Somerset County Premier

Berrow 3, Bishops Lydeard 1

BERROW took a deserved three points from Saturday’s clash with Bishops Lydeard, despite playing for 80 minutes with 10 men.

The home side got off to a good start and were on top from kick-off forcing a couple of early corners.

They suffered a blow on 10 minutes when having been taken out by a very poor challenge, top scorer Jack Taylor was deemed to have raised his hands to the tackler and was given a red card.

Berrow still dominated with Jack smith in a lone strikers role working hard to bring the midfield into the game - and Steve Leaf and Simon Slocombe getting into some good positions as they looked the more likely to open the scoring.

It took until the 35th minute for Berrow to take the lead - when the keeper could only parry Luke McErlain’s free-kick, Slocombe was on hand to force the ball home.

In the final minute of the half, with Berrow briefly down to nine men after Slocombe was injured in a clash of heads, Lydeard had a chance to equalise but Byron Lismore did well to block.

Early in the second-half Nick Slack made a great save from a well struck free-kick, but it was still Berrow who looked the more threatening - with Scott Lismore being denied by the keeper and Smith doing well to turn in the box, but he was unable to get enough power behind his shot.

Lydeard equalised on 65 minutes, but Berrow upped their work rate and for the rest of the game you could have been forgiven for thinking it was Lydeard playing with 10 me,nas the home side swarmed all over them.

Smith was causing all kinds of problems with his work rate and hold up play - and twice in minutes it took a last ditch block to stop him scoring.

Berrow got the goal they deserved with 15 minutes to go - Smith helping on Leaf’s cross for skipper Luke McErlain to force the ball home.

The win was sealed with 12 minutes remaining, when Luke McErlain’s corner was again helped on by Smith, for Kyle McErlain to out jump the keeper and head home.

## Berrow held their annual race night last Saturday evening and the event was a huge success, raising over £1000.

The club would like to formally thank the sponsors that allowed the event to take place, Holley & Steer, Watermark Financial Services, Unwind hair and beauty, Abbey Cabs & Peter Jones hairdressers.

As well as the sponsors the club would like to thank Lynn & Mark Smith for running the very busy bar, the players of Burnham RFC, who supported the event and all the members of Berrow FC who organised and ensured that the event ran as smoothly as it did.