U18 Knockout Cup – 2nd Round
Bridlington Rangers 1-3 Barham Boys
There was a chance that the wind would spoil this game, at times it did but the result ddn’t swing purely upon it.
Barham started strongly, creating early chances and make Bridlington nervous at the back. It seemed at first that Barham would be certain to score, but frustration crept in too early and they started to lose easy possession. This gave Bridlington the opportunity to make Barham defend. A failure to get possession beyond the half way mark meant Barham had to defend facing their own goal, Bridlington took their opportunity and took the lead after 15 minutes.
Barham had plenty of possession after the goal and nearly equalised on a number of occasions with Bridlington having to work hard to defend.
The goal did come, shortly before half time when Charlie Coulman took the ball into the area and although almost stumbling following a foul, was able to keep his feet and finish strongly at the near post.
The second half was more of an onslaught with Bridlington being restricted to counter attacks only, with their best opportunities following some further uncharacteristic defending seeing all to often possession given away before the halfway line. However the reaction was positive and having lost possession players would work hard to retrieve and restrict the Bridlington to few clear cut chances.
The final ball was the issue in the final third, plenty of ball was played into the danger areas without any clear cut opportunities to take the lead.
Finally with just 8 minutes remaining Ryan Marrow played Ivor Robson clean through for him to finish in the bottom corner giving Barham a lead they had worked hard to gain. A further opportunity in the final minute saw pressure from Jack Morrill from six yards out force the third.
Morrill had been strong in the second half with a reduced number of needless fouls that had been the story from too many in the first half, Tyas toiled well in the middle supported by Marrow and in the second hald Ingham. The back four to be fair defended well, Clark, Mitchell, Varney and Skelton, just the one goal conceded was an improvement on last week. Better retention and support of the midfield is an area of improvement that will see the best defence of last season settle down once again. Winsor between the sticks was vocal and determined, and help marshal an improved defensive performance
Millar was busy down the right whilst Coulman and Robson, plus Kwakye in the second half produced some decent football. Confidence had been knocked after two difficult games, the win here should help Barham back into the consistency that saw an unbeaten run of 12 games since February.
