Three Bridges 2, Carshalton Athletic 3: Substitutions play big part in Bridges defeat

Both that shout for an ominous looking shirt pull and a first half one for the visitors looked reasonable calls, but the referee was having none of it despite heated protests on both occasions.

Bridges weren’t helped by the losses of Sammy MacVicar and Tony Garrod to recurring niggling injuries, and Carshalton must have been wary as they had to make all three of their changes by half time. But two of their substitutes actually scored the goals that turned the game their team’s way!

Athletic keeper Luke Colquhoun was called into early action as he saved a solid drive by MacVicar with his feet, and MacVicar came close again with a chip from wide on the left that just evaded the far post. But after 24 minutes Bridges went in front with a glorious free kick from the excellent Hakeem Adelakun. Sadly within two minutes they were on level terms again as Billy Marshall made a superb run through to hit an equally superb goal.

Garrod had a great effort tipped away and Ben Godfrey saw his shot from the resulting corner blocked as the second half got under way, and after 57 minutes the home side scored with a swift counter attack of their own. John Lansdale sprinted down the right flank and played the perfect ball to Matt Whitehead. His shot was blocked well by Colquhoun, but Garrod rifled home the loose ball and then departed with his back injury!

For sheer quality of swift breaks, it would be hard to better Carshalton’s 68th minute response however. Some delightful one touch passing that started in their own half finished with a lovely pass by Tommy Bradford for Kingsley Aikhionbare to show his strength before slipping past Kieran Thorp. Colquhoun at the other end then made another save with his foot to deny the persistent Godfrey, but after 79 minutes the winner came from a free kick. According to their kit man, this was a dead ball situation that had been pieced together on the training ground as Marshall played it wide, and as the resulting cross came in, Jordan Higgs was inexplicably unmarked in the box to net despite the valiant effort of Thorp.

Bridges : K.Thorp; D.Cooney (D.Mobsby, 79); M.Daniel; S.Sargent; N.Brake; J.Crellin; S.MacVicar (J.Lansdale, h-t); B.Godfrey; T.Garrod (S.Otobo, 57); H.Adelakun; M.Whitehead.

Unused Sub. – M.Pulling.

Booked – MacVicar (18); Sargent (78); Mobsby (90+2).

AEROTRON MAN OF THE MATCH – HAKEEM ADELAKUN

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