Bridgwater Ladies 2 Redland 1

BRIDGWATER recorded their first victory of the season on Saturday.

After last week’s inability to score from penalty corners, they soon got their first goal from exactly that – a top D strike from Hayley Greenwell, tapped in on the line by Donna Cooper.

Redland replied from open play to make it 1-1, and the second half was more end to end with Redland pressuring the Bridgwater circle.

Bridgwater won several penalty corners and the switch in routine rewarded them with a second goal.

Joint players of the match were Donna Cooper and Charlie Lewis.

Bridgwater Mens 5 Old Bristolians 1

ON a day when Bridgwater were light in defence this was worsened with another defensive pull-out on the morning of the game.

This meant Bridgwater travelled to Bristol with only one fully recognised defender against a team that were unknown to them.

Bridgwater’s closing down by James, Woolmington and Sibley, and movement from Lott, Pigden and Pope, were excellent and meant they took Old Bristolians apart.

James got the first goal from a short corner rebound after a low flick from Lott, while the second and third came from Lott – his second a great solo effort in the D, rounding off with a lovely finish.

The second half saw Bridgwater play exactly the same, and within ten minutes they had the game out of sight with two more goals.

Bridgwater B 5, North Devon A 3

BRIDGWATER started well, creating early pressure, and took the lead through Rich Payne.

Good defence from Phil Morrish and Ian Stradling led to the second goal courtesy of Steve Turvey.

North Devon pulled a goal back before half-time, but Sam Uminski fired Bridgwater further ahead shortly after the break.

Joe Syvret added a fourth and Steve Turvey a fifth to secure a win.

Bridgwater Ladies II 0 Weston 4

DOWN to a minimum due to late drop-outs, the ladies took to the field determined, and soon Karen and Megan Weston were forcing the Weston youngsters into errors.

The midfield of Heather Tinkler, Claire Evci and Miche Evans chased down the build-up play of the Weston forwards, leaving the experience of Julie Morrish, Rachel Griggs and Bridget Hedaux to pick off dangerous balls into the D.

Against the run of play, Weston forced a goal through an acute angled shot and soon after Sue Durkin in goal parried a head high shot at goal, but the Weston forward got to the ball first, popping it into the net for 2-0.

Jules Griffiths and Becky Oram linked well to force shots and corners just wide or well saved.

Bridgwater Men’s IV 3, Taunton Vale D 0

TAUNTON put early pressure on the Bridgwater defence of Matt Hubbard, Peter Cammish and Ben Stone, but it did not take long for Bridgwater’s confidence to return.

The midfield/attack rotation of Pigden, Fludgate, Wilson, Ward, Dillon, Evans, Batten and Davidge kept banging at Vale’s door.

Ward dribbled into the side of the D and passed into the goal area, where players for both teams scrabbled for the ball, but none touching it as it rolled into the net.

Davidge and Ward scored the second and third.

Chard III 5, Bridgwater Mens V 1

DESPITE Chard having most of the possession Bridgwater held the ball up well and looked solid.

Steve Morrish, Geoff Banham, James Kettlewell and Mike Date all contributed to frustrate a well organised, mature Chard side.

Bridgwater who struck first as young debutant Lewis Coad won the ball and slipped it to Morrish, who played it into the D for Will Kelly (another young debutant) to apply a difficult finish.

Chard sneaked a goal just before half-time to make it 1-1, and the second half started as the first ended with Chard on the attack.

Date, Lumby with Kettlewell put their bodies and sticks on the line, but three more goals were conceded in the final ten minutes.