Team: Millen, Cunningham(Mackenzie), Blyth, Dunsire, Ayiku, Weare, Smith, Fearn(c), Alexander(Fleming), Robertson(Osborne), Foley
Subs not used: Patience

After the tough defeat at Persevere on Sunday when we controlled the game for the last hour but just couldn’t get that vital equaliser, our spirits were high going into our 4th game in 9 days. We had already played Longstone in a pre-season encounter at Jack Kane, and although we played poorly they were the better team and ran out 7-3 winners. With this fresh in our mind we were determined to play to our capabilities and show that we can play football against any team in this league.

After the relative success of the 4-5-1 formation on Sunday, we kept it the same for this game with the only real change being Dave Robertson coming in for Ian Fleming - who was struggling to make the kick off due to work commitments - and Chris Millen returning in goal. This gave us serious pace down both flanks and we knew that, given the right ball into them, both Dave and Cammy could really get in behind them and cause damage.

The game was delayed for 30 minutes due to the referee being late, and when he evtually arrived both teams agreed to a shorter half-time break in order to fit in the full 90 minutes. The game kicked off and the play for the first 15 minutes was fairly even with Cammy and Dave getting their chance to test the pace of the Longstone backline. We had a couple of small scares from their attack, but nothing really of any note until around 20 minutes in.

A ball in from the left wasn’t judged properly by our defence and their speedy striker was onto it and lofted a sweet dink over Chris in goal for 1-0 to Longstone. It was a very open game and we were getting no joy from the Ref when it came to offsides against our palyers, with both Dave and Keith being harshly ruled in offside positions. Cammy had the beating of his opponent down the left and from one break he forced his way into the edge of the area but the resulting chipped shot was just too high and wide. With around 10 minutes to go before halftime the Mighty Bridge drew level when a ball crossed in from the right side caused their centre back to barge through Dave for an obvious penalty. Star Striker Keith Alexander was given the task to slot it away and he did so by putting the keeper the wrong way and placing the ball into the bottom right corner for 1-1.

Chris Millen then got down well at his left post to prevent a cross-cone-shot from sneaking in, and another snap-shot from the Longstone strikers saw the ball bounce kindly off the base of the post with Chris covering it anyway.

Half-time 1-1

There were no substitutions at half-time but the message was clear - get the ball in and around their back 4 and let Cammy and Dave get in behind them. Keith was holding the ball up well and the midfield 3 were joining up well in support. The 2nd half started at a higher pace than the 1st, and the Bridge really wanted the win here. Our midfield were snapping and snarling into challenges, and the Longstone ball players were getting no time to settle and pick out a pass.

An early opportunity arose when Mark stole the ball off their holding midfielder and played a 1-2 with Keith. The return pass to Mark found him bursting into the box with only the keeper to beat, who came out early to narrow the angle and this made Mark rush his attempt which went just past the right post.

We were pinning them back and with Steven Weare and Barry Fearn starting to take a grip of the centre area it was allowing Mark to get involved further up the pitch. Cammy was getting plenty of the ball out on the left and he was causing them no end of problems with his constant movement and harassing of their defenders. Ten minutes into the 2nd half and we got the breakthrough that our pressure deserved. Keith robbed their centre back of the ball and rounded their last man before playing a delightful lob over the stranded keeper which seemed to take an eternity to drop into the net for 2-1 to the Bridge. Their goalie was keeping them in the game and another snap shot from the edge of the box saw him make a smart block to his right, then keith broke through after waltzing past 4 defenders only to pull his shot and the goalie got down to smother it.

In a rare moment of pressure at the other end Laurie Dunsire did well to head away a cross with their striker looming behind him, then Chris Millen did brilliantly to turn an attempt round the post high to his left. It was a wake-up call for our defenders, and they started clearing any problem balls in and around the box. We had spoke to Chris Millen at half-time about the need to get the ball up early as our pace up top was killing them, and from a long ball played out by Chris in goal Cammy managed to wriggle free of the last 2 defenders and place a gloriously lofted shot high over the keeper and into the empty net from just inside the box on the left for 3-1 to the Bridge.

Our tails were up now and Cammy could have increased the lead further after a mazy run saw him clean in on goal. He struck it well enough, but credit to the keeper for a good block. The ball rebounded high into the air and an acrobatic attempt from Junior saw his overhead kick go just over the bar. Kevin Cunningham was starting to feel the effects of 2 games in 3 days and came off for Jonny Mackenzie on 65 minutes. Chances were coming thick and fast now and Mark Smith had a half-volley from inside the area that sailed just wide, whilst another attempt from Cammy was blocked down to his right by their keeper.

With the light fading quickly, we knew that our 1st win in the league was getting close, and the game as a contest was finished with round 15 minutes to go when Keith dribbled his way into the box, rounded the keeper in style, and slotted coolly into the net for his hat-trick and the Bridge’s 4th of the game for 4-1. The resulting celebration was excellent and a definite photo chance was missed! Matty Osborne came on soon after for the tiring Dave Robertson on the right wing as the Bridge looked to close the game out.

We could/should have had another penalty seconds later when Mark was obstructed in the box after a great bit of play out on the left. To our teams dismay however the Ref gave an indirect free-kick INSIDE the box which came to nothing. Keith made way for our 3rd and final change, and Ian Fleming took his place up top for the last 10 minutes.

A long ball played into the channel between Jonny and Laurie saw a ball fired across goal and from the resulting tackle by Isaac Ayiku the Ref ruled that he had taken the man first. It was a poor decision and one that could have had a dramatic effect on the game if the score was tighter at the time The resulting penalty was confidently put away to Chris’s right, but with only minutes left it was too little too late for Longstone.

The referee blew for full time soon after and the celebrations began from the ecstatic Bridge players and staff.

FINAL SCORE – 4 - 2 Fountainbridge

Managers Comment:

WOO-HOO!

An excellent result last night against a tough team who had caused us no end of problems in the friendly we played last month. Right from the word go we went at them playing the only way we know how to, playing football and passing it about. As we had done on Sunday, we used our fitness and pace to really get to them at the back, and full marks have to go to each player for their effort for the entire game. We should have won by more, but the main thing is getting those 3 points on the board! To only lose 2 goals (and one was a penalty) to a team that scored 7 last time is an amazing effort, and is a real shot in the arm for the team.

Best in the tangerine last night, everyone! Praise goes out to Isaac at RB, both Barry and Weary were outstanding in the centre, and Keith probably gave their CB’s nightmares for a week with his control and ability. The M.O.T.M award however goes to Cammy, for his all-round work rate, his goal, and his willingness to support Keith and take on guys who were far larger than him.

MON THE BRIDGE!

M.O.T.M. – Cameron Foley

(Man of the Match)

J.

Player Ratings:
GK – Chris Millen (7 out of 10)
RB – Isaac Ayiku (8)
CB – Chris Blyth (7)
CB – Laurie Dunsire (7)
LB – Kevin Cunningham (7) (Jonny Mackenzie (6) )
RM – Dave Robertson (8) (Matty Osborne (6) )
CM – Barry Fearn © (8)
CM – Mark Smith (8)
CM – Steven Weare (8)
LM – Cameron Foley (9)
STK – Keith Alexander (8) (Ian Fleming (6) )