Bridge’s first game was to be against much fancied Lurcher FC, who were to include ex Stags midfielder Michael Sisson in their line up, a quality player and certainly too good to be plying his trade at this level.
As the players were stripping down to their pants and getting changed for the game, the supporters took it upon themselves to pinch about half a dozen chairs from the cricket come football pavilion and park their backsides near to the half way line. I took the time to get everyone’s pen pics for the website as the players sort of warmed up, before returning to my seat in the temporary Luther Blissett Stand. Whilst one eye was keenly on the action early up, I was also aware of the fact that the Welfare pub doors might open at any time, and was always in the starting blocks for a crafty pint, much to my disappointment the landlord decided to gain an extra hour in bed meaning the lock remained tightly on the door to several pints of amber nectar.
Bridge lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Lormor in goal and a back four that resembled the Arsenal back line up from the early 90’s, ie OLD !!, Bread, Ashley, Quiche and new signing Quinny lined up. Gav, Kirk, Danny and Mellors took the line up in midfield, whilst up front Tony and player manager Manq completed the starting 11, leaving teenage non sensation Leigh, Garlick and linesman Ganna on the bench.
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It was the Bridge that were quickest out of the blocks, and Gav went soaring up to the edge of the home area straight from the kick off, but he scuffed his shot across the area and out for the first goal kick of the season. Almost immediately after, Danny took advantage of a mix up in the home defence following one of Manqs quite blatant foul throw ins, but he also couldn’t control his effort and the ball again went out harmlessly. The first signs of Sisson’s quality came on 5 minutes, as a ball onto the edge of the Bridge area, saw Bread outnumbered by two home players, but he managed to get a big toe nail on the ball to deal with the situation.
The first controversial moment of the season followed shortly afterwards, as Quinny cleared a ball in from the left, only to remain face down on the pitch, and as the ball broke loose up front, Manq found himself through on goal, only for the ref to blow his whistle to indicate for Dr Quincy (aka Pirate) to come on to attend to Quinny with the magic tap water, unfortunately this time it didn’t work and the new left back was forced off after just 15 minutes of his debut. Garlick at this point was interrupting the journalists in the press box, and was promptly told to **** off and warm up ready to come on for Quinny. Whilst all this was going on, Mellors had a great chance to open the scoring, but he saw his shot just sail over the A617 bypass. It was at this point that the journalists were informed that the reason the Bridge couldn’t play their first game at home, was not down to ground developments, but a frisby competition being held at the manor, to which I nearly fell off my chair in laughter. I’m sure it was no co-incidence but as soon as the substitution was made, the home side made it 1-0, when a ball over the top was then crossed in from the left for the striker to prod home, it all seemed too easy from the dug out, come bingo chair stand.
Quiche was lucky not to get booked just after the goal, when he handballed on the half way line, quite deliberately. Long balls played into and around the Bridge area was causing trouble all game, and Lormor had to be alert to one just before the half hour mark. Kirk showed he could live with Sisson by making a superb tackle on the lad, only for the resulting corner to be headed home to make it 2-0 to the home side. Chances were coming thick and fast for Lurcher and to be fair Bridge were all over the place, and within a 5 minute spell just after half hour on the clock, it was 5-0, as three times, a ball over the top of the defence was met by a striker or midfielder running on to slot home. Kirk was then moved into the centre of defence, I think by the time the 3rd or 4th goal was smacked home, whenever it was it was an act of desperation, and way too late.
Half Time : 5-0
Heads were down at half time, and there was still no sign of the pub opening. Gav had the 1st shot of the half but it was a long range effort that didn’t trouble the home keeper by much. Ganna came on for Bread early in the 2nd half and immediately slotted into the right back slot. Lormor went on to make a couple of early 2nd half saves, whilst Manq was substituted for Leigh.
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There was joy not long after for the long suffering support, when Tony was sent racing clear, and despite the effort being cleared of the line, the ball bounced back into the are where Danny’s shot was saved, only for Tony to pounce and hit the ball home, cue delirium in the away chairs, chants of we are going to win 7-6 were not heard. Lormor decided to imitate David James towards the end of the game, and probably wasn’t surprised when he was then lobbed as he stood near the dug out following his howler.
Danny Lee had two good chances to at least get another for the Bridge, but one effort was ruled offside to the disgust of the away support who started to pack their chairs up to take back to the pavilion.
There was chance of one last consolation for Bridge, as Gav responded to a rebound to hit home, following good work from Danny, and with that the chairs were back in the pavilion and we could all go home.
A rude awakening for the Bridge and there is probably similar opposition in terms of quality that will need to be faced in this division, admitingly the home side probably took the foot of the Gas in the 2nd half, but make no bones about it, they took the ****.
Michael