Bridgwater United 2 Clevedon Town 2
The two points dropped in this feisty local derby were a disappointment but once the news filtered through that main rivals Saltash had lost, a few smiles returned to the faces of United supporters.
The draw was a fair result but the circumstances in which it happened were not fair. The Seasiders clearly decided to forego the pleasures of turkey on Christmas Day because their first half display was very much of a red meat nature . They launched into the United players with all the delicacy of a bull in a china shop. Within no time at all they had two players with yellow cards against their names – and one of those was central defender Glen Hayer. Hayer continued to play fast and loose with the rules of the game and when he decided to push Jake Brown to the ground ,after a face to face encounter , probably nearly everyone in the ground assumed that he would get a second yellow card as a minimum. United have had players sent off for much less lately. The referee decided to do nothing and that was one of many baffling decisions, or non-decisions, that he made. Hayer must have felt that he was invulnerable as a bit later on he chopped Conor Hartley down when he was breaking free. Nothing given again. So when it was Hayer, a good player, who scored the second Clevedon goal in the second half the home fans were entitled to question the justice of what they were witnessing.
Another visitor who was lucky to see the game out was Ethan Feltham who, with the ball travelling harmlessly out of play, pushed Josh Phillips so forcefully that he collided with the boards around the pitch. Recalling the sad recent case of the Bath City player who suffered serious injury from such a collision, one worried for Phillips’ safety. He recovered and Feltham got away with that one. It is hard to understand how.
Yet there was some football played. United looked comfortable in the first half and Clevedon posed little threat. Some slick passing along the right wing led to Jack Taylor passing to Hartley, on the run. Luca Smith came out to block with his body. At the mid-point of the first half a stinging and swerving shot from Tom Llewellyn was parried and held at the second attempt by Smith.
United scored after 33 minutes. The continually probing Brown found a bit of space to curl a cross towards the goal. Taylor also found some room and his delicate glancing header was well out of the keeper’s reach and United were ahead.
Clevedon won a few corner kicks and , in Sam Larkins, had a player who could chuck in a long throw but United defended these quite easily and there was nothing to cause any alarm by half time.
Half time – Bridgwater United 1 Clevedon Town 0
Clevedon, who spent much longer in the changing rooms at half time, came out with more purpose and United suddenly had a game on their hands. Straight away Archie Ferris had a cushioned shot which Jake Viney pushed aside but after 50 minutes Ferris made a more significant impression. A well struck right wing corner kick was well aimed at the head of Ferris. He had run into space and his forward momentum helped him send a powerful and accurate header in off the left post. It was an excellent header.
Although there was still a bit of bickering and some petty fouling going on, the physical excesses of the first half were now just a memory. Ironically, this suited the visitors more and they sensed that they could could win.
Freddie King twice tested Viney with low shots and the second save was an especially fine one. Llewellyn had another go with a long distance drive but it was too straight to cause any problems for Smith.
After 73 minutes Clevedon went ahead. United were on the attack, with nearly everyone upfield, when Clevedon broke quickly.Although he was shepherded by two defenders Freddie King had the vision to spot Hayer racing from the back. The defender took a touch and then sent a 25 yard chip over Viney and well under the bar. Like the first goal, an excellent finish.
Within a minute Taylor, looking in fine form, cut inside and thumped a rising drive which just brushed against the out side of the goal post.
There were just five minutes left of the ninety when United got level. Brown got between Elliot Nicholson and the ball and, as Brown went deep into the penalty area, he was fouled. Taylor stepped up and rammed a firm low shot into the corner from the resulting penalty kick.
United’s first home league game in 86 days ( yes, really!) had seen them fail to win but the 491 fans at Fairfax Park had seen plenty of action to keep them involved and entertained in this Boxing Day drama.
Match details:
Bridgwater United: Viney, Thorne, Phillips, Armstrong, Greenwood, Edwards, Hartley ( Simpson 70), T.Llewellyn, Taylor, G.King (Towler 70), Brown. Unused Hebbard, Hedges.
Clevedon Town : Smith, Nicholson, Camper, Kingdon, Hayer, Larkins, Feltham, Camm, Ferris, Groom, F.King. Subs Twiggs, Kemble, Westlake, Biggs, Lovell.
Competition: Toolstation Western League Premier Division
Date: December 26th, 2022
Venue: Fairfax Park
Goals: Taylor 33, 85 Ferris 50, Hayer 73.
Attendance: 491
Match officials:
Referee: Kristian Gould
Assistants: Ian Harley, Jake Richards.
Next game: Away at Falmouth January 2nd.
- Mark Hollidge
