Bridge Tavern 9 v 1 Winning Post (Clifton, Nottingham).
Half Time 1-0
Scorers:
Mellor’s x 1
Gallagher x 4
Jay Edwards x 2
Norwood x 1
Clarkson x 1
Attendance: 32 & a dog.
The Bridge were given another home tie in the second round of the Notts Cup and didn’t fail to deliver the goods with an avalanche of goals in the second half. Manager Manq opted for a 3-5-2 formation for the second week running and boy did it work. Lormor took up his usual position between the sticks while the back 3 consisted of Ashley, Quiche and Danny. Gee, playing his last game before going under the knife to cure an ongoing problem was nominated to play the midfield anchor role. Completing the midfield line up was Mellors on the left, Bread on the right with Kirk and Jay Edwards in the centre. Up front was the normal pairing of Gallagher and Manq who was still looking for his first goal of the season.
The first half kicked off at frantic pace with The Bridge shooting up hill after winning the toss. Both teams settled down quite early but it was The Bridge who was creating the better goal scoring opportunities. It didn’t take long for The Bridge to go a goal up, Manq controlled a long clearance and laid the ball back to the oncoming Mellor’s. Mellor’s hit the ball with fantastic pace from 25 yards, which flew into the back of the net leaving the visiting keeper stranded on his line. It was The Winning Post who was trying to get back in the game who had the better of the possession in the latter stages of this cup tie. The Bridge stood firm to go into the interval one goal to the good.
Half Time: Bridge Tavern 1 v 0 Winning Post
The second half kicked off and before you know it The Bridge were 3-0 up. James Ashley played a good ball to Bread who showed good skill to lay off the Manq, Manq turned provider again as he squared to Jay Edwards to fire low under the keeper to give The Bridge a 2 goal advantage. Straight from the kick off The Bridge went downfield and made it 3. Jay Edwards finding himself in space after holding off the visiting centre back to once again fire past the keeper. By this time it was all Bridge Tavern and they were soon 4-0 up. Manq was put through on the right hand side and squared to Gallagher to slot home from just 3 yards out. Bread’s turn next as Manq got a slight touch on a long throw in from Mellors to put Bread in the clear with just the keeper to beat. Bread kept his cool as he fired into the top corner, giving the visiting keeper no chance as he could only helplessly watch on. Gallagher made it 5-0 with a carbon copy of his first goal, Manq once again provider. In a rare attack by the visitors they managed to claw one back, take nothing away from their scorer, a quality directed header from a corner leaving The Bridge defence and Lormor with no chance. Gallagher got another 1 to complete his hat-trick, then he bagged again to make it 8-1 before Manq got his deserved goal by lobbing the keeper to make it a 9-1 romp. 9 goals in a 45 minute second half left The Bridge Tavern onlooking fans chanting “can we play you every week”. There was still time to watch a 30 man free for all fight on the next pitch leaving the Nottingham players wondering what Mansfield was all about, no wonder Notts lads don’t come to Mansfield for a night out. The ref blew up and The Bridge had stormed into the 3rd round. Back in the pub after the game the draw was put on Sky Sports 1 as all of the squad gathered around the television whilst waiting for the nuclear stew to cool down. Pele drew The Bridge out as the home team. The opposition was drawn out by George Best on live video link form his hospital bed to give The Bridge another home tie with Butler United – another Nottingham team. Commenting live on Sky Sports News with Jeff Sterling after the draw manager Manq said “we’ve got to be happy with a home draw in the Notts Cup. It means we can all have an extra hour in bed”.
Man of the Match: Jay Edwards
Match ratings:
Lormor – 9, spectator for most of the match, no chance with the goal.
Danny – 9, solid at the back with good distribution.
Ashley- 9, nothing got past him.
Quiche – 9, strong in the tackle. Booked.
Gee – 9, signed off with a gutsy performance.
Mellor’s – 9, full of running, fantastic strike for his goal.
Bread – 9, opened his goal scoring account, good touches.
Jay Edwards – 10, a brace goals and man of the match.
Kirk – 9, solid display as expected.
Gallagher – 9, moved into double figures for the season with 4 goals.
Manq – 9, got his deserved goal after playing provider for most of the game. Booked.
Subs:
Scott 8 – on for Jay.
Garlick 8 – on for Bread
Leigh 8 – on for Mellors
Scott Walker reporting pitchside from The Manor Complex.