Mulhern’s delight as Hebburn ‘right’ a wrong with comfortable win

Hebburn Town assistant manager Mick Mulhern felt his side “put something right” with their 3-0 home win against Bridlington Town.

The two sides meet in North Yorkshire in October, as a hardworking display from the Hornets only returned a single Northern Premier League – East point, following a goalless draw.

However, there were no doubts which side would take the points at the Green Energy Sports Ground on Saturday as Hebburn dominated their visitors in blustery conditions.

Olly Martin was the Hornets match-winner and he fired them ahead in first-half injury-time to ensure his side took some benefit from playing with the wind at their back.

Martin doubled his tally and his side’s lead five minutes into the second-half with a coolly taken penalty after Amar Purewal had been tripped in the area.

And Martin completed his hat-trick just before the hourmark as he rounded off a lightning-quick counter-attack to ensure his side claimed a fourth win in their last five games.

Mulhern was left “pleased” by his side’s display in challenging conditions and was delighted with their reaction to a half-time discussion on playing with the wind in their faces.

He told the club website: “It wasn’t a brilliant firsthalf, there wasn’t any football played from either team really.

“We both worked hard, but it wasn’t one for the purists.

“I think it suited us in the second half and that’s what we spoke about at half-time.

“They fell into the same trip we did by playing it forward and the wind was just taking it away.

“The fact we were going into the wind meant we could play it into feet, which was essential and if we were going to play it in behind into areas, it wouldn’t run on, it would hold up, so we could make some third-man runs and get in.

“We had loads of chances in the second-half, which is pleasing and getting three goals is pleasing and we are just as pleased with the clean sheet.

“We felt when we went down there, drew 0-0, we felt we deserved the win, so we put something right today with a good performance.”

Hebburn now have a free midweek to prepare for next weekend’s visit to South Yorkshire, to face Stocksbridge Park Steels.