Pre-season friendly match
Ashton & Backwell Utd 3, Bridgwater Town 2

A BRACE of penalties from Jake Llewellyn was all Bridgwater Town had to show from their visit to Western League Division 1 side Ashton & Backwell United on Saturday, writes Kerry Miller.

The game often resembled a Western League encounter, with tackles flying in on a wet surface, and Town began well - Jack Taylor blazing over when free 18 yards out.

Yet the home side looked dangerous up front, too, and James White and Saul Jarrat both tested Robins goalkeeper Jake Viney.

Another Jarrat effort was superbly kept out by Viney, but his save was in vain as the corner was nodded home from close range by Joe Bishop to give the home side the lead.

Viney’s luck was out minutes later when he made a stunning double save, only for a clumsy challenge seconds later to give United a penalty, and Calum Townsend made it 2-0 from the spot.

Within a minute Bridgwater had reduced the arrears when Sam Thomas was adjudged to have handled inside the box, and Llewellyn tucked away his first spot-kick to make it 2-1.

From the restart the lively Jarrat twice went close again and from the next attack the ball was deflected onto a post, but Jordan Scadding prodded home to restore the hosts’ two-goal advantage.

Sam Towler then hit the bar with a free-kick from the edge of the area then Tom Ellis and Taylor went close.

Towler’s long-range volley was pushed away by Lewis Coombs but he could do little when substitute Dave Pearse was fouled in the area and Llewellyn tucked away the third penalty of the day.

However, the home side were comfortable and the Robins have to regroup before two serious South West Peninsula League challenges coming up from Bodmin Town and Helston Athletic.

The squad have a week’s break before Bodmin visit Fairfax Park on Saturday (1pm), for another match behind closed doors.

Bridgwater Town: Jake Viney, Jake Lewellyn, Sam Towler, Jordan Greenwood, Ollie Morris, Mike Duffy, Jack Taylor, Conor Bryant, Adnan Hiroli, Tom Ellis, Dave Thorne. Subs (all used): Dave Pearse, Tyne Govier, Fin Wilkinson.