2:03pm Wednesday 10th March 2010
By Mercury sports reporter
A TENSE game between two play-off hopefuls ended goalless at Cirencester last night, writes Eddie Robinson.
Spectators witnessed very few goal attempts as defences were on top.
Cirencester opened at a furious pace and for long periods the Bridgwater midfielders did not venture beyond the halfway line but they did a good job protecting a solid back four.
The result was that keeper Luke Buckingham did not have a shot to save all night.
Bridgwater’s first attack on 19 minutes down the left ended with Jamie Price winning a free kick that came to nothing.
Cirencester’s first fluent move came on 34 minutes, when quick inter-passing got them into a dangerous position which Price thwarted at the expense of a corner.
Bridgwater finally gained a corner on 44 minutes which was caught by the keeper Bath, who launched a huge kick downfield to stretch Bridgwater.
Bridgwater enjoyed more possession in the second half with Brett Trowbridge and Justin Porter beginning to set up counter-attacks.
Nat Pepperell was seeing more of the ball and running at defenders. On 55 minutes a slip by Wood let in Chris Young but the ball would not drop for the Bridgwater striker, whose effort was just over.
The game was now opening up but Cirencester were reduced to long range shots which were well off target.
Bridgwater’s growing confidence was reflected when midfielder Steve Orchard was replaced by winger Graham Mercieca, who combined with Trowbridge to give Porter a shooting chance from 16 yards, but his effort lacked power.
It was then Porter who sent Pepperell clear but his low shot from the edge of the area flashed just wide.
Bridgwater looked very solid at the back with Matt Villis outstanding, winning everything in the air and blocking out the Cirencester attackers who went into the game s the division’s leading scorers.
The game’s last chance fell to Porter whose free-kick from 20 yards finished the wrong side of the post.
Team: Buckingham, Price, Villis, Pitcher, Laird, Porter, Robertson (Beadle 74), Trowbridge, Pepperell, Young (Duharty 85), Orchard (Mercieca 69).
Unused subs: Manley, Bailey
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