Three Bridges 1 South Park 4: Bridges battered by speedsters

Three Bridges FC 28-7-14 (Pic by Jon Rigby) SUS-140729-104226002

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Bridges were crushed by a pacey well organised South Park side, who were on a real high as they had won 6-1 at Whitstable only three days earlier.

Yet it started encouragingly for Bridges, who were able to welcome back both Tony Garrod and Sammy MacVicar following long spells out through injury.

After just five minutes Garrod was knocked into the air by 16-year-old keeper Harrison Nicholls, and Allan Tait drove home the resulting spot-kick.

Shortly afterwards Nicholls palmed away a good Garrod effort and Tait tucked home only to be flagged for off-side.

But the visitors forced their way back into contention with some lovely flowing football and Karl Parker headed just over following a swift attack.

But Parker made no mistake with a simple header at the far post from James McElligott’s pinpoint cross after some indifferent defending in the 29th minute.

Bridges almost regained the lead when Garrod’s delightful chip was tipped onto the bar by Nicholls and MacVicar could only find the side-netting as he met the loose ball from a tight angle.

But it was then back to normal as Kieran Lavery met a corner with a solid header that Kieron Thorp brilliantly tipped over the bar.

The second half started horribly for the hosts as Nigel Brake’s hurried clearance eventually came to Jack MacLeod, who volleyed home superbly.

That was in the first minute and six minutes on Park added a third from a penalty.

It took time for both sides to realise what the referee’s decision was, but it was given for a foul by Brake on Kofi Quartey.

Before the spot-kick could be taken, Simon Wormull - in charge because Paul Faili was absent - introduced two substitutes, but star man Lavery was unfazed by the interruption and drilled home from the spot.

Bridges had a few glimpses of goal, but generally it was the visitors who looked the likeliest to add to their tally.

Quartey could easily have had a hat-trick but too often delayed his shot, but eight minutes from time skipper Lavery showed superb close control before firing across goal.

Bridges seemed to have cleared the danger but McElligott finally slammed home from close range.

A cracking shot by Hakeem Adelakun was inches wide and the same player drove into Nicholls’ arms as the match went into added time, but Bridges were generally second best on a night worth quickly forgetting!

Bridges: K.Thorp; M.Pulling; M.Daniel (C.Donaghey, 62); S.Sargent; N.Brake; J.Crellin; M.Whitehead; J.Lansdale; A.Tait (H.Adelakun, 52); T.Garrod (B.Godfrey, 52); S.MacVicar

Unused subs: D.Mobsby; A.Touray

Attendance: 68

Aerotron Man of the Match: Jamie Crellin

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