GoCrea8 Central 1
Bridgwater 3, Taunton Vale B 0

BRIDGWATER welcomed local rivals Taunton Vale in blistering cold weather and, with the pitch being like a sand pit at present, conditions were hard to play in. 

But the opposition found it tougher, and Bridgwater cantered to a 3-0 win without playing their best hockey.

The victory came courtesy of two goals from Todd Barrett from short corner deflections and one for Will Pope, who worked tirelessly throughout in his best game of the season. 

This should have been their last game of the season, but with the recent snow cancellation, they will finish their campaign next week at home to Somerset Gryphons. 

Player of the match: Will Pope

West Central 1
Bristol University D 1, Bridgwater A 2

AFTER a delay to the start of the game, Bridgwater began brightly and broke the deadlock with a short corner strike from Will Kelly. 

The second half saw much of the same, with great pressure forcing the hosts into making errors, and another short corner being converted by Jamie Fudge. 

Bristol Uni got one back with a breakaway attack down the right, but Bridgwater held on.

Man of the match: Lewis Coad
 
West Central 1
Bridgwater B 1, Old Bristolians B 6

THE overall result did not do justice to Bridgwater’s performance, as they found themselves 2-0 down before a great team goal was subtly finished by Ted Kelly, who gently lifted the ball over the advancing keeper. 

The hosts stayed in the mix but the need to attack proved their undoing, and the failure to win means relegation has been confirmed.

South East 2
Taunton Vale D 5, Bridgwater C 2

THE men’s 4ths were shocked by rivals Taunton Vale, losing 5-2. 

With other results going their way, Bridgwater held on to fourth spot with one game left to play.

Their goals came from Tyler Charlie Breslin and new signing Conor Neal, with Conrad Butt taking player of the match.

South East 3
East Devon D 2, Bridgwater Mens D 2

BRIDGWATER’S front two and wingers posed early problems, with midfield trio Jim Smith, Nikita Cernikovs and Toby Knight playing really well and creating chances. 

The visitors broke the deadlock with a slick move, as Harvey Larcombe touched home Miller’s shot just before it crossed the line. 

This brought East Devon to life and Christian Durkin made some classy saves, but eventually they got a deserved equaliser.

In the second half, both teams pressed and harried until an East Devon long ball missed the sticks of the defence and the striker buried it.

Bridgwater changed tack and pressed high, and soon a good bit of link-up put Cernikovs through on goal, and he superbly nutmegged the keeper to score a vital goal. 

Despite some last-minute drama where Bridgwater could have snuck it, it ended all square.

Man of the match: Jim Smith

West Clubs Women’s League
Central Division
Bridgwater 0, Winscombe 2

THE Ladies 1sts faced high-flying Winscombe, but they could not repeat their win over table-topping Robinsons. 

They lost a closely fought game 2-0, as a five-minute spell of Winscombe dominance gave them the win.

Sedgemoor Division 2
White Eagles A 4,  Bridgwater A 1

THE Ladies 2nds visited Tiverton for a very tough game against second-placed White Eagles A. 

The opposition put Bridgwater on the defensive from the start and were 3-0 up, before the visitors won a short corner and Elesi Ryder made it 3-1 at half time.

White Eagles were just as strong in the second half, and despite some fantastic defensive play from Hilary McNeill and player of the match Elesi Ryder, the hosts won 4-1.