Match Report:
Bridgwater United 5 (Jay Murray 2, Josiah McKayle 7, 31,) Jack Taylor 57, Jake Llewellyn 83)
Ilfracombe Town 3 (Harry Stevens 73, Jack Magarotto 76, Daniel Wilson 80)
‘The Robins’ embarked on the first of their final six remaining games, all of which are at home, looking to consolidate their place in the play-off positions and, at the same time, add to their goal difference.
To the casual observer, the result would likely be described as a classic game of two halves. In reality this was far from the case as United were quickly into their stride and were two ahead inside the first 10 minutes. A slick move down the left saw the ball reach Jack Thorne whose brave header set up Jay Murray who made no mistake from inside the 6-yard box. 1-0
Despite requiring attention from the earlier collision, Thorne was soon back in action with a superb run and cross down the right, gleefully headed home unapposed by Josiah Mc Kayle 2-0
With the visitors reeling, United continued to pour forward looking to quickly add to their tally. After a series of half chances went begging, a crossfield ball found McKayle in the left-hand channel. His snapshot arrowed past Ollie Saunders into the far corner. 0-3.
Despite the sterling efforts of former ‘Robins’ favourite, Jack Jenkins in the visitors’ midfield, with an hour left of what was now very much a one-sided contest, the prospects for Ilfracombe looked dire indeed! With the half time whistle imminent, they escaped another set back as Jason Quick’s firm header from 8 yards failed to unduly trouble Saunders.
The initial stages of second period resembled those of the first as United, with the wind now at their backs, swept forward determined to add to their tally. McKayle, clearly enjoying his start was quickly onto a loose ball on the edge of the area but his shot fizzed over the bar when a first hattrick for the club looked imminent. Still United pushed on and it was a surprise to no one when Jack Taylor, who had replaced Jack Thorne at the interval, drove home the fourth.
0-4
With a third of the game remaining, with the elements at their backs and virtually no threat at all from the visitors, most of those in attendance would have expected United to kick on and ‘fill their boots.’
However, the reality was something different.
With twenty minutes remaining, Sam Hedges, Finn Koppa, Josh Phillips, and Morgan Williams replaced Mark Armstrong, Dave Thorne, Ben Griffiths, and Adam Wright, respectively.
These changes appear to act as a catalyst for the visitors as Luke Purnell was brought into his first serious action repelling three efforts from the ‘The Bluebirds’ previously anonymous front two. Encouraged by these ‘sighters,’ suddenly it was all Ilfracombe who now had the home defence in disarray as they smashed home three efforts in a quite extraordinary 7 minutes. 4-3
Could the visitors really snatch something from the game?
In the light the preceding events, it was clear that United were not prepared to sit back and defend what was now a single goal advantage. They forced several set plays in the remaining minutes and so it was that Jake Llewellyn’s well flighted corner from the right beat all comers and nestled inside the far post to ensure that the final scoreline, at least to some extent, reflected United’s dominance of the game.
Without a doubt this was an important win for ‘The Robin’s’ with 3 of their 4 contenders for a play-off place winning well. 5 games remain; United need 8 points to secure a place in the top 5 and extend their season to at least Tuesday 30th April.
United: Luke Purnell, Dave Thorne (Finn Koppa 68), Jason Quick, Mark Armstrong (Capt), (Sam Hedges 70), Jake Llewellyn, Tom Llewellyn, Jay Murray, Ben Griffith (Josh Phillips 74) Josiah McKayle, Jack Thorne (Jack Taylor 46), Adam Wright (Morgan Williams 81)
Ilfracombe Town: Ollie Saunders, Kyle Paine, Henry Richards, Harry Taffs, Ed Jenkins, Jack Magarotto, Jack Jenkins (Capt), Rory Paine, Dan Wilson, Harry Stevens, Blake Shapland,
Subs: Aidan Barrow, Tyler Evans-Loude, Liam Short, Cory Roach, Charlie Roach
Competition: Toolstation Western League, Premier Division
Attendance: 231
Venue: Fairfax Park
Date: 6th April 2024
Report: Bob Buckingham
