Page 24 - Brislington FC v Bishop Sutton 290823

All Square at Bradford

Tuesday 22nd August saw the Foxes travel to Trowbridge Rd to face early league pacese ers
Bradford Town.
Town had rejoined the Toolsta on Western league a er two years away, playing in the Hellenic
Premier league since the 2021 non league reshuffle, and were unbeaten with five wins and a draw
un l their last game where they suffered a shock 3-0 defeat away to Cheddar.
The Foxes although sharing a similar goal difference (both teams being top of the goals scored table)
have had a stu ering start to the new season a er suffering their second defeat of the campaign 2-3
at home, to what sounded like an extremely mo vated Newly resurgent Bi on on Saturday. (I wasn’t
at the game hence no report).
Lee Perks was without Josh Egan, Harry Tobin, Jack Allward, Danny Doddimead, and Lewis Ewins, so
dra ed in under 18’s players Charlie Ames and Jayden Radway for their first taste of Western League
ac on. Expect more to come in throughout the season from the newly formed under 18 side. More
notably the Foxes welcomed back last seasons goalkeeper George Dorrington who has recently
commi ed to another season at Ironmould Lane.
The game started with what turned out to be the theme of the evening, a booking! Asa white carded
for a mis med tackle in the 2nd minute. Bradford were having the be er of the opening exchanges,
looking very sharp especially the front three of Wickens, Mack and Jordan.
Brislington started to gain a foothold in the game growing in confidence and possession and by the
8th minute Bradford had their first cau on, full back Neil bringing down McLennan as he beat his
man. The resul ng free kick from Ricke s was easily claimed by home goalkeeper beard. A minute
later Beard was forced into his first meaningful save of the match low to his near post a er
McLennan’s run and shot.
Dorrington was also called into ac on a er a Bradford short corner allowed Jordan to fire in from
close range, the returning keeper saving ins nc vely with Barwood on hand to clear the ball.
On the half hour mark Bradford’s Jamie Jordan was cau oned for a cynical foul, once again on
McLennan who was proving to be a real thorn in the side of the hosts. Bradford’s Jamie Jordan was
also cau oned in the first 45 for what looked like a strong but fair challenge and it was clear that it
would be a real feat to keep a full complement of players on the pitch!!
The dichotomy between keeping a game compe ve, which is a er all why we enjoy it, and ever
stricter laws for penalising players, harsher punishments for teams racking up these penal es and
most importantly the “subjec ve” decision making by officials is definitely a problem that seems to
be ge ng worse and is extremely frustra ng for the players who o en I’m sure have no idea what is
considered ‘legal’ on a pitch. There’s always a danger that an a empt to solve a small problem
creates a plethora of new problems as the saying goes ‘the road to Hell is paved with good
inten ons’!! Maybe a li le melodrama c, but states the point I feel. Not every foul is a yellow card,
and common sense refereeing seems to be a concept unfortunately long forgo en (or forbidden).
Players are regularly cau oned in the game unfairly, then clubs are further punished for it by the
powers that be.
Despite Brislington having the edge in possession they couldn’t make it count with goals, much of
the play was in the hosts half of the pitch, however the home side were looking dangerous on the
counter. As the half progressed it was the visitors who were carving out the more numerous chances,
with Lewis dunn, Jordan Scadding and George Jones all going close Before the break. Bradford also
having their moments a great opportunity a er good work down the le saw the ball floated across
for Jordan who just couldn’t quite get his head to the ball.
Two very good teams going at it toe to toe, all in all, a very close and entertaining match.
Half me 0-0 Scoreline (Bradford lead 3-1 in cau ons).
The second half saw the visitors start where they le off, an early so booking this me for Jordan