Bridlington Town (H) – Match Preview

Straight back into action, and we return to the Hollou for the penultimate home fixture this season

One of just six teams with no chance of promotion or relegation, our next opponents will be looking to amend the New Year’s thumping by beating us on Easter Monday.

We, however, have a different thing to look forward to, as we will be lifting the league title after the match.

Now just 5 points away from a brilliant 100, though we are still 7 goals off of 150 in the league, things are still sunshine and rainbows for the Steelmen.

No goals conceded against a promotion-challenging side is always going to be good, and it means Mazfari is now just one off of his 20th league clean sheet, with the shot-stopper on 22 in total, thanks to opposition blanks against North Ferriby and Guisborough in the FA Cup.

We have also seen a massive increase in attendances as the season has progressed, with all of our league attendances that breached 400 occurring from the 31st of January.

Newton Aycliffe, Brighouse, Bishop Auckland, and most notably the Matlock match saw us pack the Hollou stands even more, with that Matlock match bringing 704 spectators who ended up watching us win the title.

We have only conceded 9 goals at home this year, with Garforth bagging a third of that tally.

In contrast, so far this year, we have scored 39, and that’s just at home

It has been a dramatically amazing season, and hopefully it ends in the same way it started and continued

As for our opposition, they are pretty much sorted, with safety confirmed, and a stint in the NPL East a plan and no longer a query.

A 7-0 thrashing of Blyth Town will have put them in a great mood, with the Seasiders undefeated since the 7th of March, when they lost 4-3 to Consett.

Recent form has been phenomenal for them too, with that Consett match being their only defeat in their last 12 games.

Their captain, Thomas Allan, has been their focal point, scoring 7 times in those 12 games, though he didn’t score once against Blyth.

They seem to be joined at the hip to Consett, too, with Non League Ranking placing the two sides at 280th and 281st, just a single ELO point separating them, though Consett do lead that race.

Bridlington’s remaining matches see them travel to us, then welcome another North East side, Newton Aycliffe, to their ground.

It’s then another trip to the NE as they face Blyth Spartans for their final away match, and they end the season by hosting a Brighouse side who may see that match condemn them to relegation.

With the league points tally as it is, that may end up being a done deal before then.

The predicted table has Bridlington ending 10th, with a goal difference of 0

In contrast, it has us finishing 1st (shock), and ending the season with a GD of +109, scoring 143 and conceding 43.

What a crazy season this has been

Anyway, that’s about it. I will see you tomorrow for the match and trophy lift, though I will also be live-streaming the celebrations on our Facebook account (unless there’s a technical mishap)

All the best, see you tomorrow, and up the Steelmen!