At last a goal for Chichester as football interrupts a game of cards

Adie Girdler’s team competed throughout in a contest ruined as a spectacle by a series of bookings.

Bridges’ striker Elliott Romain was dragged to the ground by Michael Brown on 11 minutes for the opening yellow card.

Three minutes later Callum Cutler halted the same player and was booked. From the free-kick, there was a scramble in the box that led to Scott Faber scoring. City keeper Ben Hitchman protested that he’d been fouled – but this simply led to his name being taken too.

Scott Portas was cautioned after another challenge on Romain, and a couple of minutes later the Bridges forward broke clear only to be hacked down by Cutler. The two indulged in ‘afters’ but the referee declined to take any action, Cutler appearing fortunate to stay on.

Mark Carrington was the next Chichester player yellow-carded, having fouled Abu Touray, but the ex-Gambian youth international was also booked for dissent. Nigel Brake was cautioned for Bridges, with the ref’s pen running low on ink.

Suddenly, there was some football action, Touray seeming certain to score but Hitchman scooping the ball away from his feet.

The referee decided to book City’s Jamie Ford before the second half had started.

Clinton Moore missed a sitter for Bridges on 47 minutes, they were reduced to ten men after Touray kicked out at an opponent. This only served to add yet more determination to Bridges’ attack and Moore hammered in a free-kick on 59 minutes to extend their lead.

A rare home raid led to a goal on 72 minutes, Cutler sending in a cross and Ben Vassallo (left) capitalising on a misunderstanding between keeper and defender for Chichester’s first goal in almost two months.

CITY: Hitchman, James, Forry, Ford, Carrington, Portas, Briggs, Cutler, Turvey, Vassallo, Brown. Sub: Buller.

CHESTER BROWTON