Bridgwater Sports Reserves 4-1 North Petherton

8th September @ BW Sports

Team: 

Cook Young L. Dodden Clarke Phillips Jodkowski D. Organ Coleman Barnett Bennett Blewitt

Subs: Payne Townsend C. Dodden                   

Scorers:

Barnett Jodkowski Phillips & OG

Sports reserves progressed safely into the 1st round of the Rowbarton Cup after beating a strong North Petherton by 4 goals to 1 in the preliminary round of the cup. Two changes were forced upon manager Hope. Jake Chidgey was promoted to the 1st team so Dean Organ came in for his 1st start of the season, and Aaron Phillips also started his 1st game as he stepped into centre-back spot for Liam Derrick who was away in Ibiza on a European scouting mission.

                Manager Hope was confident his side would progress through but sports started off in the worse possible way going one nil down within the opening couple of minutes.  A great long range strike from 45 yards from pethy midfielder Matt Durbin ( their best player on the day ) caught Cookie totally unaware and in a vein attempt to reach the ball could only get a finger to it and the ball sailed into the goal.

              This unexpected goal, shook the confidence of the sports players, the players were making silly mistakes, be it poor defending (Pablo) or poor lay-offs (Barnett), frustrated the home fans. Then about half-way through the half sports found their feet and scored a great team goal. Starting off with Scott Clarke ( filling in again in an unaccustomed role of centre-back) played a simple ball into the midfield, the ball was moved over to the left, where Blewett passed the ball into the feet of sports young and upcoming striker Josh Bennett, a great turn from the youngest took him and ball away from the defender then he calmly passed the ball diagonally in behind pethy’s left back, where vinny ran straight onto ball and smashed the ball low across the keeper, to nestle into the net.

              This gave the sports player the boost they required and with Coleman and Blewett dominating the midfield and Aaron and Scott composed and solid at the back, a 2nd goal was always on the cards.

              Barnett, who wasn’t having the best of games, finally sprung into action, he dribbled pass one defender and has he broke into box, the covering right-back just charged straight into him. Penalty !! Even though he was a bit dazed, Barney dusted himself off and took penalty. With some supporters questioning whether he should take it or not, Barney proved the doubters wrong by smashing the ball into the top left-hand corner, giving the pethy keeper no chance.

                            Half-time

              Sports started the 2nd half as they finished the 1st , dictating the pace of the game. Sports went three one up within 10 minutes of re-start, this time Barney cut in from the right and took a shot with the outside of his right foot aiming for the far post, the ball was probably going wide, but a out-stretched leg from the pethy defender change to direction completely and the ball nestled into net off the near post.

              Sports then had to make 2 changes in quick procession, with injuries to Leon Dodden and Lee Blewett, firstly Marcus Payne then Ollie Townsend. This meant that Scott Clarke, firstly moved to left-back then moved into centre-midfield. With Payner playing centre-half and Ollie coming into left-back.

              Aaron Phillips who was superb at centre-back all game, then scored probably his best goal ever and sports forth goal.  A corner from the right was well cleared by the pethy defence, but Aaron chested the ball down and from about 35 yards out, volleyed the ball into the top corner giving the keeper on chance. The game was won, sports just had to play out the final 15 minutes to record their 2nd win.

              Pethy pushed forward and Cookie pulled off two great saves, one tipping the ball over the bar, the 2nd more impressively driving full length to his right to stop Matt Durbin goal bound effort going in for his 2nd of the game.

              With 5 Minutes left Chris Dodden came on for the injured Josh, and once again he should have scored. Finding he was one-on-one again with the keeper, Fuf left foot shot lacked any real power. Training on Tuesday will concentrate on fuf hitting the ball with his left foot !!!

              The final whistle blew and sports reserves had  safely progressed into the next round.      

                            MANAGER’S COMMENTS

              A good result, but we started off very poorly, game could have been lost before we had got going. Credit to the lads, came back well from early set-back to win the game quite comfortably. Aaron  was brilliant at the back, great goal, well deserved STARMAN !! Pity there is no game next week, as got some momentum now. All looking bright for the reserves, bring on Williton in a couple of weeks.