After what seemed like an eternity without a match due to pitch postponements, the Bridge took to the field at their adopted home patch against Roseburn who were on a decent run of results. Last season’s two matches were keenly fought affairs with the Bridge sneaking a 2-1 win in the 1st encounter, followed by an exciting 3-3 draw at the Gyle later in the season. With a strong 14 man squad to choose from it was a very mobile ball playing side that took to the field, with Capt Baz playing alongside J-Mac at the back due to the absence of both Chris and Bri from the defence. Lee played in a hard working middle 3, with Mark acting as the box to box worker, and Norrie giving support to our lone frontman, Gaz. The wings were patrolled by Ian F and Broony, with Luigi and Ian W in the fullback slots. Stu, the Gaffer, and a trialist made up the bench to give us plenty options if needed.
We lost the toss and played down the slope in the 1st half and although this was a help it meant that a tough 2nd period was waiting for us later. We started like a train however and straight away the midfield and Gaz were linking up well and it was clear that Gaz had the legs of the back four, and he was almost sent clear in the opening minutes but the through ball was just too strong and ran through to the keeper. Marky, Lee, Norrie and Ian F were all getting the ball down and playing neat triangle football to find space, and we won a spate of corners in quick succession in the 1st 20mins as it looked as though a big win might be on the cards as our back line were comfortably dealing with the striking threat from them. Norrie was so unlucky after a headed clearance from one of the corners fell to him some 20yards out, but his Paul Scholes type effort cannoned off the post and out for a goal kick with the keeper standing watching it fly by him, then the junction of the same post and bar came to the rescue from another Norrie effort from the edge of the left side of the box. They nearly scored an og seconds later when a neat threaded ball saw Gaz racing in on goal only for their defender to hoof it inches past his own post for a corner. Ian F picked up the loosed ball from the resulting set piece but his floated ball back into the area was easily taken by their keeper.
Strevs was called into action on the half hour mark when their big bustling main striker powered his way round Baz and let fly from 16 yards out on a tight angle, but Strevs got his hands up to beat it away to his right before dropping on the loose ball. Baz then had his name taken after a crude chop on their number 16 after he wriggled past Luigi on the right and then from the next free kick they opened the scoring. Johnny got to the tackle a bit late and went through their winger around 25yards out dead centre of the goal. The Roseburn players dithered on who was taking it before their midfielder struck a low crisp shot that went under the jumping wall and into the bottom corner for the 1st goal of the game. Gaz then had a great chance to get us back on level terms when a long ball out from our defence was headed up and backwards by their centre half allowing Gaz to run in on goal with only the keeper to beat, but with the goal at his mercy he screwed his effort wide of the right post to continue the charmed life that their goal was enjoying so far.
We finally got the goal our possession and pressure deserved when a quick breakaway from Ian F saw him slide the ball down the left channel for Gaz to collect. He out-paced the full back and drove into the area before firing low past the keeper to keep his scoring run going and more importantly to get us back into the game. They were finding it tough to play up the hill, and although they were getting decent ball in the middle of the park their strikers weren’t making enough runs to get in behind our defenders, whilst the offside trap was catching them out on the few occasions that they did. Just when it looked like we had gotten back into things we went a goal down again from some poor defending. A corner wasn’t cleared properly and when the ball was swung into the back post it was headed high into the air and Strevs could only palm it against the bar for it to fall down onto the waiting head of their winger who knocked it in from 2yards for a 2-1 score line. Johnny nearly got our 2nd not long before the break, but his free kick went straight at the keeper who smothered it well on the line.
H/T 2 – 1 Roseburn
We couldn’t quite believe we were a goal down at the break having had so much of the possession in the 1st half, and we were now having to play up the slope in the 2nd period, although this was made easier by the fact there was no wind to speak of. Both Broony and Ian F were asked to get on the ball more and drive at their full backs who had looked very suspect, whilst Luigi was reminded to watch the line at the back as their wee no’16 was trying to get into the space behind him. Sure enough when the match re-started it was Roseburn who were on the attack from the off and it was all coming down Luigi’s side. Their no’16 was linking well with their playmaking no’ 4. and they were using the ball well out on the left side, both were getting their heads up and trying to play the ball in and around the back 4 rather than over the top with a long ball.
We were desperate to get the next goal as it would be crucial in the match, but despite the early warning signs as the half began, it was from good play down the left that the goal came. With Luigi trying to stick to the no’16 he got pulled up the park and when the ball was played neatly in behind him the no’16 stripped him for pace and cracked a low finish past Strevs from the left side of the area for a 3-1 lead for Roseburn. This was a hammer blow as they had only had 5 shots at goal yet were 3-1 up in a match where we had created a dozen chances already, but to our credit the lads kept plugging away and continued to create good openings for our forward players. Norrie was next to try his luck after being put in by Gaz, but with space to move into he opted to shoot early from outside the area and his effort ran wide of the far post by a couple of feet. Mark and Ian F then both had shots from distance that lacked the pace to challenge the keeper, whilst free kicks from Johnny and Lee both ended in the ball being cleared away to safety. With their winger clearly getting the better of the returning Luigi, Lee moved back into the RB slot to shore things up and measured up better to the pace of the attacker, whilst Luigi moved up into his more familiar role on the right wing which pushed Broony inside to try and see more of the ball.
With 20mins gone in the 2nd period we got our 2nd of the game and it came from great play from several players. Broony, Mark, and then Gaz combined to send Norrie away down the wing and his peach of a cross from the right of the park found Gaz bombing in at the back post to plant a great header inside the upright for his 2nd of the game. Our tails were up now and we pushed forward for the 3rd, but we were still wary of them breaking away, and in truth had they picked out better balls from several quick breaks they could have increased their lead during this period of the match. We got the 3rd only minutes after Gaz’s header, and it again was from good interlinking play, this time from Luigi, Broony, Marky and Norrie. The ball finally found it’s way deep into the heart of the Roseburn box, and the ever alert Gaz pounced on it from just outside the 6yd area to drill it home despite being under pressure from 2 of their defenders. The game was on a knife edge now at 3-3, but all our hard work was put to waste when a soft free kick was issued to Roseburn way out on the right side some 35-40 yds from goal. Both Strevs and the defenders lined up expecting a cross but their big CB had other idea’s and pinged one from distance which seemed to keep on going and going in slow motion before flying by Strev’s dive and into the corner of the net for a killer 4th goal that should have been blocked away long before it reached the goal. Stu came on for Luigi to allow Broony back out onto the wing, whilst the energy of Stu could be put to better use in the middle of the park to try and drive us forward for another equaliser.
Broony was visibly tiring and with us needing a goal the gaffer came on for the final 15mins or so to try and cause some problems for the Roseburn defenders, and Norrie moved out to the right to put pressure on their full back. More chances were created, but the final choice of ball was wrong, with players waiting in the box for crosses it was played backwards, players were free in great positions in the area but the shot was taken on from difficult chances, and then when it did find it’s way into the box the final shots were either being blocked away or cannoning back off their keeper. With just a few minutes to go we had arguably the best to chances of the match, the 1st fell to Gaz but as he fell to the ground his effort hit the keeper who was only a couple of yards away, then when the ball was finally thrown low into the area it landed at Mark’s feet who was free on the 6yd line, but his left foot effort was weak and trickled straight at the waiting keeper who gladly fell onto the ball on his goal line for the final chance of the match.
F/T 4 - 3 Roseburn
Managers Comment:
How we lost this game I will never know, we absolutely battered them in the 1st half, hitting the frame of the goal 4 times and missing a couple of clear cut chances to boot, yet still went into the break 2-1 down through 2 very defendable goals. The 2nd period was more even as they used their left wing to good effect and pinned us back a bit playing down the slope, but even up the hill we still created more chances in this one game than in the last half a dozen combined. They had a handful of competent players, with their no’ 4 and no’16 standing out, but their back four were very poor other than their centre half who tried to play the ball about a bit. Their full backs were there for the taking at every opportunity and their keeper looked a bit suspect, but despite throwing everything at them including the kitchen sink we couldn’t force the equaliser in the dying moments. I think those misses may haunt both Gaz and Mark for a few nights, but given the form Gaz is in right now it is hard to be too critical of our top scorer. Our defending was ropey at best for 3 of the goals, and our decision making in forward areas needs to improve if we are to string a few wins together. People need to start lifting their heads and pass the ball into the feet of players in better positions rather than going for the Holywood finish from 25yards. I am all for people trying their luck from distance but when the chance is on to either progress into the area or to lay it off with a simple 6 yard pass we need to use our brains over our hearts. I for one am looking forward to the return match against them where I hope the efforts will go in rather than hit every part of the goal frame or keeper.
Best in the Tangerine : Most players played their part in the performance, there were two or three that were way below par which might be down to the break in matches, but there was a lack of enthusiasm from some which is worrying. Out of those that played I would say that Ian Waugh had a solid match at LB, Johnny had a decent game at CB, Ian F had a good first 45mins, Lee played well in both midfield and defence, and Gaz worked hard as usual up front and was rewarded with another hat trick for his efforts. Man of the match for today’s game however goes to another of our newcomers, NORRIE WEBB, who played some great simple football to keep it moving, was very unlucky not to get on the score sheet, and had a hand in 2 of the goals for Gaz.
M.O.T.M – NORRIE WEBB
Strevens 6 (out of 10)
Pia 6 (McCrindle 70mins 6)
Fearn 7
Mackenzie 8
Waugh 8
Brown 6 (Gray 75mins 5)
Smith 7
Davidson 8
Fleming 7
Webb 8 M.O.T.M
Stephen 8 (3g)
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