Team: O'Donnell, Davidson, Blyth, Nyadu, Ayiku, Weare, M.Smith, Serrand, Alexander, Fleming, Osborne Subs Not Used: Dunsire, Gray

After what seemed like an eternity without a game, the Mighty Bridge finally got back into the swing of things at Meadowmill Sports Centre in deepest darkest Prestonpans. In the last 8 weeks we had only played one friendly on astro-turf with a weakened team, so it was going to be interesting to see how the legs would hold up to 90 minutes on a heavy pitch.

We took to the field in our new away kits of yellow & blue, and set out in our standard 4-5-1 formation. We were missing a few influential players in Dave Robertson, Barry Fearn and Jonny Mackenzie but were able to field a strong looking line-up, with good athletes throughout the team. Having suffered a heavy defeat to The Stand earlier in the season, our game plan was to cut down the supply from their midfield and to get their full back turning back to their own goal as much as possible. In the last game their full backs had been able to get forward as much as possible and this caused our midfield to get swamped.

The game began in bright sunshine on a day that was made for football, the pitch was heavy but still not bad considering the weather recently, and their team was pretty much the same as the first encounter. The first 15 minutes or so were fairly uneventful, with both teams cancelling each other out. We were against the wind and into the glare of the sun in the first half so their through balls were being over-hit and simply running through to Barry O'Donnell in our goal. Mark and Anthony were performing well in their positions in front of Wearey, and Matty was seeing plenty of the ball on the left wing. Our first half chance came from a chipped ball over the top by Matty for Keith to run onto, but their keeper was quickly off his line to clear the danger. The Stand’s first effort was from a tight angle in behind our RB slot after Chris had been beaten by a random bounce of the ball. Their number 11 was onto the ball in a flash but took a bad touch that left him only yards off the by-line. His attempted shot was on target but was easily turned round the post and out for a corner by Barry. The Stand had a few corners in quick succession, but good clearances by Mark and Isaac cleared the danger.

As the half wore on we were still having the better of the game down the left side, and when Matty fired over a low cross it found it’s way to Ian coming in at the afar side of the box. Ian let the ball bounce up and hit a cross/shot that flew high across the goal and out of play on the other side of the pitch. We were on top now, and from a couple of surging runs from the middle of the park, Mark linked up with Keith but couldn’t keep his shots from the edge of the area on target.

A scramble in The Stand’s goalmouth then left Anthony a half-chance, but his snap shot went wide of the post. With most of the play stuck in the central area of the pitch, the opening period fizzled out and was goalless as the half-time whistle rang out.

Half time 0-0

Our message to the players at half-time was simple: keep going and start having more shots from outside the area. We knew the wind would be behind us now, and that their goal-kicks and keeper kick-outs wouldn’t be reaching the halfway mark. We began the second half on the front foot, determined to make our possession count. Mark was continuing to run at their back four whenever he was in a forward position, and he was brought down from the back early on in the 2nd half around 30 yards from goal in a central area. Matty stood over the free kick and we signalled to him to test the keeper directly. He got a great connection on the ball, it took the slightest touch off the on-rushing defender and the keeper showed good strong hands to touch it over away and over the bar for a corner. From the resulting corner Ian fired in a whipped low ball that missed everyone and just cleared the far post for a goal kick. We were really starting to make inroads into their back four, and when Ian found himself one on one with their RB, he chipped it over his head and hit it on the bounce. Agonisingly for Ian and the team though, it wouldn’t come down far enough and the shot spun high and wide.

The Stand were struggling to get near our goal, each of their attacks were coming to an abrupt end around 35 yards from our goal, with Wearey, Mark, and Anthony all covering up well for each other, whilst the back line of Chris, Kofi, Isaac, and Lee, were all coping with the hopeful punts forward. Keith was finding space in behind their CB’s and from a through ball he cracked off a low drive which was bound for the bottom corner. Their keeper got down early and at full stretch was able to turn it round for a corner. Keith got his head onto the set piece but couldn’t keep it below the bar.

With around 15 mins of the second half played, The Bridge got their goal that their play had deserved. A weak clearance from the Stand was fired back early by our midfield, and Keith’s lightning pace burned off the CB who was marking him. Their keeper rushed out too early to the edge of his box and Keith knocked a little dink over him into the empty net for 1-0 to the travelling Bridge team.
The Stand knew they had to come out now and press for an equaliser, and from a simple ball played over our LB area, they had a chance to pull the goal back. Barry was slow to come off his line and as the ball was swept across the face of the 6 yard box, their on-rushing midfielder could only knock it wide with the goal gaping. It was a real let-off for the Bridge, and on our next attack we should have made it two. Keith took a throw in from Ian and turned his marker inside the box. His shot was strong and high, but again their keeper did well to get a hand up just inside his front post to divert it over. Ian swept in the corner but the Keeper came out and cleanly collected the ball.

With around 15 minutes to go The Bridge made a substitution, with Matty coming off from LM, Ian swapping wings and Italian Dave coming on in the RM slot. He had only been on the field for a couple of minutes when he was harshly booked for playing on and scoring after the whistle had been blown for offside. To be fair to him, the defence played on too and the finish was good. We had a couple more chances from free-kicks in good areas, Keith had a powerful attempt blocked by Mark in their wall, then Wearey fired over for a conversion shortly afterwards.

Our chances were coming thick and fast now, and when Keith found himself in front of goal with only his marker next to him, he spun and shot in one movement but hoofed it high over the bar. It was an uncharacteristic miss from Keith, but we at least were getting into good positions. The Stand were then reduced to 10 men after their big number 4 was sent packing for abusive language at the Ref after Mark had been brought down again in a dangerous area.
With only around 5 minutes to go, their big number 8 got into a good area down their left and swung a driven cross low over into the box, it was missed by several players on both sides, and when it fell to their winger only 10 yards from goal it looked like an equaliser was on its way. Barry thought otherwise however and got down brilliantly to block the strong effort and put it over for a corner. That took the stuffing out of their players, and when play re-started Kofi sent Ian away down the left. Ian drew in the RB before darting past him, he then looked up and saw Wearey arriving in the 6 yard box. Ian picked him out with the cut-back, but Wearey made little or no connection at all which fooled the defence, allowing the ball to fall kindly to Keith who slotted home from around 4 yards to make the game safe. The game finished shortly afterwards to give the Mighty Bridge a thoroughly deserved win and a clean sheet to boot.
The Cup run continues…….

FINAL SCORE– 0-2


Managers Comment:
We went into this game looking for a good solid showing rather than expecting to win convincingly, so I am personally over the moon with effort and attitude from all those involved on Sunday. From the GK up to our striker, there was full commitment for the entire 90mins from every player. This was a team who had beaten us 5-1 only a few months ago, ok we had a fairly poor team out that day, but they had played us off the park, so for us to dominate the game against them in the Cup shows that we have come on leaps and bounds since the last meeting.

Our game plan worked perfectly, our middle 3 players showed great stamina and effort in stopping them playing, and our back 4 were a solid looking unit for the 1st time in a while.
Best in the away strip of Yellow and Blue were: Lee at the back who was solid in the tackle and didn’t lose a header all game, Mark took the game to them at every chance and was fouled more times than I could count, Wearey shored up that gap between the defence and the midfield and broke up their attacks time and time again, and Keith kept them busy at the back with his movement and close control.

My M.O.T.M award this week however goes to our “French Sensation” ANTHONY SERRAND, he battled away all game in the middle of the park and refused to be drawn in by some shoddy tackles on him. He had his head up whenever he received the ball and tried to make a telling pass each time. An all-round superb showing from a player who is really turning into a great player for us, but stick off the Fish suppers mate!

M.O.T.M. – Anthony Serrand

(Man of the Match)


Teamsheet:
GK – Barry O’Donnell (7 out of 10)
RB – Chris Blyth (7)
CB – Kofi Nyadu (7)
CB – Isaac Ayiku (7)
LB – Lee Davidson (8)
RM – Ian Fleming (7)
CM – Mark Smith (9)
CM – Anthony Serrand (9)
CM – Steven Weare (8)
LM – Matty Osborne (7) (Dave Robertson(!) 75) (6)
STK – Keith Alexander (8) (2G)