13th October 2007

Wyvern 5-4 Bridgwater Sports

Team: Rawle, R. Smith, C. Clarke, Prowse, Sealey, Dodden, Fursland, Tucker, Cocks, Jones, McGann

Subs: Caddy, Bennett

Scorers: Sealey (12), Jones (57), McGann(62), R. Smith (83)

After last weeks disappointment at dropping two points against Cosiington Sports were determined to put things right against Wyvern who the previous week had suffered a shock 5-1 defeat against Middlezoy.

Sports went to a back four for the first time in many months with Chris Clarke coming in to join Smith, Sealey & Prowse at the back. Jones replaced Paul Organ up front and Craig moved to the left of Midfield.

The game started brightly for Sports and although Wyvern tried to stop the flow of things with some late challenges it didn't affect Sports' flowing game and it wasn't long before Sports took the lead. A corner came in and it wasn't dealt with leaving Sir David Sealey with the easiest of tap ins to make it 1-0. Surely Sports could go on from here and learn from previous weeks?

The answer quite simply was no! It took Wyvern over 25 minutes to create their first chance and when they did a huge deflection wrong footed Sports keeper Rawle who could only parry the ball into the path of the Wyvern forward to tapped it in. 1-1.

This got Wyvern's heads up and again Sports dropped and two minutes later it was deja vu. Another shot from Wyvern was deflected and again Rawle could not hold on to it and with Lee Hellier more alert than the flat footed defence again all he had to do was to roll the ball into an empty net to give the home side a 2-1 lead.

Five minutes before the break another mistake from Sports allowed Wyvern to make it 3-1. Sealey lost the ball in the middle and a quick pass released Hellier who outpaced Smith and finished superbly in the corner of the net to make it 3-1 which is how it stayed until half time.

Stern words were spoke at half time but manager Bale believed Sports could still take something from the game if the effort was put in and the basic mistakes cut out. Fuzzy came back into left midfield swapping with Craig up front and for the first 15 minutes Sports went at Wyvern but with no reward.

The after the hour Hellier picked the ball up on the halfway line and unchallenged moved forward and unleashed a 25 yarder in the top corner to give Wyvern a 4-1 lead & his hatrick. Wyvern had had 4 shots & scored all 4!

Manager Bale reverted to three at the back and even at 4-1 down instead of Sports heads dropping they again came back strong and got some reward when a neat through ball to 'Fry' saw him cooly slide the ball in to make it 4-2.

Minutes later it was game on again as a speculative ball over the top of Wyvern's defence was not dealt with and Craig McGann's persistance paid off when he lobbed the keeper to make it 4-3.

Sports pushed hard and Wyvern defended as though their lives depended on it but the trouble is when your pushing forward you leave yourself open to the counter attack which is exactly what happened when Hellier broke through and one on one with Rawle he kept his nerve to put the ball in off the post to make it 5-3 and the game safe....or was it?

With just under ten minutes remaining an excelleng run from Fuzzy ended when he was adjudged to have been bought down in the box and Rich Smith did the rest finishing from the spot - could Sports yet claim something from the game?

It was all one way traffic and with seconds left and for the second week running Carl Tucker had a header cleared off the line, but it wasn't to be & when the final whistle went it was as though Wyvern had won the league with wild celebrations!

Although disappointing to lose Sports showed great courage, belief and team effort to take the game to Wyvern when 4-1 down. Hopefully this can be carried into the remaining games from the start.

STAR MAN: Fuzzy for an outstanding second half performance

DONKEY: Sir Scott David Sealey for his attempted Johan Cryuff which led to their 3rd goal