Late Batterham Strike earns 3 points for Bridgford
5th October 2019
Ingles FC vs West Bridgford FC
East Midlands Counites League
Final Score Ingles 0 West Bridgford 1
West Bridgford travelled to Shepshed Dynamo’s ground on Saturday to play Ingles FC.
Bridgford went into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw away to Shirebrook and a 0-2 reverse away to Hucknall over the last 10 days.
On a difficult pitch the early stages of the game saw both teams struggle to impose any control. Ingles created one chance of note when nice interplay between the two forwards created an opportunity down the inside left channel, the shot however was fired over the bar. Bridgford were restricted to efforts from range, with Lloyd and Jordan Wheatley both taking shots from outside the area without success.
There were a number of heavy tackles made and the game became niggly and didn’t offer much as a spectacle.
Half time Ingles 0 West Bridgford 0
The second half was a different story entirely. On 55 minutes, following a tussle for the ball on the left wing the Ingles right back and John Whitehurst got involved in a scuffle, with players from both sides then joining in. The referee sent both players from pitch and handed out yellows to a couple of others.
This raised the aggression and intensity levels, both on and off the pitch, but did result in a much more open game as chances were created at both ends.
Bridgford saw Josh Rae and Ryan Wheatley both go close following right wing crosses from Ellis Williamson. Hopkinson and Rae also both had occasions where they tried to wriggle free and get shots away but were unable to find the net.
At the other end, Ingles were proving dangerous on the counter and on three separate occasions Bridgford had Fogg to thank for preserving their clean sheet. He was excellent and twice made huge double saves and also got down well to palm away a left footed strike from the edge of the area.
Despite the chances, the game appeared to be heading towards a stalemate, until a decisive moment on 85 minutes. Josh Rae showed great control on the left wing to pull down a long clearance from Fogg and switched the play to Williamson on the right who had advanced from the full back position, he curled a searching cross to the back post, where Rae had made up great ground to head the ball goalwards. The Ingles keeper pulled off a fantastic save low to his left but the ball was scrambled back into the middle, where substitute Tom Batterham calmly controlled and then fired into the net for the winning goal for Bridgford.
The remaining five minutes were played out without incident as Bridgford secured three more points in the East Midlands Counties League Campaign.
Full Time Ingles 0 West Bridgford 1
This three points came from a show of great character by the Bridgford team. An added bonus is the first goal for Batterham who has come from the highly successful Under 19’s West Bridgford side. He has found his game time limited and has had to wait for his opportunity, which he has done patiently and worked hard to show his qualities. He certainly took his opportunity yesterday and earned his side three valuable points.
Next up for Bridgford is the First Round Proper of the FA Vase and a trip to Step 5 side Brackley Town Saints in Northamptonshire next Saturday.
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