Page 16 - Ashton & Backwell FC v Bridgwater Utd 120222

Match Report

Ashton & Backwell UFC 2 v Millbrook FC 3

On a very windy afternoon at the Lancer Scott Stadium the brawn of Millbrook
clashed with the finesse of the Stags and brawn on this occasion won over brain.
The game was very scrappy, Millbrook content to let their big back four pump
the ball up field and dominate the aerial battle. When Stags played their passing
game, they were able to break down the Brook defence, the return of Hartley
cannot have been welcomed by the visitors whom he tormented much of the
afternoon, likewise Sady on the other flank and from midfield Cummings and
Saunders were both able to move around freely to distribute the ball, creating
a number of opportunities. It was when the Stags tried to go toe to toe with the
much physically bigger Brook side that they encountered difficulties.

Early on Stags dominated, Hartley forcing three corners, Cummings having a
shot from forty yards that Wearing’s fingertips despairingly pushed over the bar.
And this pressure paid off 21 minutes in when a long searching ball from
Cummings was taken by Hartley down the right, he cut into the box, was
chopped down by Tetley and the penalty given; Bishop struck the ball low to
Wearing’s left for the goal. Sadly this was the equaliser, twelve minutes before,
much against the run of play, a rare Brook attack was not cleared, Morcom
taking charge and crossing for Toulson to head in off the woodwork, so the
teams went in level at the interval.

The second half found a more positive approach by the visitors and Coombes
came to the rescue twice in quick order, from Foster and Toulson, with the Stags
lacking the fluency to pressurise. The debut of Jack Sell immediately paid
dividends, he dispossessed Youldon and took the ball along the byline, crossed,
beating Wearing but found no Stags either. He then went one better, Sollars’
pass put him in space on the edge of the box and he curled the ball round the
keeper for his first goal. Again this was an equaliser, two minutes before, a
defensive mix up had left Toulson, who was lucky to be on the pitch having
deliberately scythed down Hartley and only got a yellow card, with the ball at
his feet to pick his spot for Brook’s and his second.

And a defensive mix up was again to blame for the visitors third, when the ball
was not cleared and Knight able to shoot unhindered. There followed a frantic
last few minutes, Stags thinking they had a third when Sell sent Hartley through,
only for Wearing to get a toe out to push the ball wide. Bridgwater await next
Saturday in the battle against relegation.

Lewis Coombes, Tom Anthony, Regan Sollars (sub Tom Press 92m), Alfie
Cummings (sub James White 68m), Reece Hedges, Joe Bishop ©, Conor
Hartley, Charlie Saunders, Mason Hardidge (sub Jack Sell 54m) , Sam Price (sub
Mason Hardidge 85m), Henry Sady. MoM: Stags – Regan Sollars