Three Bridges 1st vs Sheppey United

A new-look Bridges side fell to defeat on the opening day of the Isthmian League season, but really should have taken all three points after letting a lead slip and to a Sheppey side that played the last 25 minutes with ten men.

After last season’s success and players moving on to play at a higher level, Jamie Crellin has worked hard during the summer to partly rebuild the squad and there were no fewer that seven debutants on show during the game, with Elliott Romain also starting on his return to the club after ten years away. This ‘home’ game was also played in the unfamiliar setting of Chatham Town’s Bauvill Stadium, which will be used as Bridges home ground until November whilst the pitch renovations takes place at Jubilee Field.

It was a messy start from both sides, with neither managing to keep the ball for long spells nor find a rhythm.

It wasn’t until the 26th minute that Bridges had their first real effort on goal and Reece Hallard found the back of the net on debut. The left winger had controlled a pass on his right foot, cut inside and jinked past two Sheppey defenders before shooting from 20 yards out and the ball bobbled past the Sheppey ‘keeper Prall to make it 1-0.

Sheppey nearly levelled immediately after, but a combination of Luke Glover in goal and the right-hand post denied Dan Bradshaw from only a couple of yards out. The game then petered out until half-time and Bridges held a 1-0 lead going into the break.

Sheppey started the second-half quickly and were much the better team in the early exchanges. Luke Glover had to be alert to deny Josh Lambert’s strike on goal from a free-kick and on several occasions last ditch clearances were needed from Bridges defenders Irving and Splatt.

The big talking point of the match happened on the 66th minute, as Sheppey’s Harry Hogben was shown a straight red card. Luke Glover had claimed a high ball and fallen to the ground and Hogben seemed to stamp on the Bridges ‘keeper whilst following in. The referee showed zero hesitation in showing the red card and from that point on Bridges should have controlled the game.

Moving into the last 15 minutes and Bridges could have, and should have, killed the game off. Bobomurodov cut in from the left hand side and saw his shot cleared off the line by a Sheppey defender before Adam put his follow-up effort wide when he really should have scored from a matter of yards.

And as so often happens in football, just 60 seconds later Sheppey ran up the other end of the pitch and found the equaliser that their performance deserved. Danger man Gil Caravalho crossed the ball in from the right-hand side and Josh Lambert ran on to said cross to finish low past Luke Glover and level matters up.

Less than 5 minutes later, Sheppey broke again on the counter and found the lead. A long ball over the top found Gil Carvalho again, who beat Dan Ferreria down the wing and crossed the ball in to Dan Bradshaw who finished like the poacher he is well known for being.

Bridges failed to re-gather themselves and Sheppey could have made it 3-1 in injury time if it wasn’t for two brilliant Glover saves, denying Aiyelabola on both occasions. Eventually the full-time whistle went and the visitors, who’d actually had a lot shorter journey to the game, took the three points back to Isle of Sheppey, leaving Bridges management Jamie Crellin and Joe Kay highly frustrated.

Bridges MOTM: Harvey Woollard

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GROUND SHARE ANNOUNCEMENT

Whilst the grass pitch at Jubilee Field is being converted to a 3G all-weather playing surface between August and November/December, our men’s team home games will be played at The Bauvill Stadium, home of @chathamtownfc.

The Bauvill Stadium is widely renowned as one of the best grounds in the Isthmian League and has had a 3G surface in place since 2019. Using this facility will benefit our playing squad greatly as we prepare to play on a 3G surface of our own from Winter 2024 onwards.

A huge thanks goes to @chathamtownfc and their Chairman Kevin Hake for their assistance and agreeing to the ground share for the first part of the 24/25 season.

As already announced, our women’s team will be using The New Defence in Horley as their home venue for the same temporary period.

			Home				Away				Total
			P	W	D	L	P	W	D	L	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
	1	Sittingbourne	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	5	0	+5	3
	2	Beckenham Town	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	3	1	+2	3
	3	Deal Town	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	3	1	+2	3
	4	Sevenoaks Town	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	3	1	+2	3
	5	Herne Bay	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	3	2	+1	3
	6	Hythe Town	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	2	1	+1	3
	7	Sheppey United	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	2	1	+1	3
	8	Merstham	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	3
	9	Ramsgate	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	3
	10	Ashford United	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	3	3	0	1
	11	Erith Town	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	3	3	0	1
	12	East Grinstead Town	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
	13	Margate	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
	14	Littlehampton Town	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	2	3	-1	0
	15	Phoenix Sports	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	1	2	-1	0
	16	Three Bridges	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	1	2	-1	0
	17	AFC Croydon Athletic	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	1	-1	0
	18	Steyning Town Community	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	1	-1	0
	19	Burgess Hill Town	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	1	3	-2	0
	20	Eastbourne Town	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	1	3	-2	0
	21	Lancing	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	1	3	-2	0
	22	Broadbridge Heath	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	0	5	-5	0