Bridgwater Sports 5-0 Norton Fitzwarren

27th October 2007

Team: Rawle, Prowse, Sealey, Smith, Caddy, Dodden, Bennett, Cocks, Tucker, Fursland, P. Organ

Subs: Jones (on for Prowse) McGann (on for Fursland) Hill (on for Bennett)

Scorers: Cocks 3, P. Organ 42, Fursland 48, Jones 65, Tucker 70

Star Man: Scott Sealey

Donkey: Jason Jones for taking pity on Norton with his shooting!

After previous weeks battles against stern opposition it was a welcome relief to be playing the bottom team in the league, Norton. Manager Jason Bale made a few changes bringing in previous weeks substitutes Simon Dodden and Josh Bennett who was making his first ever start for the First Team. Steve Wood was due to have been starting but his partner gave birth on Friday so understandably was not available. This meant a call up for the disgraced Colts Captain Mark Hill.

The team talk was about not taking the game to lightly, winning personal battles and trying to keep a clean sheet however the main objective was to get the three points to keep the pressure on leaders Alcombe.

With the wind looking like it may play a factor in the game it was important we got the ball down and played it on the deck which is what happened and it was only three minutes in when Cocksy shrugged off a couple of challenges to fire the ball in to give us a one nil lead.

This was the perfect start and a platform to go on and hopefully score a few goals, however it was not to be. The defending was solid from Sealey and Smith in the middle, Prowse & Caddy were offering great width and never looked likely to concede and when the ball did go through Keeper Rawle was there to tidy up. The midfield was dominant and the passing was sublime but when it came to the final third it was not happening.

Chance after chance went begging, Fuzzy made some great runs with no result, Si Dodden blazed over when it seemed easier to score and it seemed that for all our possession we would go into half time just the one goal up.

However with a few minutes remaining an excellent corner from Fuzzy was superbly met by the impressive Paul Organ to head in and make it two nil. The half time whistle followed shortly after and Sports went in with a great half under their belt.

Jason Bale took the hard working Prowse off and switched Caddy to right back with Si coming in at left back. Jason ‘Fry’ Jones came on up front with Fuzzy dropping back into midfield and it was the latter that increased Sports lead just after the break when he coolly finished after Cocksy shot went wayward. Three nil and now surely we could rack up some goals?

Norton then played their trump card by giving the flag to Keith Woodmason who almost single handily kept the score down. Everytime Sports broke that flag went up – it was a good job there was no Aircraft overhead!

Bale took Fuzzy off after 50 minutes bring Craig McGann on in his place and again Sports created some excellent football which Norton had no answer too. It was no surprise when ‘Fry’ made it 4-0 with a neat finish, however his afternoon after became a little frustrating when he missed at least five easy chances (Earning him Donkey of the Week!)

The crowd at this stage wanted to see the return of last season’s favourite Mark Hill and it was not long before he was on replacing young Josh Bennett who had an excellent game on the wing. Hill was straight in with some tough tackling and excellent distribution & will surely be back in Managers Farkas & Walford’s good books!

With twenty minutes left Sports made it 5-0 when Carl Tucker broke through Norton defence and with only the keeper to beat he emphatically smashed the ball in to give him his first goal of the season – see what happens when you shoot Tucks!!

In the final twenty minutes Keeper Adam Rawle made a few saves at the feet of the Norton strikers but unfortunately Sports were unable to breach Keith Woodmason’s flag within the last period of the game and the game ended up 5-0.

Three points, a clean sheet and an excellent professional performance from everyone involved but it will be a much tougher game next week against local rivals Marketeers!

The only downside was Fry loosing to Barnett in a drinking competition after the game which meant he had to run around the Sports pitch in just his boxers!! Check out You Tube for footage!