THE DAY OF THE TACKLE
Saturday October 28th, 2023
Bridgwater United 4 (Edwards 26, J Thorne 47, 62 King 90+3)
Shepton Mallet 1 (Jenkins 57)
You may have watched the film “The Day Of The Jackal,” in Rugby Union they talk about jackallers but at Fairfax Park on Saturday it was the day of the tacklers. The wet and inhospitable conditions meant that the spoils of the day would go to the team who relished a tackle the most. Unequivocally, that was the Robins. In so doing they completed their sixth straight win at home, and this was against a team who have been going well lately.
As has become the recent habit, United dominated the game and Shepton Mallet weren’t allowed to play. Their goal was a freak goal, and they didn’t register a single shot on target throughout the 98 minutes. They competed well but the quality and tenacity of the United performance was simply too much for them. 29 goals scored in 6 games is a phenomenal achievement and indicates that a visit to Fairfax Park is to be feared by all and sundry.
The deteriorating conditions looked likely to mitigate against the way the Robins like to play. It was more difficult to play the one/twos, the sudden turns, the intricate passing patterns. In fact, it became difficult just to stand up. Instead, we were treated to a display of old-fashioned tackling, especially on the slide. The gouges caused by this wouldn’t have pleased groundsman Nick, but they were certainly entertaining. The two chief proponents of this art were probably Harry Horton and Jake Llewellyn. Both of them played quite brilliantly. The rest of the defence and midfield wasn’t shabby either. The strikers, as ever, looked full of goals.
Up front, or more accurately just behind the front two, a full debut was given to Ben Griffith, and he had several sparkling moments and was unlucky not to score. He will add even more threat to an already potent attack.
United were inches from scoring in their first attack. Jake Llewellyn got max power behind a drive from outside the box and Tom Roberts did well to repel it, but it landed at the predatory boots of Jack Taylor. He knocked it goalwards but an exceptional clearance on the line from a Mallet defender got the ball away.
The game was quite tight, Mallet were making if difficult, but Sam Towler had a shot blocked and when the ball came back to him, he was closed down. The passing wasn’t quite as accurate as usual at this stage as Mallet were sitting in quite deeply and restricting space. It was a rare moment when Paul Braithwaite made some room for a shot that passed a yard wide of goal.
It was from a corner kick that United went ahead. Rather than send the ball in directly, Horton and Llewellyn worked a short corner routine and Llewellyn’s cross to the far post was nodded in by Ross Edwards.
Three minutes later United’s efforts were stymied by the crossbar. When the ball arrived near the penalty spot Griffith manufactured an acrobatic bicycle kick which struck the underside of the bar and stayed out.
Although behind, Mallet weren’t very ambitious and kept on propelling long balls which were easily swept up. Shortly before the break Jack Taylor got plenty of pace into a 20-yard shot on the run but Mallet’s impressive keeper held on well.
Half time United 1 Shepton Mallet 0
The rain became really heavy towards the end of the first half and continued during the interval. So, when the players came out to play, the conditions had become more troublesome. It was very gloomy and the dour Shepton away kit could easily be confused with all black of the referee. The conditions seemed to bother United less than their opponents and they were soon two up. What was an attempted Taylor shot became a shrewd pass when Jack Thorne slid in at the far post to toe the ball over the line. Then the two Thornes combined well, and Jack glanced his header wide from a cross by Dave.
United looked completely in control but presented Mallet with an undeserved goal. Maybe the heavy conditions were a factor but Jake Viney ‘s clearance didn’t have enough elevation. It struck Josh Jenkins on the body and rolled into the net.
The third goal, ironically, also arose from a charged down clearance. United were pressing hard and when the defender failed to get the ball away it spun into a space that was quickly filled by Jack Thorne. Once he gets away nobody can catch him, and he slipped the ball to the keeper’s right. 18 goals now for the league’s top marksman.
The visitors now knew that the game was up and there was a niggly spell when the two teams were falling out with each other. In spite of that United continued to create chance after chance. The fantastic Jake Llewellyn played a perfect one/two with George King, carried on his run, and then shot just wide of the right post. United’s captain got clattered for his efforts but was able to continue.
Towler set up Taylor for a shot that Roberts held well in the slimy conditions and from a Llewellyn corner the well-timed run from Jason Quick ended with his header going over from a good position. Twice Adam Wright found some space on the right wing and his crosses were sent wide by both Jack Thorne and Jay Murray.
The Mallet manager Aaron Seviour was getting fed up and he incurred the wrath of the referee and was sin binned. Where do you go when you are the manager, and you are sent to the sin bin? Amusingly, he walked off towards the United dug out and had what looked like a friendly chat with Dave Pearse!
United love scoring goals and the final one was from just outside the box and was testament to the tenacity of Morgan Williams in winning the ball. King used his left foot for this one and the swerving, low drive was touched by Roberts, but he couldn’t keep it out.
It was nearly five when Williams benefitted from Murray winning the ball off tired defenders, but his cleanly hit shot missed the target by inches to the left.
For all the skill on display, this performance was underpinned by sheer hard work and desire. Making that effort to get into space so that there were always options to pass too. The drive that meant that the visitors couldn’t dwell on the ball. Putting the body on the line. True grit. Well done.
United – Viney, D Thorne (Phillips 80), J Llewellyn, Horton, Edwards, Quick, King, Griffith (Murray 66), Taylor (Wright 74), J Thorne, Towler (Williams 74).
Shepton Mallet – Roberts, Sisson, Witchell, Banks, Rutty, Braithwaite, Ponsillo, Legge, Bateson, Sloggett, Jenkins. Subs Costanza, Creely, Newman, Gould, Hunter.
Competition: Toolstation Western League Premier
Referee: Josh Eyre
Assistants: Paul Bell and Martin Pearse.
Report: Mark Hollidge
