Radcliffe Borough2

UniBond League Division One North

BRIDLINGTON Town lost their biggest league game of season – in front of their lowest league gate of the season – to leave them with a mountain to climb to avoid relegation to Northern Counties football.

This huge six-pointer at the foot of the table went the way of Radcliffe Borough thanks to Steve Howson’s 88th minute winner, to leave Town needing to pick up more points that Woodley Sports in their remaining two fixtures to avoid the drop to Northern Counties football.

It was Borough who had the first good chance when Lee Connell fired over after keeper Nicholson flapped the ball straight to his feet, and soon after Howson fired over the bar from 25 yards as the away side dominated play.

But Town looked dangerous on the break and Alex Rhodes wasted two chances, one when clean through on goal but he dragged his shot well wide.

It was Radcliffe who took the lead eight minutes before the break when Neil Chappell poked home after Town failed to clear a goalmouth scramble.

But the home side hit back within a minute of the break when Luke Smith finished in style after a neat move through the centre of the park involving Mark Frampton and Dave Gowans.

The home side started the second half well, knowing three points was vital, with both Tom Fleming and Phil Harrison testing keeper Philip Priestley.

Howson forced Town’s Nicholson to make an excellent save and 60 seconds later Harrison brought the best out of Priestley with a stunning volley.

As Town pushed for a winner Rhodes was bundled over when through on goal, but his appeals for a free kick were waved away by the referee, and minutes later Frampton had a glorious chance but shot wide from eight yards.

Time was running out for Town, and with no quality on the bench to change the game they were further hampered by the loss of the injured Rhodes.

Borough nearly notched a winner with minutes left when the dangerous Howson skinned Ashley Dexter, but volleyed wide.

But the fine number 9 didn’t miss his next chance, steering home a fine cross from the right with just two minutes remaining.

He celebrated in style with Borough fans and teammates behind the goal, showing what UniBond football meant to this team.

Town now have two fixtures left, the first being at Rossendale tonight (Thursday) before Saturday’s game at Chorley, but both look fairly tricky affairs under the best circumstances, and with players likely to miss either one or the other through injury and work commitments, Town's Unibond status looks likely to come to an end.

Van Monster man of the match: Carl Giblin. Attendance: 84.