Bridgwater’s football club has endured some ups and downs in its various guises over the decades but few weeks have been as bizarre as this one which continues tomorrow with a Friday night trip to Tavistock in the Western League Premier Division.
Tavistock v Bridgwater United
Friday 13th August, 7.45pm
Toolstation Western League
Langsford Park
The week began with a four-way conversation involving Bridgwater United, the Somerset FA, Spanish FA and our own FA concerning a 17 year old striker who sounds like an entire forward line on its own by the name of Wellington Ismael Diaz Jimenez. The young man has spent the past year or so learning his craft at the West Ham United academy, historically regarded as one of the best anywhere and arrives at Fairfax Park having impressed many in training. His eligibility was only confirmed today (Thursday) when the dialogue ended with international clearance being granted and he must make history with being the first player to transfer from the Hammers to the Robins.
Meanwhile the FA Cup tie at Brixham on Saturday was held up by half an hour due to a combination of factors, not helped by most of the population of the West Midlands attempting to reach the English Riviera at the same time.
When it did get going the side were still tying up their laces when Brixham were awarded a penalty but that went northwards and Bridgy survived and seemed to be heading for a home tie on Saturday with another Devon side in Ilfracombe Town as goals from George King and Jake Llewellyn had them in command. True to what was already a weird day the Robins then spontaneously combusted with Jordan Greenwood sent off and Jack Taylor booked and on a number of final warnings before he was sin-binned with ten minutes left. Sadly, there are no sin-bins in the FA Cup and following our FA, who by then were on first name terms and Christmas card lists, again having to intervene, the game was ordered to be restaged on Tuesday, at Fairfax Park.
As it is in effect the first game there is no extra-time and if it ends in a draw the replay will be at Brixham on the following Thursday night, ko 7.30pm with the winners taking on Ilfracombe Town two days later in the Preliminary Round.
Meanwhile Tavistock lay in wait tomorrow having lost their opening game in the league at Saltash United but recovered well to beat Ilfracombe in the league. While Bridgy’s game on Saturday was unfolding the Lambs got past St Austell in the Cup and then in midweek comfortably beat Mousehole 3-0 to set up tomorrow’s match which that club’s media feeds are describing as ‘mouth-watering’.
Dave Pearse’s squad still have injury doubts but is free from suspension problems and off the field seven day approaches have gone in for two well known Western League players.
The Gaffer has added another well known face to the United squad today with the signing of Josh Wadham on dual registration forms with SW Peninsula League Axminster Town. The combative midfielder has returned to action following his lengthy suspension and goes straight into the side for tomorrow’s game at Tavistock on the back of a hat-trick for his new club in their 5-0 opening day victory over Newton Abbot Spurs at Tiger Way. On Wednesday night his new side made it two out of two when they beat Cullompton Rangers 2-1 in a fiesty affair where Clive Jones’s side had three men sin-binned and Wadham is joined in the squad by fellow new boy Sam Reed, signed earlier in the week.
Admission
Adult: £6
Concession: £4
