Taveners 1-1 Bridgwater Sports

29th September 2007

Team: Rawle, R. Smith, Prowse, Caddy, Dodden, Netto, Tucker, Wood, Fursland, P.Organ, McGann

Subs: Sealey, Blewett, Chidgey

Scorer: Captain Jimmer Prowse (22)

On a hot sunny afternoon Sports travelled to much improved Taveners knowing that they had to perform well to take anything out of the game. Instructions from Manager Jason Bale was to use the wide pitch to our advantage and get in behind the slow defence.

Captain James' Jimmer' Prowse won the toss and strangely decided to siwtch ends meaning Sports would have to defend up the hill second half but Jimmer was confident that we could take a big lead into it.

The game started brightly and saw Sports put together some good moves without ever creating anything dangerous but looked confident whereas Taveners kept looking for the long ball up towards in form striker Tom Wadham but the back three of Matt Caddy, Prowse and Richard Smith were coping with ease.

The game came alive when Sports won a corner and after it was half cleared by Taveners Matt 'Fuzzy' Fursland shot come cross was slooted home by Captain Prowse to make the score 1-0. That's one shot - one goal from the Capatin he was keen to tell our strikers!!

Sports kept pressuring their defence and it was nearly two nil when a mix up left their keeper well off of his line and Simon Dodden was unlucky when he attempted to chip the ball in from 30 yards but only managed to hit the bar...so close yet so far!

The game became scrappy and it was a relief to hear the half time whistle. Manager Bale told Sports that they needed to raise their game like the first twenty minutes and not to sit back on the lead.

Unfortunately most of the Sports players must have decided not to return to the secind half as Taveners pushed us back with constant pressure and when we did get the ball clear we were unable to hold onto it.

Sports Keeper Adam Rawle made some fine saves to keep the score as it was and some stern defending was starting to frustrate Taveners, however luck was on their side when the Sports defence failed to clear the ball and after a few deflections it fell nicely to Lee Hawkins who hammered the ball in from close range. One all and all to play for.

Bale made a few changes and bought the energetic Lee Blewett who was making his First Team debut on for Steve Wood, and Jake Chidgey came on for the injured Timmy Netto. This gave Sports a bit more energy and slowly we started to create some chances. Fuzzy had a few long range efforts that went close whilst Carl Tucker had a header cleared off the line.

Scott David Sealey came on to strengthen the midfield however it was Taveners who almost snatched the three points with the last kick of the game when Tom Wadham broke free and tried chipping the outcoming Rawle who somehow managed to get his fingertips to it and tip it onto the post and back into his arms. With that referee Nigel Futcher blew the full time whistle and two teams who will be fighting it out at the top this season shared a point each.