Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South.

North Leigh 2, Bridgwater Town 4

ANOTHER fine away performance in which all eleven played well, saw Bridgwater win against a good North Leigh side, writes Eddie Robinson.

Kyle Tooze, Joe Bushin, Ross McNab and Dave O’Hare were on target for Town in an impressive win on the road.

Bridgwater’s best chance of the first half came early - Ross McNab nodded down for Tom Knighton whose athletic attempt to convert the bouncing ball lacked power to trouble keeper Bulman.

On six minutes Kyle Tooze and Knighton sliced through the Leigh defence and only a timely interception prevented McNab having a tap-in.

After this early threat the game evened up and the interchanging North Leigh forwards were testing the visitors defence who stood up well to the challenge.

They were grateful to Jack Allward and Nathan Rudge making good tackles to prevent North Leigh forwards having clear runs on goal.

O’Hare and Tooze were well wide with shots from distance as Bridgwater were unable to threaten the home goal.

North Leigh took the lead on 38 minutes - a free-kick was headed out as far as Hughes whose looping header found the top corner despite the heroic efforts of John to keep it out.

An entertaining half ended with Bridgwater a goal down but they turned the game on its head with two goals within eight second-half minutes.

O’Hare burst through the middle and was only halted by the concession of a free kick.

From 30 yards out, a shot on goal seemed ambitious but Tooze found the bottom corner.

McNab put through the middle, fired against the advancing keeper but the ball bounced out to the following-up O’Hare who calmly slotted home.

It is no accident that he is on hand to score this type of goal, his fourteenth of the season, a fine return for a midfielder.

Bridgwater Mercury:

After the industrious McNab had forced a handling error from the keeper his shot from an acute angle went narrowly wide.

McNab was to be congratulated on his desire to chase an aimless long ball heading towards the corner flag.

His pace got him to the ball first and his strength got him past two defenders before squaring the ball to Tooze who had a simple finish on 68 minutes.

North Leigh responded, working the ball well with short passes into the danger zone but Rudge and Allan were resolute defenders - whilst behind them John twice got down sharply and his safe handling prevented the ball being spilt to onrushing forwards.

Alex Grimshaw won every tackle in the second half, nullifying any danger from his flank.

North Leigh pulled a goal back on 87 minutes when a corner was headed out to Cooke who slammed his first-time volley into the net from 15 yards.

Any fears that North Leigh would get back into the game were allayed when substitute Joe Bushin ran down the inside right channel and finished with a strong crisp shot into the far corner to seal an impressive win with a fourth goal.

The first time this season, that North Leigh had conceded that many.

Bridgwater Town: John, Grimshaw, Allward, Allan, Rudge, Byrne, Chamberlain, O’Hare, Knighton(Cpt), McNab (Bushin 79), Tooze (Welling 89).