Helston Athletic 0 - 1 Bridgwater United
A Jack Taylor penalty in the eighth minute gave Bridgwater United a priceless and thoroughly deserved win at Kellaway Park, Helston on Saturday.
It was the perfect way to banish the blues after the heart-breaking FA Vase defeat at the hands of Tunbridge Wells a week earlier and Dave Pearse and Karl Baggaley can be delighted with their squad’s attitude in a game where the expensively assembled home side were rattled by the Robins’ attacking formation almost from the kick-off and quickly, and ultimately disastrously, lost the plot never to recover it.
With echoes of the bizarre FA Cup tie at Brixham in August, Bridgy played ten minutes with nine men having had Morgan Williams sent off on the hour and Sam Crumb sin-binned five minutes later but Helston were rarely a threat and with any semblance of home self-control long gone the Robins’ defence, missing Jake Llewellyn who was recovering from Covid, and with Sam Hedges taking his opportunity at the back, was superb.
With the on pitch temperature rarely too far away from boiling point referee Ryan Cornelius did well to keep the metaphorical lid on with Bridgy themselves also shipping cautions for Ross Edwards and substitute Ryan Brereton, but despite the chaos it was not a dirty game with the cards brandished for a variety of reasons.
Mike Duffy started up front along with Taylor and Crumb and with Williams, Tom Llewellyn and George King all in attacking roles the home side were stunned almost from the kick-off and could not cope.
Crumb chested down a Taylor cross but blazed over having seconds earlier almost got onto a Duffy pass and in the next attack Williams found space and was brought down in the area by striker Jordan Bentley, eight minutes into his debut. Taylor added to his league total from the spot and Bentley’s day had started badly and was going to get worse.
Bridgy continued to pressure the home side and Crumb brought a fine save from Cory Harvey then from a series of corners nodded down and Jacob Spence could not convert from almost under the bar. Edwards then launched a diagonal pass to Taylor who cut in and grazed a post and Hedges’ drive stung Harvey’s hands before Bentley headed a free-kick over the bar when he could have done better.
After the break Taylor, having a fine game and keeping away from most of the flashpoints, showed his pace to set up Duffy who headed over before home striker Sam Carter shot wide from what was a rare chance.
Helston upped the ante but on the hour the game boiled over as Williams and Bentley clashed and after the obligatory coming together of both squads, referee Cornelius sorted it out and dismissed both, sin-binning Crumb moments later and meaning Bridgy had to play ten minutes with nine men.
Home attacker Steve Colwell sliced a shot when well placed and Taylor brought another save from Harvey but the last 15 minutes splintered under a barrage of cautions, substitutions and verbal warnings which played into Bridgy’s hands and after seven additional minutes the win was secured and the 150 mile coach ride home was all the sweeter with a third place spot in the Premier Division.
United have a little wait until their next outing with league games at Ashton and Backwell United having been brought forward to Friday February 11, 7.45pm and their next game is now to take place on Tuesday February 1, when they stage the local derby with Clevedon Town.
Match Details
Match: Helston Athletic v Bridgwater United
Competition: Toolstation Western League
Date: Saturday 22nd January 2022
Venue: Kellaway Park
Attendance: 170
Teams
Helston: Cory Harvey, Reece Shanley, Tom Hands, Ryan Beattie, Josh Storey, Tyler Elliott, Steve Colwell, Harrison Jewell, Sam Carter, Stuart Bowker, Jordan Bentley.
Subs: Craig Veal, Leo Summers, Orlando Anker, Jackson Penhallurick, Sam Buckley.
United:
Jake Viney, Ross Edwards, Sam Hedges, Jordan Greenwood, Jacob Spence, George King, Mike Duffy, Morgan Williams, Jack Taylor, Tom Llewellyn, Sam Crumb.
Subs: Ryan Brereton, Dave Thorne, Mark Armstrong, Jake Llewellyn, Adnan Hiroli.
Match Officials
Referee: Ryan Cornelius
Assistant Referee: Alan Howells
Assistant Referee: Adam Price
Who’s next? United welcome Clevedon Town to Fairfax Park on Tuesday 1st February, 7.45pm.
- Kerry Miller
- By Debbie Gould
