Three Bridges Women are Combined Counties finalists

By Ellie Duffett

After back-to-back postponed matches from their competition, Three Bridges Women were in action once again tonight, playing their last game at Jubilee Field for the season against Chessington & Hook United in the Combined Counties semi-final.

Alongside their championship title, Bridges Women have now secured their spot in two finals this season, giving the team the opportunity to secure the treble.

The last time Bridges Women played, they were crowned champions of the league setting a high bar for this game.

From the start, Bridges entered the game with confidence, taking touches with poise and keeping possession throughout the majority of the game.

Facing a team which looked so comfortable on the ball was a challenge for Chessington & Hook. This struggle surfaced only 10 minutes into play, after a poor foul was made on Nancy Newman in the penalty area as an attempt to minimise her chances at goal. The referee awarded the penalty and Amelia Sandys stepped up to the task. The keeper instinctively dived right, whilst Sandys confidently placed the ball in the bottom left corner. 1-0 to Bridges.

Minutes later, Bridges asserted their dominance once again, after captain Martha Behr made a run with the ball across the box, dummying two defenders, before turning and passing to Newman on her right. Newman did not hesitate to take a shot towards the bottom right of goal. The keeper dived but could not reach it in time, 2-0.

In an attempt to reduce the goal deficit, Chessington & Hook broke away from Bridges defence, creating a 1v1 with keeper Mia Robinson. The opposition struck the ball, sending it over Robinson’s head. Robinson jumped, but just couldn’t make contact with the ball in time. Bridges conceded their first goal.

As the game resumed, Bridges Women constantly made progressive passes. This gave Newman the time to perfectly position herself within the box. Newman took a shot, the keeper ran out to make the save. However, the ball remained loose, and Newman took the opportunity to slot it home. The scoreline advanced to 3-1.

Only two minutes later, Bridges changed the scoreline once again. Running towards goal, Behr was faced with two defenders, to free herself Behr passed the ball to Sandys. The keeper advanced forward into the commotion, Behr slipped around this and received the ball from Sandys before she placed it into the open goal, 4-1 to Bridges.

A hat-trick from Newman at 27 minutes extended Bridges’ lead further to 5-1 after the keeper came off her line leaving an open goal for Newman to slot the ball into.

With half-time only 15 minutes away, Chessington & Hook looked to convert on any opportunity they could. Unfortunately, for Bridges, the team’s determination gave them an advantage at goal. Bridges conceded their second and final goal of the night, entering half-time with a three-goal advantage at 5-2.

If there was a question as to who would make it into the final at the start of the game, there was no doubt now. Throughout this game, Bridges played at such a fast pace but kept their poise on the ball having continued to create strategic, strong passes.

This only allowed Bridges to keep gaining goal after goal, never becoming content with the scoreline.

Making an immediate impact in the second half, Bo Hughes jumped on a live ball. In the chaos of trying to clear the ball, the keeper came off her line joining the defenders who were focused on the ball rather than the goal. Hughes gave the defence no time to react, placing the ball into the bottom right-hand side of the goal. At 48 minutes, Bridges had already extended their lead, 6-2.

Communication tonight on the pitch was loud and clear, allowing keeper Robinson to be positionally perfect. In the 66^th minute, the visitors broke through Bridges’ defensive wall. Robinson reacted quickly, making an impressive save with her body before catching the deflection.

Behr created a stunning strike, after she received the ball on the right-hand side of goal. As a pattern of play had shown tonight, the visitors’ goalkeeper ran out in an attempt to meet Behr at the ball. Behr reacted quickly, rolling the ball into the net.

Less than 10 minutes later, in the 75th minute, Behr assisted Hughes in gaining Bridges’ eighth goal of the night. Behr saw Hughes making a run towards the box, she passed the ball to her. To reach the box, Hughes dummied two defenders turning on them. As predicted, the keeper ran out towards the ball, opening space for Hughes to slot the ball away. Bridges led with a scoreline of 8-2.

Behr looked to recreate previous plays but was tripped by the keeper within the penalty area. The decision was made by the referee and Grace Bates stepped up to take the penalty. As the whistle blew, Bates lined up her shot for the centre of the goal. Instinctively, the keeper dived right. Bridges extended their goal difference by 7 goals.

Any Bridges fan tonight, even having seen the rate at which the team can score goals, would have found it hard to believe that two more goals were still on the horizon.

In the final moments Newman made a run towards the goal, expecting her shot, the defence crowded around her. Instead, Newman made a cross in front of goal to Ashlee Cordingly. Having no time to react to this play, the goal was once again open for Cordingly who instinctively took a touch, placing it into the goal.

The final goal of the game came seconds later. As play resumed, Bridges picked the ball off of the opposition before immediately running it back to the box. The ball was back with Behr who was keen to gain her hat-trick.

If there was one pattern from this game you had noticed, it would not come as a shock to you when I say the visitors’ keeper ran off her line. This allowed Behr to once again convert the opportunity into a goal. The match finished 11-2.

Next weekend on Sunday 17^th May, Bridges Women will play in the SCWGFL Challenge Cup final against Horsham Women. Winning this fixture will secure the team the double so it is sure to be an exciting game. All support is welcome at Lancing FC’s ground, Culver Road.