Pre-season friendly
Bridgwater United 2, Weymouth 5

BRIDGWATER United stunned Weymouth with two goals inside the first 17 minutes of Saturday’s friendly match, only for the National League side to steamroller their way to a 5-2 win.

With investment from new chief executive Adam Murry, the Robins have set their sights on climbing the English football pyramid, and they gave evidence of what they could do against a team who play four divisions higher.

To the delight of the home fans at Fairfax Park, Bridgwater captain Jack Taylor struck after just 14 minutes, with a deflected effort which beat goalkeeper Gerard Benfield.

Just three minutes later it was 2-0, as hesitant defending from Weymouth enabled Tom Llewellyn to double the lead.

Shocked into action, the visitors halved the deficit six minutes before half-time through serial goal-getter Brandon Goodship.

And Goodship struck again in the 51st minute to level it up, before substitute Brad Ash completed the turnaround with a header after 58 minutes.

Ash scored twice more to bag himself a 27-minute hat-trick and secure a win for the away side.

Bridgwater Mercury:

KICKABOUT: Youngsters enjoy some pre-match entertainment (pic: Debbie Gould)

Bridgwater, who had drawn 1-1 away to away to Southern League side Bideford last Tuesday (July 13), are back in action tomorrow (July 20, 7.30pm), at home to Barnstaple Town.

The Robins’ final pre-season match is away to Bodmin on Saturday (July 24, 3pm), ahead of the start of the Western League season on July 31.

Buckland Athletic are their opponents for the opening league fixture, at Fairfax Park (3pm).

***

BRIDGWATER United Women are due to travel to Buckland Athletic this Sunday (July 25, 2pm) for a friendly match, ahead of the start of the FA Women’s National League campaign on August 15.

The following Sunday (August 1, 2pm) sees them welcome AFC Bournemouth to Fairfax Park, for a launch day event for the women’s XI.