Bridport Hawks 4 – Ottery Crickets A 3
Bridport travelled away on Saturday looking to end their losing streak.
After three narrow defeats in row and slipping to mid table Hawks badly
needed a win to stave of being dragged into a relegation battle.
With several first team regulars out Bridport sported the lustiest team
since 2003 when they won the league. With Rob Cox, Jolly Bug, Sam Cleverly
and Tom Craddock stepping up to fill the big boots of Brooking, Puzey and
Steele.
Bridport started well and failed to convert a few early chances. Half way
through the second half against the run of play Bridport conceded a short
corner that caught stopper Smith of balance to go a goal up against the run
of play. Bridport redoubled their efforts for the remaining period but
Ottery soaked up everything they could throw at them and counter attacked
with gusto. A cross smashed in by the Ottery left winger was
uncharacteristically miss-controlled by the normally rock-solid Rowe only to
hit his foot to give Ottery a penalty corner which they converted to make it
2 nil right on half time.
A Bridport started the half visibly deflated at two nil down it seemed
impossible to see any way back when early in the second half May won a short
corner which was rifled home from the top of the D by King. Given a sniff
and Filled with new found vigour Bridport upped their game and when the
wizardly skills of Alex Davies tore Ottery’s defence apart and they could
only look in wonder as he dribbled the ball straight into the goal.
A titanic battle of wills then ensued for the remaining minutes with
Craddock and Cox playing out of their skins in defence to keep Bridport in
the game only to be cruelly punished with a shocking umpiring decision that
allowed Ottery another Penalty corner which to Bridport’s dismay duly
converted. It was at this point Rowe made up for his earlier error by
mopping up a rebounded shot to make it all even. At this Ottery visibly
flagged with one of their players sent off for dissent against the umpire.
Brave Bridport decided to seize the opportunity and attacked Ottery like
wild dogs and in the dying minute Jolly Bug slid a deft ball to for skipper
may to blast into the backboard to take all three points.
Man of the match: Rob Cox
May, M.Smith, J.Bug, T,Craddock, C.Davies, A.Davies, R.Rowe, J.King,
L.Connolly, S.Cleverly, R.Cox
Taunton CS 1 – Bridport Hawks 2
Man of the match Alex Davies’s second half wonder goal secured Hawks a
scrappy away win to Taunton Civil Service on Saturday.
Although Bridport put out their strongest team to date they struggled to
find form in the first half. With the combination of the unusually early
start and biting easterly wind Hawks were sluggish and missed several
scoring chances early on.
Taunton capitalised on this and went one up just before half time when their
centre forward put away an excellent goal from a cross-pitch Ariel.
In the second half Bridport took control immediately and worked hard
pressurising their opponents defence to force a mistake. The mistake came
when Connolly dispossessing his opposite number caused havoc down the right
wing slipping a deft ball for goal scoring machine Frampton to hammer home.
Taunton battled hard to get back into the game but Rowe, Brooking and
stopper Smith had the midfield and defence locked down tight. The deadlock
was broken when Tauntons over commitment in attack was punished when
midfield maestro Alex Davies picked up a long pass out of defence from
Steele. Davies turned his marker as easy as a cyclist going around an empty
roundabout blasting home an exocet missile like shot into the roof of the
netting.
At 2-1 Hawks had to batten down the hatches from the relentless Taunton
onslaught that ensued for the remaining minutes. Right at the death spirited
left back Richard Puzey gave away a penalty corner with a horrific scything
foul that could have cost Hawks the win but made up for it with a fine
tackle to clear lines in time for the final whistle.
Team: May, R.Rowe, M.Smith, P.Puzey, L.Connolly, G.Brooking, A.Frampton,
A.Davies, C.Davies, R. Steele, J.King.
Bridport 4 - ECV Hornets B 3
Man of the match James King helped Hawks to continue their unbeaten home
record on Saturday. Reverting to the tried and tested 4-4-2 formation with a
centre midfield of Alex Davies & King, this providing a mix of creativity
and fitness which would be hard to equal anywhere.
Bridport went a goal up within minutes when Mays blistering pace and power
down the right was too much for the Hornet’s left-back to handle and his
resulting cross was finished with a fine strike from the inform Frampton.
Hawks were all over the young and enthusiastic Hornets like a cheap suit
and the resulting pressure resulted in Frampton mopping up a loose ball to
make it two nil.
Feeling comfortable Bridport made the fatal mistake of taking their foot of
the gas and allowed Hornets back into the game when Bridport were caught
exposed after pushing up to much and were promptly punished to make it two
one. In the dying minutes of the first half, pushing for a third goal
disaster struck again when Hornets centre forward intercepted a pass from
the normally rock-solid defence to make it 2-2 right on the stroke of half
time.
A stern half time talk by skipper May rallied Bridport who worked hard in
the blistering autumn sunshine and within minutes were rewarded by a goal
when Alex Davies’s dazzling midfield dribble set James King up for a close
range push in.
However, Hawks fitness issue began to surface and the team began to tire
halfway through the second half. Hornets seized upon the opportunity with
only midfield work horses Steele and King holding things together. Hawks
stood open mouthed as the umpires missed Stalwart defender Charlie Davies
being pushed to the ground, dispossessed, and then the ball slotted home to
make it 3-3.
Still reeling from the shock of such a horrific foul Bridport managed to
pull themselves together and battled hard for the next 10 minutes to stop
Hornets scoring again. The pressure was relived when James Kings shot was
saved and followed up by Steele in the dying minutes to secure Hawks the
victory they deserved.
Bridport 1sts 0 - Weymouth 1sts 5 (friendly)
Bridport entertained a very young, fit, enthusiastic, well drilled Weymouth
1st team for a pre-season friendly at the Sir John Colfox School on
Saturday.
Bridport started well easily holding their own with Davies, Brooking and
Rowe soaking up everything Weymouth could throw at them. Near the end of the
first half disaster struck when a Bridport substitution caused temporary
chaos and allowed Weymouth to rampage down the right wing and open the
scoring.
Bridport had a chance to equalise almost immediately but Sam Cleverly ‘s
shot was pushed wide by the inform Weymouth goalie - only for them to turn
defence into attack and slot another one home just on half time.
In the second half valiant Bridport came out fighting like a cornered beast,
with midfield maestro Andrew Frampton causing Weymouth constant headaches.
Unfortunately the combination of heat and Weymouth’s superior fitness showed
and despite a number of fine saves throughout the rest of the half from
keeper Mark Smith Bridport conceded three more.
After the game skipper May remained positive: “I am not disheartened by the
result as Weymouth had to work hard for every goal and in many spells we
played really well. Also we we’re missing our key player Alex Davies, one
thing is certain we must work on our fitness”.
Team: May, C Davies, A Frampton, M Smith, King, Rowe, Cleverly, Brooking,
Wakely, Connaley, Calvert, Steel - Umpires: M Harvey, D Foot.
