Three Bridges 1st vs VCD Athletic
Somehow Bridges managed to turn victory into a defeat against a side who played the whole of the second half without a recognised goalkeeper. VCD weren’t a bad side by any means but with only a minute of normal time remaining the home side led 3-2 and then managed to drop not just one but all three points!
VCD had the benefit of a goal with just two minutes on the clock as failure to clear a long throw by the Bridges defence led to a simple header by JEFF DUAH-KESSIE. A curling effort by Anthony Adesite was then held by Mitch Bromage, whilst at the other end Dan Perry had a goal ruled out for offside after a nice through ball by Brannon O’Neill.
Bridges drew level finally in the 19th minute when Noel Leighton’s through ball invited DAN PERRY to lob keeper Samuel Roy Mott. And it was even better for the home side three minutes later when the influential Leighton produced a lovely cross from the right and CURTIS GAYLER timed his run to perfection to score.
But it took VCD just two more minutes to respond with ANTHONY ADESITE netting with a wicked swerving shot that dipped into the bottom far corner of Bromage’s net.
Mott did well to tip over a Perry header whilst Leighton shot just wide, but shortly before the interval the game was halted to allow a clearly distressed Mott to receive attention for what seemed to be a problem with his ribs.
In added time of the first half, he couldn’t get anywhere near Gayler’s inch perfect cross to the far post, where BRANNON O’NEILL applied a simple finish, and Mott took no further part in the game as he was then stretchered off the field.
The referee wisely blew the half time whistle and Ashley Proberts, not a recognised keeper, took over between the sticks. But for some reason Bridges failed to test him seriously at all, and it was VCD who showed better glimpses of goal.
With the clock showing 89 minutes, Bridges still looked like gaining another welcome win, but the dangerous YOUSSEF BAMBA had other ideas and worked his way into the box to score neatly. And to rub salt into Bridges’ wounds, two minutes into added time a cross from the right was swept in by substitute JASON WILLIAMS to send VCD into delighted celebrations and Bridges to sink to the ground with agonised expressions.
Bridges Man of the Match (selected by Match Ball Sponsors Stuart Russell and Keith Medcalf) – Ryan Brackpool.
This Saturday Bridges are away to Chichester City.
| Home | Away | Total | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | P | W | D | L | P | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | Pts | |||
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1 | Hastings United | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 49 | 23 | +26 | 47 |
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2 | Ashford United | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 21 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 42 | 21 | +21 | 43 |
 |
3 | Herne Bay | 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 38 | 20 | +18 | 40 |
 |
4 | Cray Valley PM | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 43 | 26 | +17 | 39 |
 |
5 | Haywards Heath Town | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 21 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 35 | 19 | +16 | 39 |
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6 | Ramsgate | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 47 | 28 | +19 | 38 |
 |
7 | VCD Athletic | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 46 | 29 | +17 | 35 |
 |
8 | Sittingbourne | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 21 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 32 | 28 | +4 | 34 |
 |
9 | Chichester City | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 32 | 21 | +11 | 30 |
 |
10 | Corinthian | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 22 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 24 | 26 | -2 | 30 |
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11 | Burgess Hill Town | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 20 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 29 |
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12 | Faversham Town | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 25 | 37 | -12 | 25 |
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13 | Three Bridges | 11 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 22 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 29 | 42 | -13 | 24 |
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14 | Whitehawk | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 21 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 22 | 31 | -9 | 22 |
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15 | Whitstable Town | 11 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 22 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 30 | 44 | -14 | 22 |
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16 | Hythe Town | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 21 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 21 | 45 | -24 | 22 |
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17 | Sevenoaks Town | 11 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 21 | 6 | 2 | 13 | 25 | 43 | -18 | 20 |
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18 | East Grinstead Town | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 20 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 20 | 35 | -15 | 18 |
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19 | Lancing | 11 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 22 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 17 | 39 | -22 | 17 |
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20 | Phoenix Sports | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 21 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 21 | 41 | -20 | 12 |