Bridgwater United 2 Saltash United 1

Bridgwater United march on at the top of the Toolstation Western League Premier Division after Tuesday night’s gripping clash with second placed Saltash United but not after a tense section of the game which went on for the best part of half an hour, writes Kerry Miller.

The Cornishmen shot themselves in the foot for the third time in recent clashes between the clubs when giant striker Owen Howe was shown a straight red by referee Jack Bromham for a wild lunge on Morgan Williams inside half an hour. By then club and league top scorer Jake Brown had nodded United in front early and when Jordan Greenwood made it 2-0 ten minutes after Howe’s walk of shame, it seemed a case of how many as most in Fairfax Park settled in for another goal feast.

To their credit, the Salts dug in and after surviving until the hour mark, began to believe and pulled a goal back against the run of play, and it was an edgy home crowd which greeted the final whistle with the Robins’ defence taking a battering from the ten men.

Jack Taylor and Troy Simpson both returned after suspension, and Dave Pearse went with a potent strike force of those two and Brown up front with Jake Llewellyn and Dave Thorne slotting into the back four.

However, the Cornishmen started strongly, and Sam Hughes and Alex Cairo brought smart saves out of Jake Viney but Brown was soon on the scoresheet. Jake Llewellyn’s corner was flicked on by a defender and just missed everyone charging in but the reprieve was short lived as Llewellyn again threw a ball in and when Simpson hooked the ball over his head, Brown jumped highest to nod home his 13th goal of the season.

Man of the match Llewellyn was involved in most things going forward and his stunning first time pass found Simpson who smashed a bullet of a shot inches over the bar. Howe then departed the scene with Williams left in a heap and for the next 30 minutes, either side of the break, Bridgy went for the jugular.

Williams and the Lewellyns combined for Ross Edwards to nod just wide and Taylor went close but on 37 minutes Jacob Spence nodded a corner back across goal and Jordan Greenwood was on the line to touch it in to double the advantage. Taylor and Tom Llewellyn brought saves out of Jordan Duffey before the break and until the hour mark United continued to play a high tempo.

Duffey fumbled a routine cross only to watch it bounce onto the post and back into his arms, and Taylor and Simpson both went close but against the run of play Callum Merrin swung in a cross and Alex Cairo nodded home to half the deficit. Sam Leary and Merrin shot wide and over before Pearse shuffled his cards introducing Josh Phillips and Mark Armstrong, but there were more anxious moments late on as the league leaders fought hard to preserve the three points.

Saltash introduced Adam Carter off the bench and the huge experienced goal scorer could have salvaged a point with a late header from a free kick but his header went straight at Viney and the Robins were home and dry.

Next up are Cadbury Heath on Saturday where Bridgwater will be hoping to complete the double after the recent victory in Bristol.

Bridgwater Utd:

Jake Viney, Dave Thorne, Jake Llewellyn, Jordan Greenwood, Jacob Spence, Ross Edwards, Tom Llewellyn, Morgan Williams, Troy Simpson, Jack Taylor, Jake Brown

Subs: Mark Armstrong, Josh Phillips, Conor Hartley, George King, Ollie Hebbard (unused)

Saltash United:

Jordan Duffey, Dave Barker, Callum Martindale, Callum O’Brien, Sam Leary, Ed James, Alex Cairo, Henry Wilson, Sam Hughes, Owen Howe, Callum Merrin.

Subs: Danny Lewis, Ben Fowles, Adam Carter, Charlie Elkington, Shane Krac.