Portsmouth 6-1 Three Bridges

Bridges U18’s went into this game with a 100% record having already defeated four sides to get to this stage of FA Youth Cup, but a game against an EFL academy side was always going to be a challenge and that’s what it proved to be.

Bridges needed a settled start but the home side came out the blocks quickly and were 1-0 up within the first 60 seconds as Sam Folarin finished from close range.

Eventually the team did settle and managed to keep possession for long periods during the middle of the first-half, but Portsmouth ended up going into the break 3-0 up with Jamie Howell and Koby Mottoh both scoring on the break.

Portsmouth added another three goals during the second-half as the wet weather and tiredness contributed to mistakes being made in the Bridges back line. Adam Payce scored the fourth for the home side, with Howell and Mottoh also adding to their tally’s to make it 6-0.

Bridges heads never dropped though and they did get on the scoresheet with a 90th minute consolation goal. Marley Bigg did brilliantly down the right hand side and put a cross on a plate for Alex Kaye to head in just before the final whistle.

A result against a team like Portsmouth will never define this Bridges U18’s team and the boys should be proud of themselves for beating four teams to get to this stage of the FA Youth Cup in the first place. Playing at Fratton Park is an experience that will live long in the memories for the boys and their families.

The team is still top of their league with a 100% record and in to the last 16 of the Isthmian League Youth Cup, so it’s time to re-focus and go again.

Bridges Man of the Match: Josh Mundy