Men's 1s 5-3 Firebrands 2s

Bridgwater 1s continued their winning streak in a close fought 5-3 away win against a well drilled Firebrands side.

The home side put Bridgwater under pressure from the start, playing some quick and attacking hockey and were finding lots of space down the wings. It was 'Brands who opened the scoring from a short corner, putting the home side 1-0 up from a well executed drag flick.

Firebrands had most of the possession but couldn't find a way to increase their score, from the tight defending of Rhys Morgan, Rob Morrish, Max Syvret, Dom Williams and keeper Pete Saunders all working tirelessly to keep the 'Brands domination at bay. When Bridgwater did have control of the ball, they broke away with immense pace, the home side back peddling to try and stop the attack. It was the brilliant teamwork of Charles Grossey and Paul Tilley who were able to level the score. Grossey drilling the ball low and hard from the far side of the D, for it to take a deflection off a defenders stick for Tilley to quickly react and play a lovely pull shot past the unawares keeper to cap off a brilliant Bridgwater attack.

The home side still dominated with possession, but it was when their attack broke down, Bridgwater were looking to capitalise and catch them on the break. Bridgwater did just that, forward Tom Lott, dribbling with pace and precision into the D, drawing the keeper far off his line, rolling the ball back out and around, leaving the keeper stranded and the goal open, hit the ball on the half turn towards goal where Kyle Wheaton was able to assist the ball into the back netting with the finest of touches to get the away side 2-1 up.

Soon after the home side hand another short corner, once again it was put away from a well drilled flick to the right side of the goal where a 'Brands player was waiting to slip it past the post players. It didn't take long for the unbeaten away side to score their third of the game, once again it was Lott who finished off a Bridgwater counter attack, putting his side 3-2 up going into halftime.

The start of the second half started in similar fashion to the first, Firebrands controlling the possession, moving it well side to side, but the Bridgwater backline being able to hold them off and get the ball forward for a counter attack. This time it was the brilliant work of Kyle Wheaton on the right hand side, slipping the ball past his man and running on the right hand side of the D. He was able to find Lott with a precision slap to the top of the D, Lott then hitting the ball first time with immense power, rifling it past the keeper into the backboard. Bridgwater were now 4-2 up.

Firebrands didn't let up, they kept attacking and once again won themselves a short corner, but this time it was the quick thinking and expertise of Duncan Morrish on the post who with only milliseconds to react was able to clear the drag flick and middle the ball far and wide out of the Bridgwater 25 metre line. The home side scored their final goal of the game from another short corner, making all their goals in the game coming from penalty corners, something they clearly look for matches and work on in training, with good effect.

Bridgwater capped off an incredible attacking performance with Lott, securing his hattrick and the Bridgwater sides fifth goal of the game. Once again fantastic defensive resilience to keep 'Brands at bay and the work of Ash Woolmington and George Adams in the middle found Lott up top who dribbled his way past the defence and slotted home his 12th goal of the campaign.

Player of the match was shared between Paul Tilley and Tom Lott, Tilley for his incredible efforts in midfield and Lott for his sublime finishing up front.

The 1s are on the road again next weekend to Mid Somerset, who similar to the 1s are also unbeaten in the league so far this season. 1:30pm push back at Wells Blue School.