Bridgwater United 6 ( J Thorne 21, 49 Wright 26, 84 T Llewellyn 32 Quick 90 +10) Oldland Abbotonians 2 ( Mason Davis 57 Jack Sheppard 90+6)
Toolstation Western League Premier Division
September 9th 2023
The Robins beat the Abbots ( and the weather)
In sweltering conditions it was tough enough just watching this game, heaven only knows what it was like to play in it! With regular water breaks and lengthy injury delays, the game lasted 105 minutes in total. A real test of stamina and character.
Both teams displayed these qualities but what United had in reserve was brilliant attacking skills and they should probably have made the winning margin a bit more emphatic. However, nobody should grumble after another afternoon of top notch entertainment from this talented squad.
In such challenging conditions it was obvious that keeping possession of the ball , and letting your opponents do the chasing, was going to pay dividends. This was clearly what the Robins set out to do. Especially in the first half Oldland seemed willing to concede space to the United midfield by not closing them down. Consequently United could almost do as they wished as attack followed attack.
However, it could have been a different story as twice Oldland nearly punctured the Robins’ balloon in the first 10 minutes. In the game’s first attack, Jake Viney had to save with his legs from Harrison Kyte and then Danny Carter’s excellent diving header flew past Viney into the net but he was adjudged offside.
For the next 35 minutes up to half time United wrested complete charge of the game and 3 goals was scant reward for their prodigious efforts and fluent, fast, flowing and fabulous football.
The chances came along like a rat-a-tat-tat. A short corner routine culminated in the predatory Adam Wright almost converting at the far post. Up for a corner, Jacob Spence thumped the ball goalwards from a few yards and how keeper Jordan Schofield diverted it over the bar was almost unbelievable. A sweeping move ended with Wright heading wide at the far post and then Jack Thorne’s pace and movement was too much for a defender and he curled a shot towards the inside of the far post. Again Schofield was superb in just getting enough of a touch to push it wide. It was starting to get a bit frustrating when another good chance, a Spence header missed the target.
The dam broke with Jack Thorne’s first of the day. George King drove over a low cross from just inside the penalty area and Thorne improvised a cheeky backheel ( backheels are always cheeky aren’t they!) and it outwitted the defenders and a motionless keeper.
With Oldland offering nothing up front and looking a bit leggy already, United sensed there was plenty more for them. The delivery of corner kicks by Jake Llewellyn is normally of a high calibre and one of these beauties was headed in by Wright, who was the first to get to the ball at the near post.
The third goal in 11 minutes required a different type of skill. A ball was half cleared to just outside the penalty area and Tom Llewellyn sent a controlled, dipping volley into the left corner of the net. Nice one.
A high back line wasn’t working for the visitors and Ross Edwards sprung the offside trap with a ball down the middle. Jack Thorne was onto it like a dog wanting its dinner but Schofield did well to rush to the edge of his area and get in the way of the low shot.
Almost immediately Wright raced clear of the defence.As Schofield came towards him he slid the ball past him with the outside of this foot.The ball slowly spun away from the target. There was still time for Harry Horton to be tackled just as he was releasing the trigger and Sam Towler missed a tempting cross with his head. Complete control with Oldland just about hanging on.
Half time – United 3 Oldland 0
The noise coming from the visitors’ dressing room at half time made it clear that their coaching staff were a long way short of being happy. They would have been even more upset a few minutes into the second half when United got another one. The calm and impressive Jason Quick thumped a defensive header fully 50 yards. Not only was it powerful but accurate and Jack Thorne accepted the ball with glee. He wasn’t going to be caught and he slipped it low past Schofield for his 13th of the season.
Multiple early substitutions ( sensible in these conditions) interrupted the flow a tad and Oldland got one back. Jake Llewellyn didn’t get enough onto a back header. Mason Davis anticipated it well and , at full stretch, he squeezed the ball under Viney. Sadly for Davis he sustained a serious leg injury which held up the game for 8 minutes.
The last thing that beleaguered Oldland wanted to do was to face the rampant Robins with 10 men but when Sean Keet’s backchat to the referee led to him going in the sin bin, that is what happened. United scored their 5th during this time. A smooth and astute pass by Jack Thorne fed Wright and he manoeuvred into a great position before flat footing the keeper with a reverse shot into the left of the goal.
Surprisingly Oldland got another in the 6th minute of added time. Jack Sheppard’s curled free kick was an expert finish. The goal glut ended four minutes later when Jason Quick flashed a King cross into the net with some style.
What a game! Now for a cold beer.
United – Viney, Edwards, Quick, Spence ( D Thorne 50), J Llewellyn ( Phillips 63), Horton, T Llewellyn ( Taylor 52), Towler ( Williams 52), Wright, J Thorne, King.
Oldland – Schofield, Kendall, Anderson, Woodman, Durrant, Keet, Mansfield, Cains, Carter, Kyte, Davis. Subs Sheppard, Macleod, Clarke, Collins.
Attendance – 254
Report by Mark Hollidge
