Bridgwater United 2 Mousehole 2
After this barnstorming game you could argue that both sides were left unsatisfied by the outcome. United played well for 75 minutes, went two up, and should have held on for the win. Mousehole were hoping to clinch promotion but will have to wait until Saturday to complete the formalities.
Although the second half to United’s season has fallen well short of expectations there could be no complaints, once again, about the entertainment on offer and the 358 fans at the game, including a healthy Cornish contingent, were gripped by this contest from the 1st to the 100th minute. Yes, the referee managed to find 10 extra minutes at the end of the game.
Dave Pearse made a couple of tactical switches for this game. He elected to play Mark Armstrong at right back and move Ross Edwards into midfield. This meant that Armstrong had the awkward task of trying to subdue the dangerous Hayden Turner. A role that he performed with his customary diligence and determination. Edwards , amongst other things, had to counteract the aerial ability of the towering Reece Thomson in midfield and he won plenty of those challenges to the point that Thomson got substituted.
Mousehole are top of the table because they deserve to be there. They opened the game with plenty of accurate passing and quick movement whilst the Robins seemed happy enough to let them perform their party tricks in front of them. There was little penetration. United were playing a longer ball game most of the time but, in so doing, not leaving themselves overstretched at the back. So chances were rare.
An instinctive, no- look cross field pass from Tom Llewellyn found his brother in an advanced position but his 20 yard shot was wide and a Tom Llewellyn free kick from 30 yards was easily saved by Ollie Chenoweth.
Deep into the first half Mousehole were still searching for their first shot at goal and a chance to test young keeper Ollie Saunders. Turner eventually managed to escape his shackles to send a cross to the back post. Harry Bell met the dipping ball on the volley but cleared the bar by a foot.
Within a minute United were ahead. Tom Llewellyn’s corner kick from the left reached Jacob Spence in the middle but about 12 yards out. He had plenty to do but he aimed a precise header over half a dozen players heads and just below the bar.
Jack Thorne’s mobility was worrying Mousehole and he threw off his markers to play a tempting ball into the six yard box but nobody was there to convert. The half finished with a Thomson pull back being wastefully crashed high and wide by Tallan Mitchell.
Half Time : Bridgwater United 1 Mousehole 0
Jack Taylor had the first chance after the break but he lashed wide at the near post after Thorne had set up the situation. Mousehole responded with their best chance so far. Mark Goldsworthy managed to get to a low , left wing cross but sent his close range shot wide at the near post.
Morgan Williams, as energetic as the Ever Ready bunny, was competing for the ball everywhere. He broke up a Mousehole move near half way and then ran on and thumped a 20 left footed volley towards the right post. A sprawling Chenoweth pushed the ball away to what he thought was safety. From the resulting corner Jake Llewellyn curled the ball towards the threatening forehead of Spence. He powered the ball into the net and United had a cushion. This was the commanding defender’s fifth goal in five games.
The victory could have been put to bed with 20 minutes left when Thorne broke free. His shot narrowly cleared the bar, although close observers said that Chenoweth touched it over.
Around this time, Mousehole had their first shot on target but Thomson’s daisy cutter was easily saved.Soon after that Callum McOnie also had a long range shot which caused Saunders no bother.
There were signs of some desperation from the visitors and the temperature began to rise. What we hadn’t seen was any real likelihood of a Mousehole comeback. However Mousehole have been the masters of scoring late goals and it happened again.
As the game entered the last 10 minutes of normal time, United still looked comfortable and composed. What you can never bargain for is a moment of outrageous brilliance. This came from Andy Elcock who, with little else on, took a pot shot from at least 25 yards out and nobody could have kept out his rising drive.
This totally changed the dynamic of the game. Mousehole sensed their chance and became transformed. United became a bit desperate and tried to use up time. Mousehole poured forward and , with the game in time added on, they got level. They broke down the left but Armstrong was clearly fouled as he challenged the player on the left wing. The referee ignored that and when the ball was delivered into the middle Josh Bissett headed it in.
If anyone was going to win the game from there it would have been Mousehole but that would have been an unfair outcome. United can only console themselves that , in the two games with these opponents, they have been the better side overall and one point from six is scant reward for their performances.
Match details:
Teams: Bridgwater United: Saunders, Edwards, Armstrong, J Llewellyn, Spence, Greenwood, Towler, T Llewellyn, Williams, Taylor (Hartley 80) Thorne ( Mabia 84). Unused Smith
Mousehole: Chenoweth, Gafaiti, Fraser, Bell, Sousa, Hill, Turner, Calver, Goldsworthy, Mitchell, Thomson. Subs Bissett, McOnie, Bray-Evans, Otto, Elcock.
Competition: Toolstation Western League Premier
Venue: Fairfax Park
Date: April 18th 2023
Goals: Spence 38, 61 Elcock 87, Bissett 90+2
Attendance:358
Referee: Sam Williams Assistants: Leo Martin, Toby Franklin.
- Report: Mark Hollidge
