Brave Bridges Fall Short Against Lewes

Three Bridges fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat at home to Lewes on Tuesday night in the Isthmian Premier League, despite a brave performance at Jubilee Field.

Bridges started with purpose and nearly took an early lead in the third minute when Rivera forced Rogers into an excellent save. However, against the run of play, the visitors went ahead in the 14th minute. Brian Garzon picked up the ball with space 25 yards from goal before unleashing an unstoppable strike into the top corner to put Lewes in front. Roberts then produced an outstanding save to deny Allen shortly afterwards and keep the deficit at one.

Three Bridges gradually worked their way back into the contest, with Velvick and Wifa causing problems out wide. Their pressure paid off in the 30th minute when Rivera got to the ball first from a Velvick cross before being brought down inside the penalty area. Adeyinka stepped up to take the spot-kick, and although Rogers saved his initial effort, the Bridges captain reacted quickest to slot home the rebound and level the scores.

The hosts continued to threaten, and Sam Bull came agonisingly close to giving Bridges the lead in the 40th minute with an acrobatic finish following a corner, only for his effort to crash against the crossbar. Both sides went into the break level at 1-1 after an entertaining first half.

Bridges dominated much of the second half, enjoying plenty of possession as they looked to find a winner, although clear-cut opportunities proved difficult to come by. Despite their control, the hosts were punished in the 73rd minute when a loose pass from the back was intercepted by Gondoh, who released Noel Fisher through on goal. Fisher made no mistake, restoring Lewes’ advantage with a clinical finish.

Three Bridges pushed for another equaliser in the closing stages. Rivera forced Rogers into another save, while Reece Hallard came desperately close to rescuing a point in the 90th minute, striking the crossbar after a well-worked corner routine. However, the visitors held on to claim all three points.

The result lifted Lewes to second in the Isthmian Premier League table, while Three Bridges remained 20th and in the relegation zone. Despite the disappointment, Bridges can take encouragement from a spirited display against high-flying opposition, with their attention now turning to two more home fixtures as they look to get back on track.

Player of the Match
Ade Adeyinka

The Bridges captain was the driving force in midfield throughout the evening, combining energy and determination with an influential performance. His persistence was rewarded with the equaliser, reacting quickest to convert the rebound after his penalty was saved.

Next Fixtures
Three Bridges vs Enfield Town
Saturday – 15:00
Jubilee Field

Three Bridges vs Eastbourne Borough
Following Tuesday – 19:45
Jubilee Field

Three Bridges Line-up
Roberts, Ferreira, Malone, Bull, J. Hallard, Spicer, Chambers (R. Hallard, 67′), Adeyinka (C), Velvick, Wifa, Rivera.

			Home				Away				Total
			P	W	D	L	P	W	D	L	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
	1	Enfield Town	6	4	0	2	5	5	0	0	11	9	0	2	30	13	+17	27
	2	Lewes	5	4	0	1	7	4	1	2	12	8	1	3	19	13	+6	25
	3	Welling United	6	6	0	0	5	2	0	3	11	8	0	3	20	10	+10	24
	4	Dartford	6	4	0	2	5	4	0	1	11	8	0	3	18	12	+6	24
	5	Carshalton Athletic	7	3	0	4	6	4	0	2	13	7	0	6	19	22	-3	21
	6	Ramsgate	5	3	0	2	7	3	1	3	12	6	1	5	27	17	+10	19
	7	Eastbourne Borough	6	5	0	1	4	1	1	2	10	6	1	3	19	11	+8	19
	8	Burgess Hill Town	7	4	3	0	3	0	2	1	10	4	5	1	18	11	+7	17
	9	St Albans City	4	3	0	1	5	2	2	1	9	5	2	2	18	13	+5	17
	10	Dulwich Hamlet	5	4	1	0	5	1	0	4	10	5	1	4	18	14	+4	16
	11	Chatham Town	5	4	0	1	4	1	0	3	9	5	0	4	19	13	+6	15
	12	Leatherhead	5	1	1	3	5	3	2	0	10	4	3	3	18	17	+1	15
	13	Cheshunt	5	2	3	0	6	1	2	3	11	3	5	3	11	14	-3	14
	14	Wingate & Finchley	4	2	1	1	6	2	1	3	10	4	2	4	16	20	-4	14
	15	Cray Wanderers	5	2	2	1	4	1	1	2	9	3	3	3	19	14	+5	12
	16	AFC Whyteleafe	6	2	2	2	6	1	1	4	12	3	3	6	18	21	-3	12
	17	Aveley	5	1	1	3	6	2	1	3	11	3	2	6	18	19	-1	11
	18	Brentwood Town	4	2	0	2	6	1	0	5	10	3	0	7	15	19	-4	9
	19	Maldon & Tiptree	7	2	0	5	5	1	0	4	12	3	0	9	15	33	-18	9
	20	Three Bridges	5	1	1	3	6	1	1	4	11	2	2	7	20	31	-11	8
	21	Whitehawk	5	1	2	2	7	0	0	7	12	1	2	9	11	31	-20	5
	22	Stanway Rovers	5	0	0	5	5	1	1	3	10	1	1	8	8	26	-18	4