Ilfracombe Town 0 Bridgwater United 3

Goals from leading scorer Jake Brown and Ross Edwards just shy of the half-time whistle set the scene for Bridgwater to return to winning ways at a drizzly Marlborough Park, Ilfracombe on Saturday.

It was a fully deserved victory and much needed as at the same time Saltash United were putting a serious dent into Bridgy’s goal difference by sticking nine on Welton Rovers.

Jordan Greenwood was suspended for accumulating five league bookings and Ollie Hebbard was given a place after a spell on the bench with Josh Phillips starting in a forward role which he relished enough to win the player of the match award. The Robins began up the slope and with a mizzle coming in as sea fret blowing across the pitch. George King shot at Lawrence McCormack early on but the home side went close first when Kyle Paine finished off a fine move by driving inches wide from an angle before Jake Viney cleverly tipped over a deflected John Downing effort minutes later.

United should have gone ahead soon after when Dave Thorne set up Taylor who strode into the box but smashed his shot well over and went even closer when the industrious Tom Llewellyn found the inside of the far post with a drive – Brown just failing to convert the rebound.

A superb corner routine ended with Edwards driving just wide but although chances were coming and the side were looking good, by the midway point of the half the frustrations were showing as a series of challenges were not deemed fouls by referee Richard Salvage, who was late arriving at the ground and in truth struggled to get to the pace of the game without losing control of it.

Town then lost teenager Sam Wright to what looked like a nasty knee injury but the game was end to end and Brown shot at McCormack then Harry Stevens and John Downing tested Viney who was untroubled.

Tom Llewellyn’s passing accuracy was becoming influential with Edwards and George King doing sterling work alongside him and he again set up Brown who cut in but shot wide once more.

Robins’ frustration with the lack of free-kicks was surfacing again as the break approached but when the goal came it was a beauty. King found Brown with a superb pass and he took one touch before burying it past McCormack.

Moments later it was 2-0 as a Jake Llewellyn corner was punched back to him and his second cross was powered home from close range by Edwards, who netted in similar fashion at the other end the last time the sides played there.

Playing down the slope after the break, Bridgwater were comfortable and soaked up any home pressure until the hour mark when Stevens got free and beat Viney but the excellent Thorne was covering and was able to solve the problem.

The side went into containment mode with Conor Hartley replacing Hibberd and the winger made an immediate impact with Brown finding him wide left and his pin point cross was nodded back by Taylor for Tom Llewellyn to knock in at the second attempt to wrap up the points.

Troy Simpson, Mark Armstrong and Sam Hedges were all introduced with Hartley again setting up Brown who nodded wide then Simpson had the ball in the net but the offside flag was already up but it mattered not as the Robins stayed top of the Premier Division but with six less goals in the bank.

They now turn their attention to a cup triple header coming up with a visit to First Division Cheddar in the Somerset Premier Cup on Tuesday. They then travel to Plymouth on Saturday to begin their assault on the FA Vase at SW Peninsula League Elburton Villa before Wellington visit again as the Robins defend the Les Phillips Cup they won at Wells City last May.

Bridgwater Utd:

Jake Viney, Dave Thorne, Jake Llewellyn, George King, Jacob Spence, Josh Phillips (Mark Armstrong 72), Ross Edwards, Tom Llewellyn, Jack Taylor (Troy Simpson 75), Jake Brown (Sam Hedges 90), Ollie Hebbard (Conor Hartley 68

Ilfracombe Town:

Lawrence McCormack, Kyle Paine, Sam Wright, Harry Taffs, Liam Short, Toby Johnson, Jack Jenkins, Charlie Prentice, Harry Stevens, Jack Langford, John Downing.

Subs: Jimmy Thorne, Cory Roach, Jed Harper-Penman, Ed Jenkins, Joe Barker

Competition: Toolstation Western League Premier Division

Date: Nov 5 2022

Venue: Marlborough Park

Attendance: ?

Man of the match: Josh Phillips

Referee: Richard Salvage

Assistants: Dean Atkins, Rod Ashman

Report: Kerry Miller

Earlier in the day, United’s U18 side maintained their excellent form in the SE Counties Youth League by beating Ringwood-based BRS Coaching 6-2. Another treble from highly rated 16 year old Freddie Haden was added to by Acey Mead, Riley Willis and Wess Jenkins.