THORNE AND TAYLOR KEEP THE GOALS FLOWING
Bridgwater United 5 (J Thorne 7, 12, 24 Taylor 56, 70)
Longwell Green Sports 2 (Coleman 48, Brown 78).
It may have been Armistice Day but there was no shortage of firepower on display as United hurtled into the 3rd round of the FA Vase. The result was determined once the prolific Jack Thorne had scored a 24 minute first half hat trick. Few would have expected 1st Division Longwell Green to pose too many problems for the rollicking Robins but, to their credit, they gave it a really good go in the second half, and they can be happy with their efforts.
The ground staff should also have been delighted with their efforts in making the pitch playable after recent deluges. It was a bit bobbly at times but, in the circumstances, it acquitted itself very well.
In the early dispatches Longwell Green played some neat stuff without threatening but United looked dangerous as soon as they got over the halfway line. In their first attack a wayward defensive header from Dan Stephens landed in the stride of Jack Thorne and it would have been the first goal if it wasn’t for keeper Luke Bond stretching out his left leg to divert the ball wide of the post. No matter. From the resulting Jake Llewellyn corner kick Thorne headed in from close range with the keeper not going for the cross.
With the second goal arriving just a few minutes later it looked like the visitors could get overwhelmed. A George King corner kick was headed back from beyond the far post by the dominant Ross Edwards and Thorne swivelled to score from 5 yards. So that meant that goals were scored from each of the first two corner kicks.
Edwards was delivering some cracking passes from defence and one of these allowed Taylor to get the better of the left back but from a tight angle his shot screwed wide of the target. Jay Murray almost made it three with a sidefooted effort which beat the keeper but was cleared from the line.
United were totally bossing the game. If the ball was lost it was recovered in double quick time and their attacking instincts seemed well tuned. The third goal was a bit fortunate in as much as Thorne’s shot from just beyond the penalty area took a deflection off a defender and gracefully looped into the obliging net.
Longwell Green might have thrown in the towel at this point as they were staring at a potentially embarrassing defeat. However, it didn’t turn out like that. They rolled up their sleeves and found some defensive fortitude. They even managed a couple of strikes at goal, courtesy of Nathan Hall, before the half time whistle.
Half time – United 3 Longwell Green 0
The attitude of the visitors appeared more positive on the resumption, and this seemed to catch the Robins out. In trying to intercept a Longwell Green attack, King forcefully directed the ball towards his own net. Jake Viney was alert to that, and his plunging save conceded a corner. From the corner kick the unmarked Lewis Coleman headed in from almost under the bar. You could imagine that there would be a bit of an inquest about that one.
After a moribund period, United found their attacking verve again and the ever-industrious Morgan Williams had a goalbound effort deflected wide. They reasserted their command thanks to a gaffe from Bond. Edwards’ cross from the left was speculative but Bond let the ball bounce off his chest to the grateful Taylor and it was in the net in a trice.
Williams, who doesn’t have the best of luck with his finishing, looked like crowning a superb move involving King and Thorne with a composed finish but his firm drive smacked the crossbar. Moments later, Jake Llewellyn and Thorne combined intuitively, and the latter was denied his 4th by a goal line clearance.
The visitors’ right winger Sonny Passco had a strong second half and he both started and ended a move which culminated in his shot being pushed onto the right-hand post by Viney. United were looking a bit loose at the back and Longwell Green took encouragement.
United, however, were still not satisfied with their goal tally and the fifth one was the best of the lot. Taylor exchanged passes with the perspicacious Harry Horton. The return ball was perfectly weighted, and Taylor accepted it in his stride. Left footed, he swept the ball under Bond and was so happy that he jumped into the crowd to celebrate!
Showing pluck and no little skill, Longwell Green finished the game off well. Passco chipped the ball just too high, and Matt Brown scored from a very tight angle after Passco had again been involved.
United could have made it six near the end but Horton’s close-range header was repelled by Bond, and Taylor would have had a hat trick if it wasn’t for the linesman’s flag. So, just the 7 goals, the best football entertainment in Somerset. Who needs goalless draws?
United: Viney, Phillips, J Llewellyn, Horton, Edwards, Quick, Williams, King (Wright 67), Taylor, J Thorne (T Llewellyn 67), Murray (Griffiths 63). Unused subs D Thorne, Finch, Towler.
Longwell Green Sports: Bond, Partridge, Stephens, Grimshaw, Bainbridge, Always, Passco, Coleman, Brown, Hensler, Hall. Subs Feltham, J Hall, Horrocks, Harry, Campbell, Baber, Capon.
Competition: Isuzu FA Vase Round 2 Proper
Date: November 11th, 2023
Report: Mark Hollidge
