Under the radiant glow of the summer sun that bathed Fairfax Park, Bridgwater United returned to winning ways with a 4-2 victory over St Austell on Saturday, 16th of August.
It was a performance that, while not always perfect, provided ample evidence of their quality and determination.
FIRST HALF
The game began with Bridgwater immediately asserting themselves and playing with purpose. The early exchanges saw The Robins moving the ball quickly, and it didn’t take long for the pressure to bear fruit. With just five minutes on the clock, Freddie King – who would go on to have an outstanding performance – delivered a cross that demanded to be converted. Lloyd Mills duly obliged, powering home a header that gave the keeper no chance. A cheer of support and relief rippled around Fairfax.
Almost before the celebrations had subsided, St Austell responded with a moment of brilliance. Lewie Rendle stepped up to take a free kick from just outside the box and fired an excellent shot that gave Louis Smith no chance as it flew into the net. We were back to square one at 1-1, with just ten minutes gone.
Bridgwater probed and pressed from that point on. Captain Billy Tucker began to orchestrate proceedings from midfield, his intelligent passing and movement creating space for teammates to exploit. Twice he came close himself, but both efforts were blocked by good defending from a determined St Austell.
As the half progressed, the pattern became increasingly one-sided. Bridgwater were at times guilty of seeking perfection when pragmatism might have served better. With so much time and so much space, it was perhaps too tempting to try to walk the ball into the net. Yet their dominance eventually told.
Freddie King restored Bridgwater’s advantage, delivering what might have been a cross or might have been a shot that bounced through everyone and found its way past the goalkeeper.
Soon followed a lovely moment between King and Haydan Chambers (who would later be crowned man of the match), whose intricate passing carved open the St Austell defence. The delightful exchange deserved better than to be thwarted by a goalkeeper at full stretch, denying what would have been a great team goal.
As half-time approached, St Austell offered a reminder that they remained dangerous on the counter. Louis Smith, largely a spectator for much of the half, produced a save of quality and concentration when called upon with almost the last kick of the half.
HALF TIME: BRIDGWATER UNITED 2-1 ST AUSTELL
The players retreated to the changing rooms with Bridgwater holding a slender but deserved advantage. The murmur around Fairfax Park suggested satisfaction tinged with the sense that they wanted more. St Austell had shown resilience, but The Robins had created enough chances to have established a more comfortable cushion.
The consensus seemed to be that if Bridgwater were more clinical, there were plenty more goals to come.
SECOND HALF
Bridgwater emerged for the second period with the same sense of purpose. The pattern established before the interval continued, with The Robins laying siege to the St Austell goal.
Owen Howe came close with a free-kick that whistled past the post, while Tucker’s near-post header from a corner cleared the crossbar. The pressure mounted further when a delightful chest control from Beresford presented Howe with a golden opportunity, only for the goalkeeper to produce another good save.
Just as it seemed a third Bridgwater goal was inevitable, a momentary lapse in concentration at the back allowed George Bills to seize possession, and the St Austell man needed no second invitation. From fully 25 yards, he unleashed a thunderbolt that gave Smith absolutely no chance as it rocketed into the top right corner.
At 2-2, with over half an hour remaining, there was a nervous tension. But once again, the response was swift. A corner found Mills rising highest once more, and his second goal of the game restored Bridgwater’s lead.
With their noses back in front, Bridgwater began to play with a freedom and confidence. Freddie King produced a moment of individual brilliance when he jinked this way and that, turning his defender inside out before unleashing a thunderous shot that hit the back of the net. 4-2, and surely now the points were secure.
Bridgwater wanted more and pushed for it. Howe was desperately unlucky not to add his name to the scoresheet, first striking the post with a header, then having a one-on-one trickle under the goalie, only to be cleared off the line.
FULL TIME
As the referee’s whistle brought proceedings to a close, the scoreline didn’t quite reflect Bridgwater’s superiority. In truth, The Robins could and should have scored more, but it was a big three points to get back to winning ways, and the fans resoundingly clapped off the lads.
The goal scorers were Lloyd Mills and Freddie King, whilst Haydan Chambers’ all-action display earned him the man of the match.
Thank you to all who braved the sweltering heat to support us!
We. Are. United.
