Cheddar 0 Bridgwater United 5                                                                                                                                another

With three important cup games in seven days, Dave Pearse wisely shuffled his pack on Tuesday at the Theatre of Cheese and the Robins coasted to an emphatic and problem free Somerset Premier Cup win over Division One side Cheddar. Coming on the back of the good win at Ilfracombe on the previous Saturday there were a number of positives including another clean sheet for Jake Viney, two goals for winger Conor Hartley who took his chance of a rare start to earn the man of the match award and no injuries of note ahead of Saturday’s trip to Plymouth to take on Elburton Villa in the FA Vase.

United began well forcing three corners in the opening minutes with the spell coming to an end with Jack Taylor’s glancing header going wide. Moments later he was in again but denied by the first of a number of saves from home keeper Kieran Webster. Hartley then twisted the defence inside and out before delivering a cross for Taylor to nod against the crossbar before George King’s cross fell to Tom Llewellyn whose volley from six yards out was somehow tipped over the bar by the impressive Webster. It was all Bridgy at that stage and when Jordan Greenwood had a header saved it looked only a matter of time.

In the end it took 23 minutes as Taylor was in again and when his effort was parried by Webster, Hartley was on hand to knock it home.

Six minutes later the lead was doubled as Mark Armstrong’s fine work on the left was rewarded by Tom Llewellyn’s finish from close range.

Cheddar’s attacks were sporadic but Lewis Chappell was just wide with a snap effort just before the break.

The game was put to bed on 55 minutes when King’s superb first time through ball found Hartley who cut inside to finish well with a left foot shot earning himself the bubbly.

Cheddar then enjoyed a good spell with substitute Ryan Eardley’s tricky run across the penalty area ending with a shot flying wide but it was a short respite as the fourth came just past the hour and it was a beauty. King and Jake Llewellyn combined to find Ollie Hebbard and his cross found Taylor sliding in from a yard out to convert and end his mini goalscoring drought. Eardley again showed he could be dangerous for Cheddar by again firing just wide but Bridgwater ended the contest when Greenwood’s header was kept out by Webster only for Sam Hedges to tuck home the rebound with just enough time for an almost apologetic celebration before referee Jack Bromham called it a day.

Bridgwater United: Jake Viney, Sam Hedges, Jake Llewellyn (Dave Thorne 74), Mark Armstrong, Jordan Greenwood, George King, Josh Phiilips, Tom Llewellyn (Ross Edwards 66) , Jack Taylor, Ollie Hebbard, Conor Hartley. Unused sub: Jake Brown

Cheddar:

Kieran Webster, Lewis Jennings, Jack Rickwood, Toby Hucker, Tom Davies, Dean Christosostomou, Adam Davies, Lewis Chappell, Louis Morris, Morgan Bacon. Subs: Owen Griffith, Callum Plaistow, Ryan Eardley, Ethan Reed.

Competition: Somerset Premier Cup 2^nd Rd

Date: Nov 10 2022

Venue: Rowdens Park

Attendance: ?

Man of the match: Conor Hartley

Referee: Jack Bromham

Assistants: Kevin Smart, Oliver Harrison