6th October 2007  

Milverton 1 v 2 Bridgwater Sports Res

Team: Cook, S. Clarke, Phillips, Derrick, Rowley, Chidgey, Coleman, Blewett, Jodkowski, Barnett, D. Organ

Subs: T. Young, A. Young, Bennett

Scorers: Chidgey, Blewett

Another victory for the reserves and once again they showed their character in winning this game. A couple of changes from the previous Dave moved back to the 1st and Jake moved back down, and with Chris Clarke also going to 1st, meant Rob Rowley started in the centre of defence with Liam.

Manager Hope was expecting a tough, tight game and with Milverton playing their strongest team, a fierce game was in hand. After the last couple of poor starts Hope wanted his players to start from the 1st whistle and be up for the fight. His players didn’t let him down, from the start they were putting themselves about and not giving the Milverton players time on ball.

Rowley and Liam were commanding at the back, Coleman and Blewett were putting in biting tackles in the midfield, and upfront Barney and Deano were hassling the Milverton defenders, the Milverton team were a bit shocked and were panicking on ball. Leading to many mistakes particular at the back, where on a number of occasions they were missing their headers and clearances.

So a goal for sports was on the cards, and it took a superb volley from Jakey to break the deadlock. His volley came from a break down the right a poor clearance and Jake twisted his body to volley the ball in off the post from just outside the Milverton Box.

Sports pushed for a second but a combination and good defending and poor shooting let them of the hook. As the half when on Milverton did come more into game, but a couple of good saves from cook, denied them going into half-time level with sports.

Half Time        

It was more of the same at the start of the 2nd half, tough, tight game with tackles flying in, but this time Milverton started a lot stronger and were pilling on the pressure onto the sports defence. To cope Barney was moved into centre-midfield to combat there tall-man in midfield, but when he came off injured with about 35 minutes left. It case of whether sports could hold on. Liam and Rowley were both outstanding at the back kept the Milverton Attack at bay, if some superb headers and tackles.

The only real scare came from a long pass from their right-back, over the top of our defence, Cookie (donkey) called for it, both the Milverton attacker and our defender stopped but the ball ran under the cookie towards the empty net, luckily Vinny tracked back and cleared the ball of the line.

Then with 10 minutes Milverton got the equalisers they wanted. A corner from the left went over the head of cookie, caught out of position, and with 3 to 4 Milverton players at the back post, the tall defender called his name and headed the ball into an empty net.

But once again the reserves dug deep and produce a winner. A corner from the right was only partially cleared, Ashley Young who came on about 10 mins earlier for tired Deano, shot on the volley from just outside the box, the ball was heading just wide, but Blewett came in from the far post to head ball in.  Two one Sports

This took the wind out the Milverton sails so to speak and if it wasn’t for the Milverton Goalkeeper sports could have scored a couple more in dieing minutes.

Manager Comments

Congratulations again to the lads, five wins on the bounce are best start to a season for a long time. Liam and Rowley excellent at the back couldn’t ask for anything more. Just about deserved the win on the basis of our 1st half performance and after they equalised. Their keeper pulled of some great saves probably their man-on-match.