26th January    Bridgwater Mens 1st        4    -    2    Bristol UWE 1st

The mens 1s ensured they’d be keeping pressure on top side Old Bristolians as they defeated tough side Bristol UWE. The early exchanges were fairly equal and both side has their fair share of chances - with keeper Pete Saunders and his defence keeping the UWE attack at bay. After a loose pass from a UWE centre back, a Todd Barrett and Will Pope breakaway enabled the latter to slot the ball home and put his side ahead. UWE responded quickly however, and soon found themselves level. With the game in the balance, another quick break out of defence enabled Pope and Barrett to combine again - this time, Barrett putting his side back in the lead. Only a few minutes later, a well disguised free hit into the D was deftly deflected home by Barrett to put Bridgwater further ahead. Another loose pass from the UWE defence found its way to Paul Bond, whose strike was deflected in by a defender to bring the score to 4-1 - his first goal for the 1s. The damage was done in the first half, and although conceding another in the second, Bridgwater ran out deserved winners. 

Player of the match was deservedly awarded to Todd Barrett.

26th January    Firebrands C                1    -    3    Bridgwater A

The mens 2s kept their great run of form going with a win over Firebrands. Player of the Match Dom Court opened the scoring after it fell kindly to him after a well saved shot. Then after some sloppy defending Firebrands grabbed their first of the game, leaving the score level at the break, mainly due to some good goal keeping by the Firebrands keeper. Knowing they should be winning the game Bridgwater had to try and get in front again; eventually getting their wish through Court’s second - this time a reverse strike off a bouncing ball. Tom Lott ensured the win would go to Bridgwater and kept his rich vein of scoring form, stopping in front of the rushing keeper to lift it over him into the net. Another good performance from the side that puts them right in the mix in the top half of the table.

26th January    Somerset Gryphons        3    -    0    Bridgwater B

The mens 3s were unable to grab a positive result from a difficult game away to Somerset Gryphons, as it always is. The side found themselves two down at half time, having to endure a lot of rough and tumble from their opposition. Unfortunately the second half didn’t get much better, with Gryphons bagging their third and final goal from a short corner. 

Player of the match was Danny Rogers.

26th January Bridgwater C                1     -    7    Isca E

The mens 4s were on the wrong side of a 7-1 scoreline, coming up against a strong Isca side who really highlighted their potential. Despite their best efforts, they couldn’t keep the rampant Isca side at bay. They did, however, manage to grab themselves a goal - inevitably bagged by Steve Turvey. Encouragement for the 4s can be found through their player of the match - Oscar West - who is shining in his debut season.

26th January East Devon D                1     -    1    Bridgwater D

This week was going to be a top test for two teams in the middle of the table. No debuts today but it was good to see keeper Luke Hendrie come back into the fold.
 
The game started off in the ever so slow fashion Bridgwater are accustomed to, with both defence and attack both in use. East Devon looked handy on attack with their young players doing all they could to harass and press the Bridgwater back line of Steve Morrish, James Kettlewell and Will Baldwin but they couldn’t get the final touch to put it past Hendrie. The midfield of Jim Smith, Luke Otley, Will Marchen-Saunders and Toby Knight looked solid, with Bertie Kelly, Sam Stacey and Steve Miller pressing up top. Once the game got going for both teams it was a very tight tussle with neither side getting full control, but Bridgwater were unlucky to not go ahead from a Smith strike. Stacey had to go off of the pitch for 15 minutes as he took a heavy blow to the foot, but the ten men of Bridgwater played really well. Both teams were clearly wanted the win, with chances to be had, but the defence of Bridgwater stood firm with Hendrie making some mad dashes off of his line. Miller came close with Kelly making sure he made his mark on the game.
 
A half time masterclass was called and Bridgwater obliged. The players all started to play a bit more free flowing hockey with Knight looking great in defensive and attack mode, Smith was also determined to create something putting everything on the line. There was a far higher press and that caused mistakes, but unfortunately Bridgwater couldn’t convert as the East Devon keeper made some good stops. East Devon’s youth and experience up top created some good chances, but again Hendrie looked on top form, so did Smith, Kettlewell and Baldwin. But things changed for the better once Bridgwater scored, it was a fine through ball (that took no deflections or half stops) from a Kettlewell strike to Miller who struck the goal. Neither player knew how the ball wasn’t stopped, blocked or scored to be honest but Bridgwater were ahead. Stacey came close, and Bridgwater nearly got a second through Miller, but the East Devon keeper was equal to it. Marchen-Saunders never gave up, battled hard in the middle, not too bad for only his second game.
 
East Devon then pushed more experience up front which led to a couple of defensive errors that gave East Devon a short corner. The short corner wasn’t what was practised but a half clearance from Morrish on the goal line didn’t quite get clear and East Devon levelled. After this all the game was East Devon who went in search of a second. If it wasn’t for the tracking back from Baldwin to deflect the cross from the attacker's stick it would have been 2-1 - a great clearance working with Hendrie to kep East Devon out. Both teams went in search of ga winner but it was not to be
 
A well deserved draw, that could have gone either way. Jim Smith’s never give up attitude at points in the second half started to pay off, Bertie Kelly continuing to improve, with Toby Knight also impressing.

But man of the match went to Will Marchen-Saunders who just blew the game. Well done chaps.​

26th January Bridgwater Ladies            3    v    4    Taunton Civil Service

The ladies 1s put in an excellent comeback against Taunton Civil Service, after going down three down within the opening first quarter. This did not deter Bridgwater as their determined attitude and a formation change enabled them to come back to level the score before half time with three lifted shots, one from Sapphy Reed-Yang and two from Player of the Match Willow Hobbs. The remainder of the game was a back and forth affair, with Bridgwater being disallowed two goals. It was an incredibly competitive match but Civil Service managed to find a winning goal in the last few minutes of the game.

26th January    Bridgwater Ladies 2nd        4    v    1    Winscombe 4th

The ladies 2s were looking to bounce back to their winning form against Winscombe 4s this week; and they definitely delivered.

Winscombe started the game well attacking Bridgwater from the start, with Bridgwater having to defend waves of fast attacks and soon found themselves a goal down. Bridgwater then began to put some pressure on Winscombe with shots going just wide and the Winscombe kicking back doing well to keep the ball out of the goal. Bridgwater won a short corner and scored from a flick from Clare Wilson; both sides going in level at half time.

The second half saw a much better performance from Bridgwater, passing the ball around the pitch and driving at Winscombe. It wasn't long until they were rewarded with their second goal, with Holly Hobbs creating and finishing wonderfully. A great drive from the defensive 25 into the attacking D from Lauren Morrish allowed her to cross the ball to Rose Baker who slotted the ball home. Bridgwater’s fourth and final goal of the game came from another short corner with Clare Wilson flicking again and Jenny Hayden-Briffett dropping onto the rebound and scoring well.

Player of the match went to Lauren Morrish for an excellent performance in driving the team forward.