Page 25 - Brislington FC v Bishop Sutton 290823

Scadding, and Asa White having an early chance with a far post header. The Foxes were again having
good possession, but were s ll unable to find that clinical edge, too o en being let down by an
awkward bounce, the final pass/ or lacking that ruthless finish.
Another chance came and went, this me it was Scadding who couldn’t find the header a er a good
ball, once again delivered from the le , found the midfielder on the edge of the six yard box, his
effort going wide of the mark. Bradford were also retalia ng making their own forays into Foxes
territory, Wickens coming closest, shoo ng wide a er being played through albeit at an angle.
Then came the breakthrough that the home fans craved. A ques onable free kick on the half way line
which saw Danny Barwood booked offered the home side a chance to put a delivery into the box.
Brislington were very slow to retreat and even slower to organise. The ball to the far post found
Jordan, whose well placed shot was ini ally well saved by Dorrington but it was Wickens who was
first to react smashing his excellent follow up high into the net to put the home side ahead, 1-0 to
Bradford with 58 minutes gone.
George Jones swapped with Dean Griffiths who made an immediate impact with his pace and
strength.
Four minutes later the Foxes were level. A corner from the right was cleared only as far as Jordan
Ricke s who took one touch with his right and drilled the ball into net from 18 yards with his le .
1-1. 62 minutes played, not a lot separa ng these two sides!
Bradford con nued to defend resolutely and Brislington con nued to huff and puff, again domina ng
possession, the home side being more reliant on counter a acks.
One such breakaway saw our first red of the evening. Again conten ous. Interes ngly the referee
gave himself plenty of me to think before pulling out the cards, sugges ng (what we all knew) that
it was not clear and obvious. The Town forward looked to chase an overhit pass and as with a short
me earlier in a strange booking received by Jordan Scadding, when both players stretched
iden cally for the ball, the only difference being the reac on from the home player (definitely BAFTA
worthy as his bloodcurdling scream echoed around the park, before jogging off post cau on. On this
occasion the forward emphasised defender Barwood being in his way by jumping on to his back and
drama cally calling for the foul as he then ‘fell’ from Barwood’s back. Meanwhile the ball had ran out
of play with Dorrington in a endance and away from goal, the away side who were unhappy with
the ‘amateur drama cs‘ then watched in dismay as Barwood was given his second yellow for
obstruc on. The common denominator in both situa ons being the simula on.
This looked likely to set up a nervy 10/15 minutes for the Foxes, a backs to the wall defend
the box at all costs, a park the bus situa on would have been expected!
But apart from a few minutes post incident this didn’t really materialise. Instead the game
con nued to be contested with both teams having a fair share of ‘moments’.
Indeed Griffiths looked to have earned his side a penalty a er being brought down in what
looked like the far corner of the penalty area, however the free kick was awarded on the
very edge deemed not to be inside, much to the relief of the home con ngent.
The free kick also brought a second yellow card for Neil, which saw him go the way of
Barwood before him, heading back to the dressing room for an early shower.
There was s ll me for one last booking apiece James Stanislaw for the home side, Dean
Griffiths for the Foxes making it 6-5 to the hosts, of course both reds having been for two
yellows. When called upon to explain why they had so many bookings to the FA, I suggest
clubs just use the reasoning that it was because we turned up and played!!
The game ended in stalemate, the spoils were shared, on what was a very entertaining,
and genuinely compe ve football match between two sides that are likely to have a large
say in the League's ul mate standings.