FOOTBALL: Bridgwater Town beaten by Street on Boxing Day

BRIDGWATER Town slipped further off the pace in the pursuit of a top three spot, as three second-half goals secured a superb win for Street at Fairfax Park on Boxing Day, writes Kerry Miller.

The Cobblers were always on the front foot and outplayed the hosts for large parts of a game played in a downpour, on a pitch which held up remarkably well after heroic work from the home groundstaff.

The Robins threatened first, as Jack Taylor’s snapshot was gathered by Street goalkeeper Liam Norris, but the visitors soon settled and former Bridgwater player Patrick O’Halloran escaped to lob Jake Viney, whose partial save was completed by Ross McErlain.

Henry Lawrence-Napier then glanced a header over but Street’s early domination was confirmed when Callum Thompson smashed a volley home when a corner wasn’t cleared on eight minutes.

Jake Brown could have levelled 15 minutes later but ballooned a chance over, before Dave O’Hare side-footed wide on the half hour as the rain intensified and Bridgy temporarily took control.

Moments later it was 1-1 when a clumsy challenge 25 yards out was punished by an inch-perfect McErlain free-kick which gave Norris no chance.

Former Bridport striker Leighton Thomas was a nuisance all day and he brought the half to a close forcing a flying save out of Viney.

The second half belonged to Street’s youngsters, who looked sharper and quicker to the ball, and after O’Halloran and Kameron Andrews had gone close, the latter strode through a static defence and crashed a bullet shot in off the post to restore the visitors' lead eight minutes in.

Bridgwater rallied briefly and Steve Murray volleyed inches wide before Taylor nodded over moments later.

Thomas could have had a hat-trick midway through the second half but blazed wide twice, before Bridgwater & Taunton College prospect Noah Coppin was given his Robins debut just past the hour mark.

Street struck again shortly after when a quick throw in was worked to Thomas on the left and he tucked away the rebound after Viney had kept out the initial effort on 69 minutes.

Coppin then put Murray through to pull one back with a sliding shot past Norris, but substitute Kyle Strange settled any Street nerves four minutes from time with a superb lobbed finish to clinch the win for Street, a result which sees Bridgwater drop to seventh.

Bridgwater Town: Jake Viney, Dave Thorne, Finley Wilkinson, Harry Horton, Ross McErlain, Tom Ellis, Sam Towler (Noah Coppin 64), Dave O'Hare (Nathan Byrne 84), Steve Murray, Jack Taylor, Jake Brown (Sean Thompson 78).
Subs not used: Ollie Morris, Steve Laker.

The Robins now travel to third-placed Clevedon Town tomorrow (Saturday, 3pm) for their next fixture.