BOROUGHBRIDGE 2 BARDSEY 1
After the deluge of rain Bridge’s ground looked more like a lake on Friday evening but thanks to the sterling work of John Horner, the pitch, although heavy in places, was declared playable by Match Referee Stewart Taylor. With Bardsey again contesting the Premier League title this was always going to be another stern test for Bridge and following their confidence sapping defeat last week they needed to get off to a good start. On 2 minutes they got the perfect opportunity with Paul Eagling crossing to the near post only for Danny Webster to miss the target and three minutes later they fell behind to a neat Bardsey build up and when the ball was crossed in by Wesley Freeman, the predatory Rob Dickinson was left unmarked to slot home. This was not what Bridge wanted and for the next 15 minutes they were on the back foot but another confident performance by Alastair Hogg allied to a determined defensive display enabled them to weather the storm. For the rest of the half it was a different story with Bridge in the ascendancy but despite several corners and good free kick situations they found the visitors in equally resolute mood and the half ended with Bardsey holding on to their slender lead. The second half started like the first with Bardsey the more dominant as they looked for that important second goal but it was the home side that had the best chance when Eagling put Baz O’Neil in the clear only for the Bridge front man to be denied by Martin Simpson in the visitors’ goal. With the conditions becoming heavier by the minute Bridge pressed on and were rewarded on 69 minutes when Steve Tovey headed home an Andy Kent free kick. This galvanized both sides to go for the winner and it took an exceptional save from Hogg to deny Jamie Thompson giving his side the lead but the second goal was not long in coming as ‘Bridge’s two subs Chris Pattison and Ben Darville combined for the latter to hit a superb volley in the 83rd minute that looped over Simpson for the eventual winner. The last few minutes proved quite tense but Bridge held on for a deserved victory and although they have played a few more games than the sides around them it keeps them in touch with the leading teams.
MOM ALASTAIR HOGG