Bridgwater United 1 Cribbs 0
My, oh my, oh my. What a great night! These are the special games that make you realise why it is you support your local football team. These are the games you remember. For the third time in consecutive matches, the Robins had to endure the hardship of playing with just 10 men on the pitch. Yet, through deep reserves of character, commitment and courage they overcame a strong team who are riding the crest of a wave in their own league. As a result it is the Robins who progress into the 4th round of the FA Vase.
In the midst of a marvellous team performance, one player rose above anyone else on the pitch. George King bestrode the midfield acres like a colossus, making the place his own, and produced a ninety minute performance which eclipsed all of his previous outings. United fans know about his ability but inconsistency has sometimes been an issue but not tonight! He was central to all the best parts of the United performance.Well done that man.
To put this in context, United were shorn of their two central defenders through suspension, two midfielders through injury and another midfielder was cup tied. So the strength of the squad was sorely tested against a good side who had only lost once in the league. Sam Hedges was playing only his second full game after a long injury absence and Jack Thorne was playing at home for the first time after his goalscoring debut at Barnstaple. The Robins were well below full strength.
When Jack Thorne was booked in the first minute, for an innocuous foul, it seemed that the referee was looking to put down a “ marker” as if to say “I am in charge”. We didn’t know at that time how significant this would prove to be.
After an early Jake Llewellyn corner kick caused a skirmish in the Cribbs’ box, it was the visitors who looked most at ease for a spell. Ex- Robin Steve Murray was dangerous and he skipped inside a defender but drilled his shot outside the near post. On twenty minutes, only a goal line block from Hedges stopped the visitors from going ahead.
United’s response was a twenty five yards free kick from King which took a deflection and Aaron Greatbanks did well to push it to safety.
Nick Jones was proving problematical on the left wing and he engineered an opening for Jacob Hodgson to shoot at goal from near the penalty spot. Jake Viney, whose handling was faultless and reassuring throughout, plunged onto the ball to keep it out.
For the third third of the first half, United got more to grips with the game and started to control it. King nutmegged a Cribbs player before releasing the elusive Jake Brown. He squared the ball to the energetic Josh Phillips. He shot on the half volley but the ball screwed wide. Almost on half time a fabulous move almost gave United the lead. A clever free kick routine involving King and Jack Taylor caught Cribbs out. The ball was delivered on a plate to Jack Thorne , in front of goal. The fans were about to shout “ goal” but the ball hit the inside of the right post and stayed out.
From that close shave, Jack Thorne’s minute of torment got worse. As Cribbs broke away, he fouled their player with the ball. Without any hesitation the referee showed Thorne another yellow card, followed by red. A harsh decision. It seemed as though the referee was prepared to punish United with alacrity whilst turning a blind eye to Cribbs’ misdemeanours. Aysa Corrick, for example, got away with a hack at Mark Armstrong with just a few words spoken.
As the second half loomed it seemed that United were really up against it. If Cribbs had slightly the better of the first half, in the second half, with the man advantage, surprisingly they lost most of their fluency and potency.
In the 49th minute, the Robins got the vital goal. Again King was at the heart of it. He found space in midfield and lofted a cross beyond the far post, on the left. Slipshod Cribbs had left Taylor unmarked. He still had plenty to do but he carefully guided his 10 yard header across Greatbanks and inside the right post. His twelfth goal of the season.
In the second half Taylor was the lone striker and he ran his socks off to try to keep the Cribbs’ defence busy. So did Brown with his intricate dribbling skills on the left flank. He was a source of danger but also the source of handy free kicks.
Nevertheless, Cribbs did make some chances. A cross/shot from Jones rebounded from an upright and a tricky low shot from Matt Spiller reared up off the surface and was well pouched by Viney.
Hedges sustained a head injury after more brave defending and he had to go off. More rearrangement was required.Armstrong went into the defence and was admirable there.
The Robins still posed a threat on the break and Brown’s cut back was met by a sidefooted effort from Ross Edwards which Greatbanks did well to save at the near post. Moments later, David Duru’s header was easily held.
Ten minutes from the scheduled close of the game, Ben Bament latched onto a punched clearance from Viney and drilled a firm shot at goal which, again, was saved with apparent ease by Viney.
There were plenty of stoppages in play towards the end of the game with injury and substitutions. The referee , latterly, realised he could caution Cribbs’ players too and a couple went in the book.
Although a full ten minutes were added on ( shades of Qatar) at the end of the ninety , Cribbs seemed to have blown themselves out and all they could offer were inaccurate long range shots that would never trouble a keeper as competent as Viney.
The game was nerve-shredding but the game was won. Come on you people of Bridgwater, get out of your homes to support this fine team of yours, as they continue their battle on two fronts into 2023.
Match details:
Bridgwater United: Viney, D.Thorne, J.Llewellyn, Hedges ( Simpson 71), Edwards, King, Phillips, Taylor ( Hartley 90+3), J.Thorne, Brown (Hebbard 90+6). Unused subs Smith, Hurd
Cribbs : Greatbanks, Hillard, Spiller, Cainey, Harnett-Balkwill, McErlain, Jones, Hurley, Murray, Groome, Hodgson. Subs Ward-Baptiste, Dashfield, Kellow, Corrick, Bament, Duru, Bridgeman.
Date : December 2nd 2022
Competition : FA Vase 3rd round
Venue: Fairfax Park
Attendance: 289
Officials: Referee: Adam Wilson, Assistants: Jordan Lee and Dan Bugg.
Next game away at Ashton and Backwell Friday December 9th at 7.30 pm.
- Mark Hollidge
