Edwards 15
Moore 86
Attd: 1,020
There is always quite of bit of interest in the 1st pre-season game, as it is normally about 3 months since all the players had been together, and for some it’s interesting to note which player has over done it on their summer holiday and reported back with a beer belly and a double chin. Luckily for the 3rd season running, everyone looked ok for the opening pre-season game against Welbeck Reserves, played in the lively village of Meden Vale, home to many famous footballers. Ex Everton full back Neil Pointon was born just 2 miles down the road for example!, clutching at straws maybe but I’m sure many a famous footballer has passed through the village sometime in his career.
As this was a mid day kick off, it enabled us to get a pre-match pint in the Welfare, in fact there was just enough time for 3 before heading up to the pitch to catch the action. Welbeck had won the corresponding fixture 7-0 the season before, so anther battering was expected this time around. The Bridge were to line up in a 4-4-2 formation like this:
Lormor
Scott, Quiche, Ashley, Mellors
Ganna, Kirk, Lee, Vardy
Manc, Gav
We were told in the press box that roll on roll of substitutes would be used, meaning extra notepaper was handed round to keep check of all the comings and goings. After 15 minutes of not much action, Bridge shook the footballing world by actually taking the lead, following an horrendous mix up at the back. Gav capitalized and slotted the ball into the back of the net much to the delight of the travelling support of five, the celebrations were somewhat low key though, the least we could have hoped for was a pile on. The lead didn’t last long however as Welbeck hit back within two minutes, following a corner from the right, the ball being powerfully headed home at the far post. The 1st of the substitutions took place shortly after, as Vardy made way for Garlick, and then Mellors came of for Bread.
Welbeck started to take control of the game following the equalizer and only a brilliant last ditch tackle from Danny Lee stopped them creating another chance to make it 2-1, with Lormor also coming to rescue shortly after. It was Lormor himself that caused a scare on 20 minutes as he took his top off, much to the horror of watching parents who were forced to cover their kids eyes at the dreadful sight, luckily the referee ordered a quick covering up to avoid further embarresment to the keeper. More substitutions followed, but by now they were becoming a regular occurrence, in fact there were more people coming and going on, that people living nearby thought it was shift change at the pit. People in the press box got slightly pissed off, one enthusiastic journalist even being quoted as saying “I’ve run out of ink, can I borrow someone’s pen”, something which will undoublty go down in folklore. Anyway back to the game, Lormor again got down well as the Bridge had to soak up a lot of pressure as the half wore on. Bread caused a scare near half time as he went down in a heap under a heavy challenge, the cause of his injury is still unclear, however a replacement finger nail has been ordered just in case it proves conclusive. James decided to try and score as the half came to a close, only it would have helped had he not been in his own 6 yard area at the time, and also had it not been his own cross bar he was hitting, as he back headed an attempted clearance. Quiche was to commit his 1st ever foul in his footballing career, as he upended a Welbeck forward, and the resulting free kick was smashed home to make it 2-1 to the home side, this is how it stayed until half time.
More subs were made, but the pattern of the game was much the same at the start of the 2nd half, Lormor again keeping the Welbeck forwards at bay, this coupled with some wayward shooting kept the score the same, until Welbeck came really close on 65 minutes with a powerful shot that hit the woodwork. Manq had a glorious chance to equalize on 69 minutes, when he was sent into the clear, but the only thing his shot achieved was to cut a couple of centimetres of grass on the 6 yard area, I’m not saying his shot was weak, but from the moment of release, Welbeck even changed keepers before the goalie picked it up !
The game was as good as over on 70 minutes when a stinging volley from 25 yards, went over Lormor and into the top corner, this is then the press box emptied and we went back to the pub, although we are informed that Ganna made the game interesting and it finished 3-2 in the end.
Overall an excellent performance and one to take great heart from, well done lads.
Lohn Jomas