Team: O'Donnell, Davidson(Cunningham), Blyth, Ayiku, Nyadu, Robertson, Smith, Fearn(c), Alexander, Fleming, Foley(Osborne)
Subs not used: Sean Manson

For weeks now we have been worrying about this game, given that Glensburgh were the 1st Division Champs last season and their top scorer fired in 47 goals in the season! That coupled with our lack of real form in the last few games didn’t fill us all with much confidence going into this one. We were able to field as near to the strongest starting 11 as possible, and whilst we didn’t want a drubbing we knew it was going to be a long, long game!

Glensburgh arrived all wearing shirts & ties, and we could see that they were a polished outfit and well organised with several players over the 6ft mark too. The Bridge altered their formation to include Ian Fleming in the hole behind Keith rather than up with him, we felt that the 5th person in midfield was more important seeing as we were missing Steve Weare.

The game started well for both sides, with each team trying to gauge the others formation and playing style. An early half chance fell to both sides, Ian sent Dave Robertson scampering down the right and his shot flashed across the face of goal and out for a goal kick, whilst at the other end their number 11 got in behind Lee who was making his first start, but he also hit the shot wide of target. The opening 10 minutes were very even, and it was clear that there would not be a drubbing on the cards that many had predicted.

The first bit of controversy from the “Ref” came after around 10 minutes when the Glensburgh defence dithered on the ball for a split second, allowing Cameron Foley to sneak in and take the ball off their no 2’s toes inside the box. The defender hauled Cammy back and down to the ground but amazingly the Ref waved play on. This incensed the home team and the Ref had to have words with Bridge manager John Gray, who refused to bow to the bullying antics of a referee on a power trip. Minutes later worse was to follow when a ball was played through for their striker who found himself with only Barry O'Donnell to beat. Barry rightly came charging off his line but made contact for a soft but correct penalty decision for Burgh. The captain strode forward from his centre back position and confidently slotted it away into the bottom left corner for 1-0 Glensurgh.
This was a little tough on the Bridge, who had measured up to the opposition in all areas of the pitch, Mark Smith and Barry Fearn were attacking their centre pairing at every opportunity, and Dave was causing their backline all sorts of problems with his direct running.

Our back four were playing much better than in recent games, and both Kofi Nyadu and Isaac Ayiku were dominating the 2 strikers as the half wore on. Their defenders were finding Keith Alexander a bit of handful and he was brought down twice in quick succession for free kicks outside the box. Keith was unable to repeat his heroics from last week though, and both attempts were blocked. We then won a couple of corners in a row and Ian whipped them into good areas but again both were blocked.

Our keeper was then brought into the action with a smart save down to his left, then picked out a ball in the air with their strikers looming. With around 10 minutes to go before half time, Keith was sent clear down the right channel by Ian, and after drifting past their left back, he sent a low cross-come- shot across the face of goal which their number 4 got a toe to - only to see it spiral past his stranded keeper into the bottom corner for an own goal and the Bridge equaliser. Mark was having his best game in a Bridge shirt, and had a good chance late on in the box, but his shot was blocked on its route to goal. Play raged on and the midfield 2 from each team were really in a battle against each other, and Mark and Barry were giving as good as they got. Ian was also playing well in his new role, and the Burgh defence didn’t know whether to come and mark him or stand off him, which was giving him space and time to pick out Dave and Keith at will.

With half time looming Glensburgh were awarded a corner on the left, and with the defence switching off for a second, their rangy number 11 was allowed some space in the box to knock a strong header in to the net for 2-1 to Glensburgh. On the other wing, Cammy was finding it more difficult as he was up against arguably their best player at right back. He was strong in the tackle, and had great skills to get himself out of tight spots, before setting up another attack with good passes to his forwards. To his credit however, Cammy never gave up and shortly before the halftime whistle he chased a lost cause in the box from an up and under, and he was crudely booted in the ribs by their keeper as he came to collect the high ball. The whistle blew shortly after, and again the Ref was having none of the protestations from the Bridge team even though Cammy had a set of stud marks right down his ribs.

Half time 2-1 Glensburgh

With the home side boosted by the O.G, spirits were high at the break, we would be playing up the slope in the 2nd half but there wasn’t any wind so it shouldn’t have been an issue. The 1st half had been stopped on numerous occasions by the fussy Ref, and he was in danger of spoiling a really good competitive cuo match with his antics. He had spoken to their number 8 four times in the 1st half alone and was breaking up play every 2 minutes with his petty decision making against both sides. With this in mind, the Bridge team were sent out for the 2nd period with a clear message - get the ball down and pull their back 4 all over the place with Dave and Cammy’s pace.

The Burgh changed their playing style to a more direct route, with their back 4 sending high balls long down the slope at the Bridge defence. This was a bit of a struggle for the Bridge, and both Chris Blyth and Lee Davidsonwere caught out with the flight of the ball allowing half chances for the Burgh strikers - one shot was saved down to his right by Barry and the other chance was screwed wide. The game was still there for either team to win, and an early chance in the 2nd half fell to Keith, but his run in on goal was brought to an abrupt end with a block on him outside the area. Again Keith was on hand to attempt a shot on goal from the free kick, but his shot was not high enough to trouble their keeper. After only 10 minutes of play, Cammy had to come off injured after taking a set of studs down the ankle, he was replaced by Matty Osborne in a straight positional swap. There was a close shave for the Bridge when the ball bounced up high over Barry in goal as he rushed out to meet their striker, but the ball was too fast for the number 11 to scoop into the empty net.

The Burgh number 6 saw a yellow from the Ref for talking back, and was lucky to escape any further punishment after a wee stamp on Barry in the middle of the park - followed by a pull back on Mark as he surged past him. The Burgh side made a change shortly after with a small fast winger coming on in the right midfield slot. Lee was playing very well at left back and helped out the centre pairing as a ball played across from the left almost fell to the strikers waiting in the box, Lee saw the danger and was able to clear it away from harm. Each time the Burgh got a corner there was real danger in our box, as their 2 big centre backs came up to try and sneak a killer third goal, but Isaac and Mark were doing all they could to try and put them off.

With the game flying by now, there were only around 20 minutes to go and the Bridge were still looking for that vital equaliser, and from a corner on the left by Ian, Dave met the dropping ball with a peach of a volley only to see it fly past the post by inches. The shot and technique deserved a goal and it was just the way our game had gone so far - so close but still so far. Keith then had a chance similar to his effort in the 1st half that led to the OG, again he turned the centre back and sped into the box before firing a low drive goal wards. To the Burgh teams relief however, it shaved the far post and went out for a goal kick.

Time was beginning to work against us, and the Burgh team were content to knock it forward and stay in their positions at the back. With the minutes ticking down we finally made all the pressure tell. A ball into the box bounced up nicely for Keith, and he struck a beauty of a half volley that sailed over the keeper and under the bar for our 2nd goal and the equaliser.
Barry came to our rescue with seconds to go when, after a series of corners, their number 11 got a clean header in from a few yards out, but Barry somehow got his hand up to it and deflected it over the bar to send the game into extra time.

90 Minutes score 2-2

This was new ground for most of the team, but our fitness levels are good and nobody was really struggling. We did however lose Lee to injury within minutes of the game re-starting with a nasty graze down his shin and ankle, Kev Cunningham came on into the left back position.
A simple ball was played down the left channel and Chris had time to clear it forward for Dave to chase down, but he tried to play a ball infield which was picked up by their midfield. The number 8 charged forward but was tackled by Isaac as he sped through, but again instead of clearing it 1st time he tried to play it out and got caught out. The ball was quickly fed out wide on the right, and their winger sent in a low cross behind the back 4 which was easily knocked into the net at the back post for 3-2 to Burgh. This really took the stuffing out of the team, and they were clearly stunned for the next 5 minutes. Barry had to come out and block their strikers twice as the 1st half wore on, and then the 4th goal went in for Burgh with seconds left in the half from a corner kick which their number 9 knocked in with simple header.

Half time in Extra time score 4-2 Glensbugh

Within minutes of the restart we had a good chance with Barry missing the target from close in with a header. Mark had been tackling like a tiger all game and after taking the ball off their winger who came on as a sub, he caught a flying arm to the face. It was accidental, but when the Ref blew for the free kick the winger swore at the Ref and got a straight red for his troubles. It was a little harsh considering his team mate wearing number 8 had been spoken to SIX TIMES during the game but hadn’t even got a yellow. He received a further 2 red cards as he left the pitch, and we later found out he got another 8 in the changing area after the game. I think the Ref must have got a new pencil or something as he certainly liked using it. If their player wants to appeal it we will back him up in any way we can. The game was really stretched now, and either side could have scored with chances coming at both ends. We were leaving gaps at the back as we pushed further and further forward to get back into the game, and they thought they had got a fifth from a header which Isaac scooped off the line from a corner. The Burgh lads were certain it was over the line but it really was impossible to see from where we were standing.

Matty had struggled to get into the game, and despite a few nice touches and link ups with Ian he was not making the difference on his wing - but that all changed with 5 minutes to go. He found himself in a more central position and after a great bit of skill to knock it over the onrushing defender, he bulleted in a left foot volley that sailed beyond the despairing dive of the keeper for 4-3. The Burgh side started playing for time by keeping it in the corner and the game proved just not long enough to get that last minute goal to take it to penalties. The whistle went and the Burgh players celebrated, knowing that they had been given the toughest of matches possible by a team they thought they would beat with ease.
They obviously didn’t know about the Bridge boys, they do now though...

FINAL SCORE AFTER EXTRA TIME – 4-3 Glensburgh

Managers Comment:
Where do I start? Absolutely outstanding effort and performance from each and every player who started the game and lasted the full 120 minutes. Me and everyone else at the sidelines can only applaud the desire and commitment our team showed against a good organised side, who thought they would walk this game before it started.
Right from Barry in goal through to Keith up front there were winners all over the pitch, and had it been a league game then the 2-2 scoreline would have been a very fair result. Once again it showed how good we can be if we get the ball down and play football, the 2 guys in the middle of the park for them will have slept well last night after chasing Mark and Barry for the whole game, and I don’t think their strikers would be too keen to play against Isaac and Kofi every week either.
Their Captain and their Manager both commented on how good our side was, and that we would have ran them close had we been playing in their league last season.
Best in the famous Tangerine yesterday - EVERYONE! Special mentions go out to DAVE, who was so good against his opposite defender at LB, IAN got stuck in and created chances all game, and MARK had arguably his best game for the club in the middle of the park. The M.O.T.M Award however goes to ISAAC AYIKU for the 2nd game in a row, he was superb at the back, winner tackles and headers against players 6 “ taller than him, and cleared the ball from any danger (other than the 3rd goal). Massive well done to ISAAC, and I can see a clear challenger to Keith and Barry F for the awards come the end of the season.

MON’ THE BRIDGE!!!!!!!

M.O.T.M. – Isaac Ayiku

(Man of the Match)

J.

Player Ratings:
GK – Barry O’Donnell (8 out of 10)
RB – Chris Blyth (8)
CB – Isaac Ayiku (9)
CB – Kofi Nyadu (8)
LB – Lee Davidson (8) (Kev Cunningham (6))
RM – Dave Robertson (9)
CM – Barry Fearn © (8)
CM – Ian Fleming (9)
CM – Mark Smith (9)
LM – Cammy Foley (8) (Matty Osborne (7))
STK – Keith Alexander (8)