Torrential rain and traffic chaos set the scene for what would prove to be a wild afternoon at Ironmould Lane. The match that followed certainly delivered on the chaotic prelude, serving up eight goals, three penalties, and a red card as Bridgwater United fell to a 5-3 defeat against Brislington on Saturday, August 30th.
First Half
The rain poured down relentlessly on a leaf-covered pitch as the game kicked off, and before many fans had even settled into position, disaster struck. With barely a minute on the clock, Brislington were awarded a penalty for a challenge on the edge of the box – a decision that prompted debate in the stands as to whether the foul had occurred inside the area. The spot kick was confidently converted, giving the hosts an immediate advantage.
Barely had Bridgwater regrouped when Brislington doubled their lead with their next meaningful attack. A swift break down the right wing ended with a clinical finish past Ben John, leaving The Robins shellshocked at 2-0 down inside the opening exchanges.
To their credit, Bridgwater gradually began to find their footing, not easy on the slippery surface! Crosses into the Brislington box caused consistent problems, with both defenders and the goalkeeper struggling to deal with them. This pressure eventually told when a goalmouth scramble resulted in a handball, giving Bridgwater a penalty of their own. George King stepped up and made no mistake, halving the deficit and giving us a foothold in the game.
This goal visibly lifted Bridgwater, and it was George King again who had the best of the chances. He came close to equalising when his shot, skidding off the wet surface, drew an excellent save from the Brislington keeper. Shortly after, he had an even better opportunity, somehow poking over from just yards out after meeting a corner.
Just as Bridgwater seemed to be building momentum, Brislington were awarded their second penalty of the half following a one-handed push in the box; another decision that raised eyebrows. Once again, the spot kick was dispatched, restoring the hosts’ two-goal cushion.
Yet again, Bridgwater responded positively. Harry Horton unleashed a fierce drive from outside the area that forced another fine save from the Brislington goalkeeper, while a succession of corners – five in a row at one point – continued to cause havoc in the home defence.
It was from the last of these recurring corners that Bridgwater found a goal. Debutant Jason Quick, who had a good game overall, timed his run perfectly to meet the delivery with a powerful header that flew into the net, giving the keeper no chance.
Any hopes of going into the break just one goal behind were dashed quickly, however, as Brislington produced an impressive counterattack. Some intricate play down the right ended with a square ball across the face of the goal, presenting a simple tap-in to make it 4-2 just before half-time.
Half Time: Brislington 4-2 Bridgwater United
The interval offered a chance for everyone to recover after a breathless first half. Despite the nightmare start, Bridgwater had shown character to twice fight their way back into the contest. The conditions had made it difficult for both sides, with passes skidding across the sodden surface and defenders struggling to keep their footing.
Second Half
As the teams emerged for the second period, there was at least some respite from the elements as the rain finally began to subside.
Brislington started brightly, forcing Ben John into a smart low save early on. The game then descended into a scrappy affair, with the surface making it difficult for either side to establish any rhythm or control.
Gradually, however, Bridgwater began to assert themselves. Sam Beresford tested the keeper with a well-struck effort, while captain Billy Tucker increasingly got on the ball, dictating the tempo and looking the most likely source of creativity.
Tucker’s influence eventually told when his floated free kick was headed down into the path of substitute Ben Bament, who finished confidently with his very first touch of the game to make it 4-3.
With momentum now firmly behind them, Bridgwater pushed forward in search of an equaliser. The game was flowing in one direction, and a comeback looked not only possible but likely.
Unfortunately, a flashpoint in the far corner of the pitch disrupted Bridgwater’s rhythm. A confrontation between two players led to a lengthy deliberation involving both linesmen and the referee. After much discussion, Bridgwater’s Dan Dodimead was shown a straight red card, while the Brislington player involved escaped with just a yellow.
Down to ten men just as they were building serious pressure, Bridgwater’s task became considerably harder. Brislington took advantage of the numerical superiority to add a fifth goal that killed the contest. A free-kick skidded off the wet surface, struck the post, and fell kindly to a Brislington attacker who couldn’t miss from close range.
Full Time: Brislington 5-3 Bridgwater United
The final whistle brought an end to what had been a chaotic afternoon of football. Jason Quick had played well and scored on his debut, and the lads had shown character to fight throughout the ninety minutes despite the early setbacks.
Defensively, however, The Robins will know they need to tighten up, and they must keep all their players on the pitch.
The team now looks forward to returning to Fairfax Park on September 6th against Oldland Abbotonians. We hope to see you all there as we look to bounce back.
A special thank you must go to the travelling support who battled through traffic and rain to back us. We appreciate you.
#WeAreUnited
