The Mighty Bridge brought the curtain down on an entertaining 1st
season in the Sunday morning league with a well deserved point against
a hard working Meadowbank side that were still hunting for the title.
The Bridge were forced to put out a fairly unusual looking starting
eleven due to the absence of 5 regular outfield players, but can
consider themselves unlucky not to steal the full 3 points in a match
that could have gone either way in the end. Meadowbank needed a win
today and another next week against Boro' and hope that Partizan lost
their last match in order to win the League so there was plenty to
play for in this final Bridge match of a season that started away back
in mid July of last year. Our recent revival meant that we went into
this unbeaten in 4 so we wanted to keep that intact through this game,
and also wanted a bit of pay back after the 1-0 loss to them in the
Summer Cup through a hotly disputed penalty. The Bridge came out with
all guns blazing and put in at least 6 shots just off target within
the 1st 10 mins with M'Bank struggling to play into the wind that was
at our backs. Bo' was unlucky with a couple of long range efforts, Paul
fired over, and Ian went wide with a drive as we pushed to take an
early lead. Our pressure was rewarded soon after through a well struck
shot from 20yards by Ian F who was playing in a striker role for the
day which had too much behind it for the keeper to keep out down to
his right hand post. It was all Bridge attacks for the 1st 20 mins,
and Strevs was a virtual spectator, until he was called into action
after some indecision down the left side for the Bridge defence. They
played a simple 1-2 and got in behind our back four but Strevs spread
himself well on his 6 yard line to beat the effort away before it was
blown over the bar on the rebound.
The M'Bank players were complaining to Brian the Ref about the ball we
were using and insisted on changing the Mitre Ultimatch ball for a
£9.99 Nike training ball, it was a lot heavier and seemed to do the
trick for them as they soon got back on level terms. A corner was
conceded and when it was knocked into the box it was too high for Lee
to get a good connection onto, and with nobody covering in behind him
it fell nicely for their striker to knock it past Strevs from inside
the 6yd box for a 1-1 scoreline.
We then almost went back into the lead from a clearance by our
defenders which went all the way through to their keeper and bounced
high over him in the box but narrowly went over the bar. The game was
an even affair at this point now and it was a battle in the middle of
the park with neither keeper being called into any kind of action, and
for the remainder of the half our only decent ball played into the box
came from a cross from Andy which should have had players trying to
get onto it at the back post. At the other end, Bri and Lee had got
control of the back line and were doing a great job at mopping up any
danger, and only a last gasp block from Lee stopped an effort from
reaching Strevs near the pen spot.
Half time 1-1
We knew that we would have to try and keep it on the ground in the 2nd
period as the wind would be against us, however we informed Brian that
we would be reverting back to the proper match ball and not the heavy
cheap one that had been brought into the game during the 1st period as
this would suit our passing game. We thought that the shot would be
raining down on Strevs with the force of the wind fully behind them,
but as the 2nd half started the expected bombing didn't materialise.
They made a couple of chances at the back post but on each occassion
it was ballooned high over the bar, whilst Strevs had to look alert to
drop down onto the ball at the near post to cut out the danger. Their
back 4 didn't look the fastest in the world, and both Ian and Broony
looked to have the better of them, whilst Luigi and Paul were
providing good support for our front pairing. We almost went back into
the lead 10mins into the 2nd half when a great break down the left
saw Broony sent clear with the defence trailing in his wake, but
with Luigi bursting a gut to get into the area on the right for the
pass his team mate opted to take the harder route and shot tamely past
the far post.
With around 60mins gone the Bridge went back into the lead, Luigi made
good progress down the right before cutting inside, and attempted to
pick out Ian in the centre of the pitch just outside the area. The
ball went past both Ian and the defenders and found it's way to Broony
on the far side of the box in space, who took a couple of touches
before knocking a low shot past their keeper and into the far bottom
corner for a narrow lead for the Bridge. Broony soon made way for Stu
to come into the game alongside Ian to try and use his energy to good
effect. The 2nd goal for the Bridge spurred the M'Bank players on, and
their sub was giving Andy a torrid time down the right side, and only
poor last balls were stopping their attacks from being more fruitful
for them. We were also falling foul of numerous petty decisions from
the Ref, and they must have been awarded 4 or 5 free kicks around our
box within the space of 20 2nd half minutes including Strevs
being penalised for the 6 second rule in his box. Each time however
there efforts were not good and didn't cause any problems at all. With
20mins left the game was back as a stalemate and although it was a
great finish, the defending was very slack. A throw in from the left
just inside our half was not defended properly, with players leaving
their man to run on unguarded. Their no'8 collected it some 25 yards
out and as it sat up nicely he volleyed it high and wide past Strevs
and into the net for their 2nd of the game.
Meadowbank knew they had to win the game and were pushing forward now
at every chance but although they were getting the lions share of the
ball they couldn't pick out the killer pass to split our defence,
although a snap shot from the edge of our area bounced off Strev's
left post with his stranded across his goal line. Soon after this Paul
left the field for John to come to partner Stu with Ian moving out
wide to try and create some chances for the frontmen. The Ref was once
again at the centre of things minutes later when Luigi and John
exchanged passes which freed the Bridge winger to run in towards the
area. Their LB came across to prevent the run but crudely chopped down
Luigi as he knocked it past him, but the Ref waved play on with the
ball eventually reaching Stu in the pen area but his shot on the turn
was blocked by a defender and cleared away. The Bridge players tried
to question the decision but were waved away by the Ref, when surely the
free kick should have been awarded right on the edge of the box.
Our final chance came with only seconds left and once again we
finished a season with a dissallowed goal right on the full time
whistle. Stu and John did well to link up on the right of the park,
and when Stu's dink inside was touched on into his own run by John
there was clear daylight for the Bridge Player/Coach to get a strike
in on goal. He took another touch and bulleted a well struck effort
which their keeper managed to get his hands to down low in front of
him, the ball came back off the keeper's chest though and with the
ball not under the control of the keeper Big Bri ran in and forced it
over the line. The Ref however decided that the Keeper had indeed
been in full control of the ball and that Bri had kicked it out of his
hands so the goal was chopped off and a free kick awarded which was
taken just as the full time whistle was blown to bring an end to
M'Bank's title chances and a decent 1st season in this League for the
Bridge.
Full time 2-2
Manager's Comment
Overall a draw was probably the right result, although we could have
been ahead by far more than 1 after the start we made, and had we been
given the rub of the green by the Ref we could have snatched it at the
end. Considering though the players missing it was a good performance
with decent passing throughout. It was good to see us score 2 well
taken goals with Keith missing, and the back 4 did well in their 1st
game as a unit. It has been a long season now and we can look forward
to a few weeks off whilst the Summer League is scheduled, I went to
the League meeting on Monday and have the details of the registrations
etc for next season so we will go through them in the next couple of
weeks.
Best in the Tangerine: Bri did very well again in his CB slot, Bo got
onto a good game in the 2nd half, and Ian looked like the player he
can be with a much better showing today. Overall the MAN OF THE MATCH
goes to LEE DAVIDSON for another strong performance leading the back
line and breaking down attack after attack.
Well done to LEE on another M.O.T.M award.
A.STREVENS 7
A.STEWART 7
B.VEITCH 8
L.DAVIDSON 8M
T.CHAN 7
P.CHRISTIE 7 (J.GRAY 7)
M.SMITH 7
J.RIDDOCH 8
L.PIA 7
S.BROWN 7 (1G) ( S.McCRINDLE 7)
I.FLEMING 8 (1G)
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