwards, A Ekin
Goal Scorers – Scaife 10 & 45, Ibbotson 40 & 89, Brear 46, Chapman 54, Watts 65, Burniston 71,

Kirkby Malzeard –J Hunt, J Galiazzi, C Alcock, J Diplin, J Kelly, C Lonsdale, C Kirby, T Maynard, S Clarke, L Palieth, J Horne. Sub - A Hilton