10:00am Sunday 7th March 2010
By Mercury sports reporter
Bracknell Town 2 Bridgwater Town 5
BRIDGWATER Town looked on course for double figures against bottom of the table Bracknell, after scoring three goals in the opening quarter of an hour, writes EDDIE ROBINSON.
The first goal – against a team who had lost 26 of their 27 league games this season - was scored on just 20 seconds when Orchard ran onto a Pepperell pass before shooting past keeper Bradley.
On three minutes, Duharty, finding space down the left, crossed for Beadle to square the ball to Mercieca who doubled their lead from close range.
From Bridgwater’s third corner an unmarked Price headed into the top corner, having already put a similar effort just wide.
It was all too easy for the visitors and Bracknell just could not cope with the movement and passing of Bridgwater.
In their first attack on 21 minutes Bracknell surprised themselves by scoring a neat goal – when a left wing cross was firmly headed home by Mudge.
Mercieca and Orchard missed open goals laid on a plate by Duharty crosses, but it was the centre forward who reacted sharply when played in by a quickly taken free-kick to restore Bridgwater’s three goal advantage after 35 minutes.
The away side then notched their fifth goal when an unmarked Beadle nodded past the exposed Bradley, who had just conceded a free-kick for handling outside his area.
Bridgwater withdrew the influential Porter at half time, to the relief of Bracknell, who celebrated by claiming a second goal from a Small header - reducing their goal difference to –98 this season.
For much of the remainder of the match Bridgwater dropped down to Bracknell’s level and the game lacked quality on a difficult pitch.
Pepperell, looking to become town’s sixth scorer in the match, three times went one-on-one with keeper Bradley but each time the keeper came out on top.
Beadle, recalled to the starting line-up, tried hard to set-up up the front men, but perhaps they had decided to keep their powder dry for the tougher tasks to come this season - starting with tonight’s (Tuesday’s) match against Cirencester.
Bridgwater Town: Buckingham, Price, Pitcher, Laird, Tasker, Porter (sub Robertson 46), Orchard, Beadle, Pepperell, Duharty, Mercieca.
Subs unused: Villis, Young, Trowbridge, Bailey.
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