Third Win in a Week for Bridges

A third win in a week for Bridges against a Deal side who often looked sharp but were generally well handled by a stubborn Bridges defence.

Deal had the first decent chance of the game after only two minutes when a header by Rory Smith was tipped over the bar by debutant Finn Holter.

Bridges took until the 22nd minute to have a meaningful strike when Kevin Rivera played the ball through to Noel Leighton, who finished clinically  but was clearly offside. Hayden Velvick then flashed a shot wide from a decent position, but the first half ended goal-less.

Less than two minutes into the second half though and Deal drew first blood with a stunning volley by ASH MILLER.

The referee played a vital part in Bridges’ 57th minute equaliser when Harvey Woollard was clearly fouled but got up immediately to pass wide to REECE HALLARD, who placed his shot just inside the near post. Credit to the man in the middle for allowing the advantage.

Leighton hit a post as Bridges tried to find a winner, which arrived in more strange circumstances after 75 minutes. A goalmouth melee ended with BRYAN VILLAVICENCIO poking the ball over the line, but play continued a the ball came back. and it was at least half a minute before the referee was persuaded to check with his Assistant and award the goal. In fairness, Deal players didn’t complain but probably felt a touch deflated.

In the last minute John Hallard delivered a free kick from the left which Leighton met with a powerful header, but keeper James Tonkin produced a wonderful save and even found time in the added minutes to join his teammates in contesting a corner at the other end.

Bridges Man of the Match – Bryan Villavicencio.

			Home				Away				Total
			P	W	D	L	P	W	D	L	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
	1	Ramsgate	13	12	1	0	12	10	1	1	25	22	2	1	77	22	+55	68
	2	Sittingbourne	13	13	0	0	11	7	3	1	24	20	3	1	79	17	+62	63
	3	Margate	12	4	7	1	14	12	1	1	26	16	8	2	49	25	+24	56
	4	Burgess Hill Town	11	9	0	2	11	7	3	1	22	16	3	3	50	26	+24	51
	5	Beckenham Town	10	5	3	2	14	8	2	4	24	13	5	6	52	39	+13	44
	6	Sheppey United	13	9	0	4	11	4	3	4	24	13	3	8	44	36	+8	42
	7	Merstham	10	4	5	1	14	6	4	4	24	10	9	5	46	38	+8	39
	8	Sevenoaks Town	14	6	5	3	12	5	1	6	26	11	6	9	50	52	-2	39
	9	Deal Town	14	7	1	6	13	5	0	8	27	12	1	14	57	58	-1	37
	10	Ashford United	13	5	3	5	14	6	1	7	27	11	4	12	48	51	-3	37
	11	Erith Town	11	6	2	3	12	4	4	4	23	10	6	7	45	29	+16	36
	12	Eastbourne Town	13	5	2	6	12	4	2	6	25	9	4	12	40	46	-6	31
	13	Broadbridge Heath	11	3	1	7	12	6	2	4	23	9	3	11	39	39	0	30
	14	Three Bridges	11	3	1	7	12	6	2	4	23	9	3	11	42	47	-5	30
	15	East Grinstead Town	10	3	0	7	12	5	4	3	22	8	4	10	30	40	-10	28
	16	AFC Croydon Athletic	13	4	5	4	10	1	5	4	23	5	10	8	37	40	-3	25
	17	Herne Bay	13	5	2	6	12	2	2	8	25	7	4	14	31	54	-23	25
	18	Lancing	14	5	1	8	12	1	2	9	26	6	3	17	30	60	-30	21
	19	Littlehampton Town	12	2	2	8	13	2	3	8	25	4	5	16	42	59	-17	17
	20	Hythe Town	12	4	1	7	12	0	1	11	24	4	2	18	22	61	-39	14
	21	Phoenix Sports	13	3	2	8	12	1	0	11	25	4	2	19	22	61	-39	14
	22	Steyning Town Community	13	2	3	8	12	1	1	10	25	3	4	18	27	59	-32	13