Big Crowd at Hasting

Bridges’ first League defeat in seven games came away to runaway leaders Hastings United in front of a stunning 1416 crowd, most of whom were chanting about almost certain promotion. And for the first twenty minutes, Bridges looked a little overawed.

A break on the right after just five minutes by Sam Hasler led to an inviting cross which was met by a firm header from leading scorer Ben Pope, and it looked set to get worse after eleven minutes when Ryan Brackpool was adjudged to have body checked James Hull. But Mitch Bromage dived the right way and turned Pope’s spot kick around the post.

The Bridges keeper continued to enhance his reputation with a fine save from Pope and used his feet as he slid out of his goal to push away another chance before recovering sufficiently to push away another effort as he retreated into the area. But he could nothing about Hastings’ second goal after twenty minutes as trickery by Craig Stone finished with a deft cross to the near post for Finn O’Mara to glance home.

Away supporters could have been forgiven for fearing the worst, but Bridges steadied and Dan Perry saw one effort disallowed for offside whilst a good shot from distance by Curtis Gayler went through a crowded goalmouth before being gathered by Louis Rogers.

Hull wasted a good chance after being set up by Pope, but the visiting defence began to prove stubborn and, on the occasions Hastings managed to get shots in, Bromage proved equal to the task.

An unsavoury tussle five minutes from time between Gayler and Hasler was the only blemish on a game that saw Hastings march on to an inevitable title whilst Bridges have time to readjust and get back to winning ways.  They start this Saturday with a trip to Faversham Town.

Bridges Man of the Match – Mitch Bromage.

			Home				Away				Total
			P	W	D	L	P	W	D	L	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
	1	Hastings United	16	12	1	3	16	12	1	3	32	24	2	6	71	30	+41	74
	2	Ashford United	16	10	3	3	16	9	2	5	32	19	5	8	66	37	+29	62
	3	Ramsgate	16	9	3	4	16	9	2	5	32	18	5	9	69	41	+28	59
	4	Cray Valley PM	16	8	4	4	16	9	4	3	32	17	8	7	62	39	+23	59
	5	Haywards Heath Town	16	9	2	5	16	8	5	3	32	17	7	8	47	31	+16	58
	6	Herne Bay	16	10	2	4	15	7	4	4	31	17	6	8	54	31	+23	57
	7	Sittingbourne	16	9	3	4	16	5	3	8	32	14	6	12	45	39	+6	48
	8	Corinthian	16	6	6	4	16	7	3	6	32	13	9	10	42	37	+5	48
	9	Burgess Hill Town	16	8	4	4	16	6	2	8	32	14	6	12	47	43	+4	48
	10	VCD Athletic	16	7	4	5	16	6	3	7	32	13	7	12	57	43	+14	46
	11	Chichester City	16	9	2	5	15	4	5	6	31	13	7	11	43	31	+12	46
	12	Three Bridges	16	5	5	6	16	5	6	5	32	10	11	11	52	60	-8	41
	13	Whitehawk	15	4	5	6	16	4	5	7	31	8	10	13	35	44	-9	34
	14	Hythe Town	16	3	3	10	16	6	3	7	32	9	6	17	36	67	-31	33
	15	Faversham Town	15	7	2	6	15	2	3	10	30	9	5	16	31	49	-18	32
	16	East Grinstead Town	16	6	5	5	16	2	3	11	32	8	8	16	30	59	-29	32
	17	Lancing	16	5	3	8	16	3	4	9	32	8	7	17	30	58	-28	31
	18	Sevenoaks Town	16	6	1	9	16	3	2	11	32	9	3	20	40	64	-24	30
	19	Phoenix Sports	16	3	2	11	16	4	3	9	32	7	5	20	31	56	-25	26
	20	Whitstable Town	15	2	4	9	16	4	1	11	31	6	5	20	33	62	-29	23