Verde Recreo Men's League
Central 1
Bridgwater 1, Westbury & UB A 3
BRIDGWATER men's 1sts were dealt a big blow in the title race, as they lost to new league leaders Westbury & UB 2nds.
The away side took the initiative and went 2-0 up in the first 10 minutes.
Despite that slow start, the hosts fought back strongly and Will Pope finished off a move started from a great press to pull one back before half-time.
Bridgwater dominated large parts of the second half, but the visitors proved difficult to break down.
With 10 minutes to go, the home side kept throwing men forward and were caught out by a third Westbury goal.
Bridgwater dropped to third in the table, but they are only one point off the top with two games to go.
Player of the match: Duncan Morrish & Lewis Coad
West Central 1
Shepton Mallet A 0, Bridgwater A 2
A MUCH-CHANGED 2nd XI travelled to Shepton Mallet and came home with the three points.
With the wind at their backs Bridgwater played more of a long ball game with runs in behind.
A good ball into Tom Lott saw him lay the ball off to Joe Syvret, who found Tyler Colman, the young midfielder committing the goalkeeper and unselfishly passing to Will Marchent-Saunders to score his first goal on his 2nd XI debut.
Bridgwater increased their lead after some great play down the left from Tyler Fagan and Marchent-Saunders, the latter setting up Lott to score with a clean strike.
The visitors came under pressure from the start of the second half, but the defence held firm.
This was a great victory with a good team performance, even when most of the players had not played together before.
Player of the match: Will Marchent-Saunders
West Central 2
Bridgwater B 2, Bristol & West D 1
THE men's 3rds saw off a strong Bristol & West side to stay in with a chance of promotion.
Bridgwater were the stronger side in the early exchanges, creating a multitude of chances, but they couldn’t quite find an early goal.
The hosts persisted, though, and Simon Burland buried the ball with a well-taken finish, and an impressive spinning finish from the returning Andy Cook pierced through the keeper’s legs from a crazy angle to make it 2-0.
The away side dominated most of the second half, and with some very skilful junior players, it took a strong defensive effort from the hosts to keep hold of their lead.
South East 2
Yeovil & Sherborne B 3, Bridgwater C 0
BRIDGWATER 4ths lost a tense match to Yeovil & Sherborne, leaving them second from bottom in the league table.
The young side put in another good performance, and held their own for the most part during the game, creating a fair few of their own chances.
But it was Yeovil who took the win by a three-goal margin.
West Clubs Women's League
Central Division
Weston-super-Mare 2, Bridgwater 4
THE ladies 1st XI moved out of the bottom two with three vital points away to Weston-super-Mare on Saturday.
The visitors started incredibly well, scoring within the first minute of the game, Willow Hobbs showing good vision to find Sapphy Reed-Yang, who drove forward and slotted the ball home.
Reed-Yang got her second only a few minutes later, after intercepting a Weston hit-out, but the hosts clawed one back just before half-time.
Weston started the second half strongly, making it 2-2, but this did not deter Bridgwater.
Charlotte East netted from a short corner, and player of the match Charlie Lewis sealed the win with an excellent strike into the corner.
Weston were awarded a penalty flick in the dying minutes, but keeper Amy Burridge made a superb stop to preserve the two-goal lead.
Sedgemoor Division 2
Bridgwater 2nds 3, Minehead 2nds 3
THE ladies 2nds entertained Minehead at Chilton, and were on the front foot from the off.
With some good play between midfield and the forwards they finally broke the deadlock, Rose Baker scoring, but Minehead responded well and equalised before half-time.
Bridgwater attacked from the restart and earned a short corner, which was well-executed and converted by Jess Shobbrook.
Again Minehead levelled, and although Shobbrook scored her second from another well-worked short corner, a third equaliser came with five minutes to go.
Player of the match: Jess Shobbrook
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