Bridge Tavern 6-3 Cricketers Arms

With just a few games of the season remaining, there can be no slip ups in the Bridge’s bid for world domination and the League 5 title.

After playing Cricketers just a few weeks ago, and winning 4-3, hopes were high that a repeat performance at home would bring another three points.

Despite the recent cold snap over the past few days, the game went ahead in beautiful sunshine, with temperatures approaching 45 degrees Celsius.

I had my usual high octane breakfast, of a bacon and red sauce cob from the delightful nice young lady in the mobile cafeteria just outside the entrance to the Manor, this filled me up nicely for watching the game.

However, it didn’t prepare me for the hour and a half wait for the visitors to turn up, in their defence games have only kicked off at 11 o clock since the league was formed, so this change might take some getting used to.

The line up for the Bridge included some slight changes, helped by the fact Lormor was booked in for life guard duties at Sherwood Forest visitor centre, or something along those lines.

The line up was as follows:

Bread, Scott, Mellors, Kirk, Quiche, Mellors, Manq, Jay, Danny, Gallagher, Gav Short & Gav Edwards.

Subs were : Leigh, Ashley and Daz.

It at this point is worth noting that ex striker Dave Goldsmith was spotted on our all day session in notts, although I was too in-toxicated to hold a sentence with him, and only just made him out in my drunken state.

Anyway, if your thinking I slightly exaggerated about the lateness that the visitors turned up, well it caused problems for other professions, like the BBC, who were covering the game, they were forced to move Sunday’s Junior Mastermind to a midweek slot, whilst the caretaker at the Manor started taking the nets down just as we were about to kick off. There was also problems with a space shuttle launch in Californ-i-a, but it has yet to be proven that our match was involved with its delay.

There was a further slight delay as the teams swapped ends, as Quiche won the toss and fancied kicking up hill for the 1st period.

The away keeper, looking slightly a bit worse for wear was called into action firstly, as he dropped a free kick fired in by Jay, and with only 2 minutes on the clock, Gav Short was on hand to mop up and give the Bridge the early lead.

Danny was next to try his luck with a 30 yard pile driver, but his effort was always rising.

Bread was 1st called into action on 8 minutes, when he got down well to save a low effort that was heading into the bottom corner.

Gallagher found himself in some space on the left hand side of the area, his cross come shot found it’s way to Gav Edwards, who was offside, which was lucky as he promptly hit the post from 2 yards.

Bread was in action again shortly after, as he dived at the feet of some attacker following a free kick that was launched into the area.

Jay’s free kicks was causing mass confusion in the visitors defence, and one such occasion led to the 2nd goal, an own goal that was headed in to give the home side a comfortable lead.

Quiche was on hand to keep the score at 2-0, when he brilliantly blocked a goal bound effort, whilst Bread kept a curling free kick out by punching out.

Gallagher went close at the other end, but his shot was just wide, whilst comedy moment of the day went to Manq, when his throw in landed in play, but just the wrong pitch.

The visitors were to get back in the game on the half hour mark, when a long clearance found itself down wind, a visiting player volleying past the diving Bread to make it 2-1.

It wasn’t long to wait for the Bridge to regain control though, as Danny made a superb long pass to Gav Short, who promptly cut inside, scuffed his shot, but still managed to see his week effort trickle over the line, via the near post. The keeper got the blame, but in fairness he was struggling to see what day it was.

The Bridge were to go even further ahead on the stroke of half time, with a 2nd own goal. Manq’s cross to Gallagher was hit into the 6 yard box, and a visiting defender struck out a wooden leg and saw the ball smash into the roof of the net for a 4-1 lead.

The keeper, who by now was regaining consciousness, was on hand to save as the whilst blew for half time, Gav Short did a clever back heel that put Gallagher in, but the keeper was out smartly to save.

Half Time 4-1

Despite the scoreline at the break, the visitors refused to buckle and came out strongly from the starting blocks.

Bread tipped wide, even though the referee gave a goal kick, then he saved well to his right as the visitors threatened.

They did more than that on 50 minutes, as they pulled another goal back, from a corner that was swung in, that was hit home at the far post.

There was even more to come shortly after, as the home defence stood off from a throw in, and were soon to find the ball whistling in from a fine volley.

At 4-3, the Bridge were now in danger of throwing their hard work away.

Bread kept the score at this, when he saved from a striker through on goal, although he did look offside.

At last the Bridge were able to attack, when Danny had a long range volley that hit the side netting.

James came on for Scott, who had impressed on his return, on 72 minutes.

Thankfully the Bridge were able to grab an all important 5th goal, when a cross field ball found Gallagher, who took the ball down well to finish smartly past the substitute keeper.

Bread impressed again with another save low down to his left.

Gallagher came off for Daz on 78 minutes

Gav Short tried to get his hat trick by weaving into the area with 10 minutes left, he beat two defenders, before forcing a fine save from the keeper, who forced the ball out for a corner. The resulting set piece, saw Danny head wide.

Leigh came on for Manq on 82 minutes.

The Bridge finally secured a thumping win on 87 minutes, when James and Gav combined down the wing, which resulted in Gav Short converting the cross to make it 6-3.

It was nearly seven right on time as Gav Edwards had a vicious shot that the keeper did really well to palm away, Bread said that they must have been his gloves saving it, that he had left in the changing rooms at Cricketers a few weeks back.

Again, not an easy game, but every game from now until the end of the season will be like this, a welcome three points.