Somerset Premier

Chilcompton Sports 2 Bridgwater Town Reserves 2

BRIDGWATER Town Reserves manager Dan Wright praised his side for a hard working performance in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Chilcompton Sports, despite seeing them squander a two-goal lead.

Goals from Josh Champion and Matt Connick had fired Town into a 2-0 lead, but the home side fought back in diffuclt conditions to steal a point.

Wright said: “Today the lads displayed a valiant performance in some seriously tough conditions.

“Throughout the game the team worked tirelessly out of possession winning tackle after tackle, maintaining their shape and launching quick attacks after regaining the ball.

“The lads ran themselves into the ground for one another today which is something they can all be proud of. “Unfortunately a lapse in concentration can cost you and today it did.

“On reflection though we should have done better with the possession we had in the home side’s defensive third and created more chances.”

A strong wind on a sloped pitch, with bursts of heavy down pour made it very difficult for either side, but straight from the kick off Town won possession and distributed it to an in-form Matt Connick, who bypassed three defenders only to be denied by the onrushing goalkeeper.

On 30 minutes, good work down the right-hand side from Town lit up the game and saw them take the lead.

A quick one-two between Champion and Connick set Champion free down the right - driving into the penalty area and skipping past the final defender, he smashed the ball between the goalkeeper’s legs and into the far corner.

Early in the second-half, Connick who was set through on goal and he made no mistake, striking the ball across goal, onto the post and in.

A lapse in the defence from Champion, who failed to control the ball, allowed the left-winger from Chilcompton through on goal and he made no error with his chance, smashing the ball into the roof of the net.

Under 18 Nash Eastwood came on with fifteen minutes to go and several passes were played in behind the home side defence, Eastwood doing well to hold the ball up and drive into the penalty area, but he failed to convert a great opportunity from a Govier corner.

In almost pure darkness, with the ball barely visible for players and spectators, Town had one minute left on the clock to hold out to what would have been a great victory.

But a cross-field pass caught out the Town defence and a pass into the centre forward, who seemed to be going nowhere was brought down by Connick.

The right decision was made and Chilcompton were awarded a penalty which wasslotted the ball into the bottom corner with the final whistle blowing straight after.

Town Reserves face Stockwood Wanderers on Wednesday, (7.45pm) in Premier First Division Cup.