Bridgwater United 0 - 0 Bitton
Don’t let the scoreline convince you that this was a dull affair. Nothing could be further from the truth. This clash of two ambitious teams had everything…except goals. The 324 fans at Fairfax Park were well entertained.
Both clubs would dearly love to be plying their trade in the Southern League next season and, after a fast and furious ninety minutes, there was confirmation that they both have promotion potential in their playing squads.
In recent times these games have normally produced a flurry of goals and wins for Bitton but this time high quality defending kept the goal predators quiet most of the time. The visitors had the better of the first half, but Bridgwater were stronger in the second period and Bitton were hanging on at the end. The Robins’ remodelled defence looked secure, and Jake Viney had relatively little to do. By contrast, Bitton’s keeper Dan Worton, was heavily involved, particularly in the latter stages.
The early attacks were mostly aimed at the Bitton rearguard. Jack Taylor uncharacteristically miskicked when Harry Horton drove the ball across the area towards him and soon after that Mike Duffy’s low left footed shot had Worton scrambling to save at the near post.
Bitton then began to take control with Ben Withey and Joe McClennan seeing a lot of the ball and doing good things with it. Withey’s 20-yard shot was easy enough for Viney and McClennan was close with a snapshot on the turn that missed the target.
The Robins were struggling to get anything happening up front where Taylor, for the most part, was ploughing a lonely furrow. The timing and the precision of the through passes was slightly off.
The best chance of the half was seven minutes short of half time. Bitton have bolstered their forces with Adam Carter, a goal machine for Plymouth Parkway and others, and he looked sure to score when he received the ball on the penalty spot. He was all alone and he measured his shot for the top right corner. Viney added to his collection of blinding saves by pushing the shot wide. Great stuff.
Immediately after the resumption, Bitton again went close. Mitch Tippins got clear on the right and his pull back from the by line was only inches away from the sliding boot of Carter.
From this point on the Robins wrested control and little more was seen of the Bitton attacking threat. On the hour Duffy headed over after a diagonal free kick was headed into the middle by Tom Ellis. Another header, this time by Jacob Spence and from a Jake Llewellyn corner, flashed inches wide.
Ellis’s long throws were causing the usual mayhem and from one of these Horton’s snapshot went a yard too high. From the next long throw, the ball dropped down not far from the goal line and it was backheeled towards the net. Bitton’s defenders scrambled the ball away from the line. That was so close.
The last strike at goal was a 35 yarder from Horton which had power and accuracy but Worton was able to get behind it.
Unfortunately, Ryan Brereton, who had only been on the pitch five minutes, had to be carried off on a stretcher with a leg injury.
The Robins will take great encouragement from this game. The effort and determination were unrelenting. Lots of strong performances all around the team with Tom Llewellyn especially effective with his distribution, winning the ball back and delivering set pieces.
Match Details
Match: Bridgwater United v Bitton
Competition: Toolstation Western League
Date: Tuesday 3 August
Venue: Fairfax Park
Attendance: 324
Team News
United: Viney, Spence, J Llewellyn, Armstrong, Greenwood, Ellis, Duffy, Horton, Taylor, King, T Llewellyn.
Subs: Ham, Thorne, Brereton, Plant, Horsey.
Bitton: Worton, Tippins, Ball, Hitchings, Keet, Kingston, McLennan, Withey, Carter, Griffiths, Groves.
Subs: Hillson, Portor, Egan, Elliot, Whittaker.
Match Officials
Referee: Brian Lee
Assistant Referee: Ian Harley
Assistant Referee: Simon Turner
Who’s next? Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round away to AFC Brixham Saturday 7th August 3pm.
- By Mark Hollidge
- By Debbie Gould
