Bridges in opening game 0-0 draw with Chatham Town

Both goalkeepers, Kieron Thorp and Henry Newcombe, had fairly quiet afternoons as the two attacks fizzled out at the decisive moments.

Bridges’ best chance of the game came after only five minutes.

A sublime cross from Steve Sargent was met by the head of Tony Garrod at the far post, only for the ball to sail wide when maybe Newcombe should have been forced to at least make a save.

Garrod then had another first time effort blocked after a lovely head down from Allan Tait, and the half ended with Garrod playing a one-two with Tom Bold, whose shot was just wide.

Chatham hadn’t really threatened until ten minutes before the interval when they were awarded a free-kick even though it seemed that Thorp had done well to race out and clear as Adam Yusuff homed in on goal.

The referee deemed however that Hakeem Adelakun had made first contact and showed a yellow card before Luke Medley’s free-kick was tipped over the bar almost nonchalantly by Thorp.

If Adelakun’s booking was unfortunate, Tom Bold’s caution four minutes into the second half was perhaps a touch lucky as it was a rather wild challenge which had the visitors calling for a red card to be flourished.

The game became a bit of a cat and mouse affair with both teams making decent attacks but floundering at the final hurdle.

Credit must go to the two defences with Jamie Crellin and Drew Cooney both outstanding at the heart of the home defence.

And Bridges might have snatched a winner with the very last kick of the game as Callum Donaghey made space for himself but then rather scuffed his shot much to the relief of Newcombe.

Bridges: Thorp; Sargent; Adelakun; Bold (Donaghey 79); Cooney; Crellin; Fender; Lansdale; Tait (Godfrey 64); Garrod; Casselman (Mobsby 55). Unused subs: Oleka; Pulling

Attendance: 84

Aerotron Man of the Match: Jamie Crellin

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