Saturday 24th November

Bridgwater Sports Colts 2-2 Highbridge Town Reserves

Team: Howes, Criddle, Savage, Walford, Hill, Monaghan, Selway, S. Smith, Frost, Meaker, Redman

Subs: Townsend, Curren

Scorers: Shane Smith & Jordan Meaker

Ratings: Howes (7), Criddle (8), Savage (7), Walford (7), Hill (8), Monaghan (7), Selway (7), S. Smith (8), Frost (8), Meaker (8), Redman (7) Townsend (7) Curren (7)

Wanker: Nathan Criddle for coming at half time 10 minutes early

Donkey: Nathan Criddle for being awarded the Donkey shirt 3 times already this season

Following his brief secondment to the Reserves, Farky returned to take back the reigns from his trusty number 2, Walfey, who had reported back on a fantastic team display from the previous week’s vital win over league leaders Old Inn.

Farky was keen to see the same side perform again, but was forced into one change to the starting eleven when Jordan was drafted in as an emergency striker to replace the injured Jamie Gardener.  Olly was also welcomed back into the squad, after his apology for a previous offence was accepted, and Jay returned to fill his role of completing the full compliment of 5 subs on the bench.

The visitors were Highbridge Town Reserves.  An experienced side who had fought hard when losing the corresponding fixture on the opening day of the season.  A game in which a high work rate from the Colts won through on the day – an ethic that would need to be repeated if we were to achieve the same result today.

The Colts made a bright enough start, which is something that has been emphasised in recent weeks, but unfortunately disaster was to strike after just 10mins.  A long hopeful ball played through the centre by Highbridge, was well marshalled by Aaron, tracking back to the edge of his box with the attacked applying pressure from behind.  However, Aarons attempted back heel/drag back was completely missed, allowing the attacker to picked the ball up and run through to slot pass a helpless Gazza, 0-1.  Similarly to Nathan’s error of judgment at Stogursey, mistakes by our young defenders are proving costly, but hopefully they are providing learning opportunities and showing the consequences of taking chances at the back. 

That goal was very fortuitous for Highbridge, as they did not create any other chance of note throughout the remainder of the first half.  Instead they defended valiantly with Andy Chedzey sweeping up well, with a no nonsense approach at the back, as the Colts applied constant pressure and created a number of good half chances.  The best of which saw Redders put the ball in the back of the net, following a corner, only for their linesman to rule it off-side.  This was despite Redders having beaten the keeper and then nearly decapitating a defender on the line!  And as the half drew to a close Jordan was put clean through, from close to the half way line, with only the keeper to beat, until the referee blew up to bring the game back to ‘award’ us a free kick for hand ball.

The talk at half time was to remain patient, and to be a little more composed but without losing the terrific energy and effort that had been on show.  It was also important to keep the shape of 4-4-2 and not drift into the comfort of defending with five at the back, as we were loosing an outlet, and the attacking threat, of Iaine Selway down the right hand side.

The second half began confidently, but again we were hit with a sucker punch, when within the first 10mins Highbridge bundled the ball over the goal line from a corner, 0-2.  It was turning into a very frustrating afternoon and after an hour changes had to be made.  Steve Redman was replaced, with Iaine Selway moving up front to provide a little more pace and movement, and Kev Curren coming into right mid-field. 

Shortly afterward, the Colts got some reward for the constant pressure and overall effort that they were applying, and no one was more deserving of a goal than the all action Shane Smith, who finished off a fine passing move by attacking a cross from Gareth on the left, to smash the ball home from just inside the box, 1-2.

The goal hopefully worried Highbridge a little, but it had no effect on the Colts who had been on top of the game now for nearly an hour and who continued to press purposefully.  Olly Townsend was brought on, replacing Aaron, with the aim of maintaining or even increasing the tempo and to oversee the defending, as more chances would be taken at the back, in search of the equaliser.  Nathan was the happiest man in the world when he was told to play a more attacking role down the left hand side, with Gareth moving in field to create a third striker going forward.

Eventually, the pressure paid off.  With time running out another ball was sent into the box, this time from the right, where a defender, probably tired and confused from physical and metal exhaustion, parried the ball away with his arm for a certain penalty.  Jordan eventually stepped up, and now under some pressure himself, coolly sent the keeper the wrong way and slotted home a superbly taken spot kick, 2-2. 

There was still time in the remaining few minutes for Kev Curren to narrowly miss an open goal from a very tight angle and for Gareth to be on the wrong end of a Roy Caroll incident, when the ball was scooped out of the goal from behind the line with the referee and their linesman ‘unsighted’!

But time did run out and the whistle blew for a final score line of 2-2.  A frustrating result for the Colts, given the balance of possession and chances created, although credit should be given to Highbridge for their dogged defending.  However, the greatest credit must go to the Colts.  Hillbill’s enthusiasm and commitment was noticeably impressive, and with more outfield games now under his belt he hardly looks like a goal keeper anymore!  Spenny also continues to impress and was outstanding alongside Shane, who lived up to the glowing report the manager received of him from the previous week. This is the 5th time this season that they have gone behind, but so far they have only lost one of these games, which is no surprise when you see the effort and desire to win that was on display throughout the squad on Saturday. The team as a whole were superb and all the signs are encouraging as we enter the second half of the league campaign.  Keep it going!

Final Score:     2-2                  

Donkey:          N. Criddle         -          Coming off for half time 10mins early!

W**ker:          N. Criddle         -          For being awarded the donkey shirt for the third time                                           already this season!