Les Phillips Cup Second Round Bridgwater United 4-3 Radstock Town

A second half hat trick by the extraordinary Jack Taylor dug United out of a bit of a hole and enabled them to progress to the quarter finals of the Les Phillips Cup. In the next round the Robins will host either Shepton Mallet or Wincanton Town.

United started the game at a gallop. A poor clearance fell at the feet of Jake Llewellyn and his shot produced the first of many saves by Jack Scrivens. United went ahead after six minutes. A deft cross by Llewellyn located the unmarked Ross Edwards and his looping header was well out of the reach of the keeper and United were ahead. Just two minutes later Taylor fed on a pass from George King before curling a left footed shot which hit the far upright. At this point it looked like a case of how many and maybe United got a bit overexcited and lost some discipline.

In their first attack, after twelve minutes, the 1^st Division club scored. Edwards misjudged the flight of a through ball and Nathan Flynn ran clear. Jake Viney touched his rising drive but could not keep it out.

Duly encouraged, Radstock began to play with more composure, but they should have been behind again after twenty-five minutes. Ryan Brereton wastefully slashed his shot wide when given a glittering opportunity. In the next minute Radstock broke upfield and scored again. King’s pass was intercepted, and Jack Hopper ran up the left wing. Although challenged, he delivered a cross to the back post where the unmarked Flynn had the simple job of side footing the ball in from a few yards out.

It got worse after thirty-eight minutes. A corner kick reached the far post where Morgan Skipp, Radstock’s best player, somehow found enough space to head the ball in from close range. Three strikes on goal, three goals. Poor defending.

With United wondering what was going on Radstock decided to offer a helping hand, or boot. Hopper apparently decided to direct a kick at Mike Duffy and a red card was inevitable. For the third game running United would be playing against ten men. This time for fifty minutes. Could they make it count?

For the second half Radstock understandably decided to back their chances of defending their lead and committed little to attack. So nearly all of the play was in their half. United flooded forward and looked dangerous. Taylor ran onto Llewellyn’s intelligent pass, but Scrivens blocked the shot with his body and then the keeper had to arch his back to claw away a King corner kick that was going straight in.

Taylor scored his first after fifty-four minutes. A corner kick wasn’t well cleared, and Taylor drove the ball low through a crowded penalty box.

Llewellyn was denied by Scrivens again and the keeper made a great save from Taylor after Brereton’s sinuous run had taken him deep into the Radstock defence.

The scores were levelled after seventy-one minutes. King made headway down the left and then laid the ball back to Taylor. His immediate shot was in the net in a flash.

United should have gone ahead two minutes later. Edwards long range shot was fumbled by Scrivens and landed handily at the preferred left foot of Nick Woodrow. He dragged his effort wide. Soon Woodrow was directing a header over the bar at the far post following a Duffy cross.

Penalties were definitely looming until United’s phenomenal marksman made his final contribution to the game. There were just two minutes of normal time to play when Taylor received the ball near the penalty spot, and he shot low and between the keeper’s legs before running off in delirious celebration.

A good fight back but hard on Radstock who gave all they had. If Hooper hadn’t got himself sent off, then it may have been a different story.

Teams:

Bridgwater United

Jake Viney, Ross Edwards, Jake Llewellyn, Mark Armstrong, George King, Mike Murphy (Adnan Hiroli 67j, Mike Duffy, Ryan Brereton (Acey Mead 80), Jack Taylor, Nick Woodrow, Harry Durant (Cameron Gauci 67).

Unused sub: Jordan Greenwood

Radstock Town

Jack Scrivens, Simon Millard, Pele Sobers, Luke Ingram, Liam Watson, Jack Hopper, Morgan Skipp, Tom Pawley, Rico Sobers, Nathan Flynn, Joe Cooper.

Subs: Lewis Wheeler, Bradley Andrews, Charlie Cooke.

Match details:

Competition: Les Phillips Cup

Venue: Fairfax Park

Date: March 15^th, 2022

Goals: Edwards 6, Flynn 12, Flynn 26, Skipp 38, Taylor 54, Taylor 71, Taylor 88.

Attendance: 129

Match Officials:

Referee: Kevin Rodd

Assistants: Jake Richards, Stuart Gravenell.