BRIDGWATER Town co-manager Dave Pearse was impressed with the impact of two first-team debutants in his side’s 4-2 win at Shortwood United on Saturday.

Liam Winter and Patrick O’Halloran combined for the fourth goal in Gloucestershire, finished by O’Halloran, and they are two of several reserve players knocking on the first-team door.

READ MORE: Robins stay top after easing past Shortwood

Pearse told the Bridgwater Mercury: “Liam Winter has been playing well for the Reserves, as they all have this year; they each deserve a chance with the first team at some point.

“This week it was Liam’s chance and he played really well off the bench.

“Patrick O’Halloran is an Under-18 striker who has been training with us and looking really sharp, and he took his goal brilliantly.

“The reserves are all pushing for a place and they are all hungry. That keeps our first-team players on their toes.”

Pearse was pleased with the patience shown by his side against Shortwood, who are still yet to pick up a point this season.

“They made it difficult for us in the first half an hour,” Pearse said.

“I’m not sure if a few of our lads travelled up there thinking about how many we were going to score, but it was never going to be like that – we knew we would have to work for it.

“We scored a couple quickly after half time which made it more comfortable, but we never really got out of third gear.

“It was disappointing to let two in at the end, which I think was due to a lapse in concentration, but it’s three more points and keeps us top of the table.

“We have a tough run of fixtures coming up in December, so the more points we can put on the board now the better.

“Other teams are playing catch-up but we can’t afford to take our foot off the gas.”

The Robins are now preparing for a trip to Clevedon Town on Wednesday night (ko 7.45pm) in the Somerset Premier Cup, as they look for revenge after being beaten 1-0 in September’s league match.

“They did a job on us, but hopefully we have learned from that,” Pearse said.

“It is a competition we want to go far in so we will give it a real go.”

Saturday, meanwhile, sees seventh-placed Odd Down visit Fairfax Park (ko 3pm).

“It will be a tough and physical game and I imagine they will look to stop us playing,” Pearse said.

“We should be able to deal with that – we are a different animal at home.”

Town remain without Mike Duffy (knee) and Josh White (foot).

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Bridgwater Mercury:

COOL HEAD: Cam Birch netted the winning penalty for Bridgwater Town Reserves on Saturday. Pic: Steve Richardson

IT was truly a game of two halves on Saturday, as Bridgwater Town Reserves fought back from 3-0 down to keep themselves in the Somerset County League Premier & Division 1 Cup.

Visitors Ilminster Town, from the division above, sprinted into a 3-0 lead by half time at Fairfax Park.

Carl Lazenby made it 1-0 on 15 minutes, and just three minutes later Andy Whitefield doubled the away side’s lead.

Lazenby then won a penalty, converted by Alex Paul for a seemingly unassailable half-time advantage.

But Paul was then sent off for a second yellow just two minutes into the second half, and that proved the turning point.

Josh Champion pulled one back, and then Cam Birch netted a rebound with 15 minutes to go.

A fine header from Josh Gracie levelled matters, and with no extra time it went straight to penalties.

Both teams scored their first four spot-kicks, but then a miss from Ilminster allowed Birch to win it, 5-4.