Bridgwater 4 - 3 Mid Somerset
Firstly the management team would like to thank all involved with the squad it has been a tough week in which we have had a fantastic representation from the leagues under 18’s in which over 30 different players turned up to represent the league.
The decision to cut the list down to just 16 was extremely difficult, the standard of the under 18’s is incredible and are a credit to the league this refers to both the players cut from the squad and the final squad that were selected.
With six clubs making up the squad, most off which play football in the 2nd Division in our league this tie was also going to be a tough tie. The fixture was made even more difficult with the squad only having one week to prepare for this match against last years cup winners.
Bridgwater started the match lively enough with Steve Hall and Jack Taylor creating havoc up front with their clever runs and determined work rate, however it was Mid-Somerset who seemed to settle the better using the pace of there front men to outdo the Defence of the Bridgwater side. The attacks were thwarted by great play by the back four in particular Shaun Turner and Ryan Wual who were solid.
Bridgwater broke the deadlock first with some great interplay with Matt Selway and Rich Ball down the right, the ball was played inside and a delightful through ball played in Steve Hall to chase, Steve was fouled in the area with an awful challenge which resulted in the keeper being shown the yellow card, a card which many thought should have been red.
Steve Hall got up a little gingerly but placed the ball on the penalty spot and struck the ball home to give Bridgwater a deserved lead.
Bridgwater’s lead was soon doubled after Shane Thompson slammed the ball home low into the bottom corner.
Just as things looked to be going exactly as planned Mid-Somerset broke down the right and drilled the ball at goal Mike Stevens got his hands to the ball but was unable to keep the shot out. Bridgwater showed fantastic resilience and got straight back to the job and soon restored the two goal margin with Shane Thompson netting again with some fine work and deservedly scoring a fine goal.
Bridgwater went in at halftime full of joy and were more than happy with the way the half had panned out. The management just asked for more of the same from the Bridgwater lads.
The second half started and Mid-Somerset straight away showed that they meant business creating wave after wave of attack, causing Bridgwater a torrid time using there pace, height and pure determination to get back into the game. Mid-Somerset’s determination eventually paid off and some slack defending let them back into the game to bring the deficit back to just one goal.
Bridgwater looked like they had lost all idea of what the job was about and Mid-Somerset then levelled the game with yet another mistake, losing the ball in midfield allowing the forward to slot the ball home.
At this point their appeared to be only one winner, however it was at this point that the Bridgwater side seemed to wake things up going close on a number of occasions themselves. Substitutions were made bring on James Leatherby for Steven Hall and Ben Puddy for Matt Selway. The pendulum seemed to swing back in Bridgwater’s favour and eventually they got their reward, some great battling from Andrew Smith let in Shane Thompson down the left, Ryan Penwell flew past him and was cleverly put in his pace outfoxed the defender who felled Ryan to award Bridgwater with a penalty with less than five minutes to go.
Jack Taylor calmly placed the ball down and drilled the ball home to give Bridgwater the lead yet again.
Mid-Somerset didn’t seem to know when to give in and like all good sides created a flurry of attacks in the final minutes their best being a fantastic strike which seemed to be heading for the top left hand corner except for an unbelievable save by Mike Stevens.
The ref blew the final whistle to give Bridgwater a memorable win, they will now face Perry Street league in the semi-finals.
What the squad have achieved in 1 week should be recognised by the league and applauded by all.
Team:
Mike Stevens (Cross Rifles)
Matt Selway (Bower), Shaun Turner (Bower), Ryan Waul (Sportsman), Ryan Penwell (Woolavington)
Rich Ball (Red Tile), Scott Capel (Bower), Andrew Smith (cpt, Red Tile), Shane Thompson (Blake)
Steve Hall (Bower), Jack Taylor (Sportsman)
Subs:
James Bell (Cross Rifles), James Leatherby (Bower), Martyn Milton (Pawlett), Brendan Pope (Bower), Ben Puddy (Bower)
(Story First Published: 07.11.07) |
