Recap

Bridges fight back to gain impressive point

By Ellie Duffett 

Bridges Women showed their resilience on Sunday after fighting back to secure a 2-2 draw against visitors Tonbridge Angels. 

After an impressive summer, Bridges are finding their feet within a new league and a new level of competition.  

Tonbridge began the game positively with strong possession as the team looked to take control of play in the opening minutes. 2 minutes into the game and Zoe Case made an impressive block in the box, the start to a persistent attack from Tonbridge. 

3 minutes in and Tonbridge got their first set piece, a corner taken by their number 11, Farnham. Farnham played the ball and dribbled it around to the top of the box before taking a shot straight into keeper Mia’s path. Mia immediately caught the ball.  

Tonbridge today were playing with a high press helping them score their first goal less than 10 minutes after this set piece. The goal came after an additional corner from Farnham which went into the team’s number 4, Bienz who struck the ball into the right-hand side of the net. Tonbridge gained the advantage. 

This lit a fire within Bridges, and they began to push for an equaliser. Poppy Nicholls, captain of today’s match was the first to make the push after she took a shot at goal. The strike was powerful and on target but unfortunately was caught by the keeper. 

3 minutes later and Marta took the keeper in a 1v1, Marta turned on the keeper but was eventually stopped in her tracks. A minute later and Marta is back on the front foot. After receiving the ball from Zoe, Marta dribbled it inside the box before having a shot at goal. The shot went in across goal. Sandys positioned herself in the ball’s path in a moment to try and redirect it. The ball didn’t have enough momentum behind it and now acting as a pinball, fell to Nicholls who powerfully struck the ball over the goal. Bridges entered the second half down at 1-0. 

Entering the second half, Bridges only needed 10 minutes to equalise. 

Substitute Bo Hughes came off the bench making an immediate impact, having made a run at goal, Hughes found herself in a 1v1 with the keeper. Applying pressure to Hughes she homed in on the empty net behind the keeper, rolling the ball past her and over the line. 

Elation for Bridges as they secured their deserved equaliser. 

Bridges did not sit comfortably but rather increased their pace, pushing for their next goal. However, a tie could only be held for 15 minutes before a Tonbridge set piece allowed the side’s number 3, Driscoll to slot it home. Tonbridge regained their lead with a scoreline of 2-1. 

Unlike the first half, Tonbridge could not hold their lead for very long as 4 minutes later at 75 minutes, Behr helped to equalise Bridges. The goal came after Behr made a break from the defence and took a shot into the right-hand side of the goal. The scoreline changed to 2-2. 

As full time approached an extra 4 minutes was added by the referee.  

Bridges were on the attack with incredible possession beautifully demonstrated by Sandys who took on three members of the opposition twice. With the ball at her feet 3 Tonbridge players formed an almost perfect ring around Sandys who maintained strong possession, attack after attack. 

Bridges Women have a break in fixtures this coming week but will look forward to getting back onto their home ground of Jubilee Field for the Isthmian Women’s Cup against Burgess Hill Town. The match takes place mid-week on Wednesday the 23rd of September at 8pm.