Bridgwater Sports 5-4 Sydenham Rangers

Team: Cook, S. Clarke, Criddle, Derrick, C. Clarke, Jodkowski, Coleman, Bennett, Gardiner, D. Organ, Barnett

Subs: Rowley, Young, Payne

Scorers: C. Clarke, Barnett (3) Gardiner

Sports reserves showed brilliant resilience to come from behind four times to win a fantastic derby match at the home of football to maintain their 100 % winning record.  A minute silence was held before the game for the passing away of Sydenham President Pat Harvey who died earlier in the week.

Manager Hope had plenty of changes to make from the previous week. He welcomed back his Captain Jason Coleman, Chris Clarke made his league debut for the club after a year away, and Dave Gardiner started his first game for the reserves after being on bench for the first team the previous 2 weeks. And young Nathan Criddle was given a chance at left-back after impressing in the colts the previous weeks.

Sports once again started off slowly and were one nil down within the opening couple of minutes. A long goal kick from the Sydenham keeper was falling nicely for Chris Clarke to head clear, but Coleman thought he could clear the ball and went up for header, however, he could only flick the ball over our defenders heads into the path of Sydenham forward who calmly fired the ball past the on-coming Cook to make it 1-0!

Sports equalised within 10 minutes from their secret weapon. The long throws of Chris Clarke. A Long throw from Chris, went straight to the feet of Barney who turned superbly in the box and slotted the ball home to make it one all.

But sports were only level for a minute or so. A long ball again, down between full-back and centre-back the Sydenham striker had the ball on the corner of the sports box, his shot come cross fell nicely to his strike partner at the back post and he chipped the ball over the diving Cook, 2-1 Sydenham.

Cookie stayed down and it was clear he was injured, on closer inspection he had a gash in his leg, where he collided with the post. He was taken to Hospital for stitches, With No keeper on the bench Liam Derrick took the gloves and Marcus Payne came on at centre-back.

Sports pushed for a 2nd equaliser and got there just deserves moments before half-time. A sports corner was well cleared and the ball was passed out to the left where Gardiner found himself with plenty of time and space to drill a great low cross in, where Chris Clarke who stayed up for the corner had the easiest of goals to slide in and make it 2-2

Half-Time

Hope was urging his players to start the 2nd half stronger and get the lead they deserved on their 1st half performance.  However, with no recognised keeper, Sydenham knew they were in with a chance of winning the game as well.

Sydenham went 3 – 2 up, a cross from the right was well directed by the Sydenham forward, normally this would be safely collected by the keeper, but Liam thought the ball was going wide and signal that it was, only to find the ball roll into the bottom corner.

This could have made a lot of teams give up, but not this sports side and with Coleman in the centre of midfield driving his players forward an equaliser was always coming. Another long throw from Chris was only cleared to the edge of the box, where Coleman volleyed the ball through a crowd of players it took the slightest of touches of Barney to nestle into the corner of the net. 3 all

Hope made a double substitution, Timmy Young came on for Nathan and Rob Rowley came on for Vinny and this pushed Barney upfront and Dean Organ to the right (donkey – he thought he was coming off – so he chucked his shirt down in disgrace – only to be informed by the 20 or so supporters that’s he now right-hand side of midfield)    

Then came Liam's moment of lunacy (w*nker) - an in-direct free kick given away by Rowley for calling an opposition player a dickhead after he tried to wipe him out. The ball was on the half-way line, the defender floated a high ball right under the cross bar. Where Liam if he left it, a goal kick would have been given but, he tried to catch it and the ball slipped out of his hands and into the back of the net to make it 4 – 3 Sydenham.

But sports dug deep again to make it four all, Dean Organ was fouled in the box, not once but twice and he was too honest and tried to stay on feet, when the 3rd challenge came in and won the ball, Sports wanted a penalty as no advantage from the previous two fouls, but NO !! Crowd were mightily unhappy and let their feeling be known to the ref.

It was obvious that the referee made an error and within 2 minutes he gave made up for it by giving a very dubious penalty. This time Coleman charged into the box with the ball, the slightest of touches and down he went, penalty. Barney calmly placed the ball on spot and fired equalizing goal in 4 all.

There was still 5 minutes left and Sports stiffed a winner. A wonderful 40 yard pass from Rowley switched the attacked from the right to left, the ball went to the feet of Gardiner who beat his full back, he’s early shot caught the Sydenham keeper by surprise and his dive was to late as the ball sneaked underneath him into the net.

Sports 5 Sydenham 4, what a great comeback.

But there was still drama in the game, Sydenham with only a minute of injury time left pushed fanatically forward for an unlikely equaliser.  They worked the ball well out to right a low cross came a first time shot and Liam pulled of a great save to tip the ball over the bar. And win the game for Sports.

                            Manager Comments

What a great game to watch, unless you’re the manager. More ups and down then rollercoaster. The lads are digging deep to win games Coleman (star man) lead his team to end. Barney scoring goals things are lookin good. Loads of confidence going into next couple of games.