On Saturday, 6th September, Bridgwater United returned to winning ways with an emphatic 5-2 victory over Oldland Abbotonians at Fairfax Park. After a difficult August, The Robins finally showed what they were capable of with an attacking performance that supporters have been waiting for.
The days leading up to the match had seen relentless rain batter Somerset, but as if to signal a change in fortunes, the clouds parted on match day to reveal perfect football conditions.
FIRST HALF
Manager Lee Lashenko opted for a slight tactical shift, deploying three central defenders and two strikers, with debutant Chris Manangu partnering Ben Bament up front. Captain Billy Tucker was positioned in a wider role, giving Bridgwater a different look.
The opening exchanges were tentative, with the ball occasionally holding up in the swirling wind. Bridgwater looked to utilise the physical presence of Manangu early on, the newcomer making himself a handful for the Oldland defence.
It was the visitors, however, who carved out the first meaningful opportunity. Their striker burst into the box and went down under a last-ditch challenge, prompting vociferous appeals for a penalty that the referee waved away.
After a somewhat scrappy opening ten minutes, Bridgwater broke the deadlock. George King’s tenacity saw him win possession before driving down the left flank. His perfectly weighted square pass found Ben Bament on the edge of the box, who marked his first appearance since officially signing for The Robins with a rifled finish.
The old adage about being most vulnerable after scoring proved true. Oldland responded with a swift attack that required Ben John to produce an excellent save, diving low to his right to flick the ball away from danger.
The reprieve was short-lived. Just minutes later, two simple passes carved open the Bridgwater defence, allowing Vinall to slip through on goal. The Oldland forward made no mistake, calmly rolling the ball past John to restore parity.
Bridgwater immediately pushed forward in search of regaining their advantage. A bullet throw-in from skipper Billy Tucker caused chaos in the Oldland box, with Bament eventually poking wide from a promising position during the ensuing scramble.
Sam Beresford then came close, bringing down a high ball with a good touch before drawing a smart stop from the Oldland goalkeeper.
As half-time approached, the game had descended into a series of half-chances. That changed dramatically in the 39th minute when Harry Horton produced a moment of pure inspiration.
Spotting the ball dropping invitingly 30 yards from goal, the midfielder unleashed a dipping volley that arrowed into the top corner, leaving the goalkeeper rooted to the spot. Horton wheeled away, knowing he’ll be dining off that one for a while!
With Oldland still reeling, Bridgwater struck again. A looping ball from Tucker wasn’t dealt with by the visitors’ defence, allowing Bament through on goal. Faced with an advancing goalkeeper, he produced a delicate lob for his second of the afternoon.
Just when it seemed the first-half scoring was complete, Tucker added further gloss to the scoreline. His inswinging corner from the right was whipped in with such venom and precision that it flew directly into the net without a touch.
From 1-1 after 35 minutes, Bridgwater had produced a devastating burst of three goals to take complete control of the contest.
HALF TIME: BRIDGWATER UNITED 4-1 OLDLAND ABBOTONIANS
As the players retreated to the changing rooms, the Fairfax Park faithful spoke and nodded with satisfaction. The new-look backline had shown occasional vulnerability, particularly during the opening phase, but the forward players had more than compensated.
Bament’s double were two goals of real skill, and in midfield, Tucker and Horton had been everywhere, combining industry with quality.
SECOND HALF
Any hopes that Bridgwater might cruise through the second period were immediately dispelled. Almost straight from the restart, Oldland reduced the deficit with a good strike from Sarr, adding another entry to the afternoon’s catalogue of impressive goals.
The goal served as a reminder that the contest wasn’t quite settled, and Bridgwater responded by reasserting control of possession. Good work down the right from Bament created a chance for Manangu at the far post, but his acrobatic attempt popped over the crossbar.
As the half progressed, Tucker grew increasingly influential. At around an hour in, he picked up the ball on the right, and he drove inside, leaving defenders in his wake with a series of feints and fake shots. Just when it seemed he might release a teammate, Tucker instead drilled a left-footed shot into the bottom corner, restoring Bridgwater’s three-goal cushion and effectively settling the contest.
With the game now firmly in their control, Bridgwater were content to manage proceedings, keeping possession and frustrating Oldland’s attempts to mount a comeback. The defence now appeared much more solid, limiting the visitors and cleaning up the series of long balls that came their way.
There was still time for one more moment of quality from the home side. Sam Beresford seized the ball during a counter-attack. Two deft turns got him past his sole marker, but his powerful shot clipped the crossbar and went over.
When the referee’s whistle finally brought proceedings to a close, it was greeted with an appreciative roar from Fairfax Park, who had been treated to an entertaining afternoon of football and, most importantly, a win.
FULL TIME: BRIDGWATER UNITED 5-2 OLDLAND ABBOTONIANS
While not a perfect performance, this was possibly the most complete display of Bridgwater’s season so far. The attacking talent had shone, producing brilliant goals and blowing the opposition away.
This victory provides three vital points which hopefully start Bridgwater’s climb up the table. From my position in the stands, I was seated near the gentleman tasked with selecting the man of the match, no easy decision on a day when several players excelled. Goalscorers Tucker and Horton had to give way to Ben Bament, who received the accolade, his energy and two-goal contribution proving decisive in driving The Robins to victory.
The team now faces a quick turnaround, with a trip to Shepton Mallet awaiting on Tuesday, September 9th.
Many thanks to everyone who came to support the team on Saturday. The weekend is always sweeter with 3 points behind you!
#WeAreUnited
