CRIBBS 2-3 BRIDGWATER TOWN: THE MATCH REPORT...

Bridgy Hold Firm To Take The Points From Gloomy Lawns

Cribbs 2-3 Bridgwater Town

I guess for the unbiased spectator this was a decent spectacle, despite the damp, drizzly, demise of a November day upon which it was played at the Lawns. There were five  first-period goals, a few saves made, one shot struck an upright and palpable tension remained until the final whistle. The visitors looked the slicker outfit before the break, first going a goal ahead, before sliding 2-1 behind in a matter of moments. Eventually they  forged 2-3 ahead with a quick pair of headers, neither by prolific forward Jack Taylor who netted the opening goal, nor by Steve Murray, who went close to scoring on several occasions. Robust defender Tom Ellis, whose family members and collection of pushchairs certainly swelled the crowd, plus midfielder Dave O’Hare, nodded those goals in from set-pieces. Ed Harrison netted a brace of near post goals for Cribbs, both from left-flank assists, one being a header but his efforts wouldn’t prove enough to salvage even a point for his team. 

HUDDLE 1...

HUDDLE 2 BUT SOMEONE HAS TOUCHED SOMETHING NASTY...

Overall, due to the emergence of a more confident and attacking Cribbs team, especially after the interval for biscuits and stout, some would argue that the hosts maybe deserved a point but in truth it matters not what teams deserve, it’s what they grab… Missing their skipper Mark Armstrong for the second period, Town certainly lost some bite in midfield, possibly allowing home skipper Jake Hodgson to operate more effectively. And another thing: Hodgson, Hodges and two Hedges fellows in one team? Thanks for that… Actually Sam Hedges, my mum’s maiden name was Hedges and she really did have a brother called Sam, whom we all called Claude. Also there was Fred, whom we, er, called Bun… And Albert, whom we referred to as, er, Clarence… (I know. I still have no idea why…)

TOSSING...

However, after O’Hare had forced home goalie Kieran Hodges to beat out an early shot with clenched gloves, Taylor nipped in at the near post to steer a low right-side centre from the byeline by Murray into the net. Murray’s rush had been stellar and his pace would be dangerous throughout the afternoon. The effective Jake Brown shoved a low pass-cum-shot across the face of goal from left to right, following a quickly taken free-kick and later in the half he would see a shot deflect for a corner off solid home defender Tom Burns. Murray shot high and off target, saw a low drive fumbled for a left-side corner by Hodges and another, more angled effort again smuggled past the right post by the harassed ‘keeper.

ELLIS TURNS HIS BACK ON THE FAMILY...

The hosts had started with a low George Kellow drive wide of the right stick, before, with little warning, left-sided offenseman Joe White (yes, the number 11s were White and Brown…) had a low drive stopped by visiting goalie Jake Viney but Cribbs striker Jason Vincent’s close range rebound shot was bravely blocked by Ross McErlain’s challenge. However, the ball flew to the left-wing, a cross curled in towards the near post and the unmarked Harrison glanced a header across the face of goal and into the far corner of the net. Parity soon became a lead for the hosts, when a neat rush to the left byeline by White, including a step-over to get past Oli Morris of Bridgwater, led to a nick at the near stick by Harrison and the ball seemed to wedge between the vertical pole and the ‘keeper, then squirm into the net.

PARITY FOR CRIBBS...

2-1 NOW...

Clearly shocked at this totally unexpected turnaround, Town were then threatened by Hodgson, whose fine 25 yard drive was only just too high. However, from an aforementioned save by Hodges from Murray, the striker took the ensuing corner and Ellis got his head to it, albeit from a side-on position and the ball popped up neatly into the right corner of the net. He saluted the 145 members of his family and collection of pushchairs in the lower grandstand and they knew they would not hear the last of it. When I told his folks at the break that I had filmed it, they groaned, sorry, cheered mightily… As quickly as the hosts had netted twice, the guests repeated the trick, following a caution for Cribbs’ left-back Dan Dyke. The very influential Town left-back Jake Llewellyn clipped the resulting free-kick in from the right, Hodges moved from his goal-line to punch the ball clear but O’Hare beat him to it and headed easily into the net. And the scoring was thus discontinued…

VINCENT AND GOALSCORER ELLIS...

NOTE VINEY'S PINK APPAREL...

During a tough second period, which saw home replacement Ethan Feltham nearly initiate a brawl following a bad foul (he was yellow-carded), Bridgy were less offensive, despite the often smart touches by Nathan Byrne and the continuing plunders of Brown. Taylor’s late header too high was his only real effort on goal, whilst Murray made three attempts. He chipped cleverly but just too high, hammered a low drive against the foot of the left upright and after cutting in from the left, he shot against Hodges’ boots. Otherwise it was evident that the hosts were making more progress, through the efforts of Hodgson, midfielder Lewis Hedges and elusive running of Kellow. Subsequently though, few of their final shots at goal were troublesome for McErlain, Ellis, or pink-clad gloveman Viney.

HODGES & TAYLOR...

Kellow went close when put in at inside-left by Hodgson but his low side-footer rolled past the right stick, Tom Anthony drove too high, as did Kellow, as did Hodgson when a low corner arrived at his feet, 8 yards out. Harrison shot over the bar late on and clipped another effort off target but at least the skipper and also Vincent actually made Viney work. Earlier, Vincent couldn’t take Dyke’s decent pass into the penalty-box and lost possession, before he drove a shot wide but his best effort was a rising 15 yard attempt which Viney beat away with his fists. A late 25 yard shot by Hodgson was knocked away falling right by Viney who might well have been unsighted in the gloom. Town substitute Harry Horton did well late on to nullify another dangerous Cribbs attack but in the end, it wasn’t enough for the hosts…

DYKE IS CAUTIONED...

BROWN & ANTHONY: GOOD TUSSLE...

VINCENT PRETENDS THAT MCERLAIN ISN'T THERE...

Anthony had an eventful afternoon for Cribbs but came through it rather well, Sam Hedges and Burns were worried by the movement of Taylor and the pace of Murray several times but Hodgson played a strong game, as did Harrison. White made a few neat runs, Kellow shifted about and Lewis Hedges prompted whenever possible.

HERE THEY GO AGAIN...

5 & 6: BURNS & HODGSON...

GUESS WHO?

Town were well served notably by McErlain, Ellis and O’Hare but Murray and Taylor were regularly lively attackers. Byrne bubbled on occasions and Brown needed watching, Llewellyn though was rather impressive both in defence and supporting on offense…

TAYLOR: NIFTY GOAL...

MURRAY, IN STRIPES: UNLUCKY ON THE DAY...

HODGSON HAVING A WORD...

Me? A long drive back to Solihull, hoping that the Ellis clan, pushchairs and all, got home safely, despite having to listen to Tom’s poetic descriptions of how he scored his goal. Again and again… 

A CRIBBS DEFENDER SPOTS A RARE BEETLE IN THE GRASS...

Strangely, my nan, the one who married a Hedges, hailed from a weaving family in Culmstock, near Wellington. Small world…  

TEAMS:

CRIBBS:

KIERAN HODGES, TOM ANTHONY, DAN DYKE, SAM HEDGES, TOM BURNS, JAKE HODGSON (CAPT), ED HARRISON, LEWIS HEDGES, JASON VINCENT, GEORGE KELLOW, JOE WHITE.

SUBS:

ANDRE FRECKLETON, ETHAN FELTHAM, JORDAN YEO, LEWIS HARVEY, DAN MONK.

BRIDGWATER TOWN:

JAKE VINEY, OLI MORRIS, JAKE LLEWELLYN, MARK ARMSTRONG (CAPT), ROSS MCERLAIN, TOM ELLIS, NATHAN BYRNE, DAVE O’HARE, STEVE MURRAY, JACK TAYLOR, JAKE BROWN.

SUBS:

HARRY HORTON, SAM TOWLER, FIN WILKINSON, DAVE PEARSE, STEVE LAKER.