Tony Garrod hat-trick brings Three Bridges a five-star display

Tony Garrod in action for Three Bridges against Walton & Hersham. Pic by Dave Burt

Bridges opened the scoring in the fourth minute when Jon Dollery threaded the ball through to Tony Garrod, who coolly slotted past keeper Dan Buss.

Lee Carney sent a free-kick just wide two minutes later but a brilliant team move in the ninth minute brought the second goal, Dollery finishing in style after playing a one-two with Garrod.

Bridges fans could hardly believe it when a thud goal arrived in the 13th minute.

Matt Daniel made it 3-0 after his first shot rebounded off Buss back to him and then looped over the helpless keeper.

But Walton refused to bow out gracefully and both Matt Pooley and Nathan Oliver had decent efforts blocked before Greg Andrews forced Martin Grant to make a superb save three minutes before half-time.

But the half ended with Buss holding on to a Garrod header and a first time shot by Carney fizzing inches wide.

Waiting had a great early chance in the second half as Lewis Grace-Palmer hit into the side-netting following a rare fumble by Grant.

But they got themselves on the scoresheet five minutes after the break when Andrews’ low cross was scrambled over the line by Peter Wedgeworth as Bridges appealed in vain for offside.

Andrews, who was comfortably Walton’s best player, then wasted a great chance for another goal, and Bridges quickly punished this lapse as Elliott Romain sent Garrod clear for a good finish after 58 minutes.

Garrod was determined to get his hat-trick, and after he’d seen Buss tip his volley over, he duly grabbed his third after 67 minutes following delightful trickery by Dollery.

Walton continued to threaten though and after 74 minutes Andrews drove home following a cut back by Wedgeworth.

Bridges might well have added to their tally as Alex Parsons, Carney and Romain all went close.

Andrews was probably the unluckiest of all as he thundered a shot against the crossbar in the closing moments of a game that was more competitive than the final scoreline suggests.

Walton - now with only one point from seven games - will surely trouble many sides if they continue to show as much passion as they did on Saturday.

Bridges: Grant, Leach, Brake, Attwater, Maxwell, Dollery (Parsons 69), Peauroux, Carney, Garrod (Golding 74), Romain, Daniel (Touray 86).

Unused subs: Ajide, Djimah.

Attendance: 109

Aerotron Man of the Match: Tony Garrod