Toolstation Western League Premier Division

Clevedon Town 2, Bridgwater Town 1

IN the end it took a freak late goal, aided by the elements, to consign Bridgwater to their fourth league defeat of the season at a drenched Hand Stadium on Wednesday evening, writes Kerry Miller.

Despite it being a local derby, once again the foul weather and European football meant there were no more than five dozen hardy souls dotted around.

However, they did get to see a very watchable game despite the second consecutive awful night which would have had Noah reaching for his Black and Decker workbench.

Bridgy were without joint manager Dave Pearse but it seemed to matter little as they took the lead inside three minutes when, in their first attack, a corner was not cleared and Ryan Burrows’ first touch was good enough to give him time to crash home a left-footed drive past Damien Freeman.

It could easily have been two not long after as Callum Ham spotted Freeman off his line and launched a lob from half way which went through the keeper’s hands but was rescued on the line at the third attempt.

Clevedon regrouped after the initial burst and Isaac Reid fed Daine O’Connor who shot over then from a corner Kaine Gazzard nodded wide just as the first major downpour hit the ground.

Syd Camper then tested Freeman with a shot which was just wide as Bridgwater came again and continued to dominate the first 20 minutes, but Clevedon were getting a toehold and Conor O’Sullivan slung over a long cross which found Liam Dempsey, whose was blocked.

It was a short reprieve as, on 25 minutes, good work from Reid saw his curling shot sneak past Jake Viney to level the scores.

Straight from the restart Callum Kingdom was booked for a foul and Bridgy escaped without injury from a huge scramble in the six yard box.

At the other end Camper nodded wide again before Ingram finally talked himself into the book after several attempts.

His mood could not have improved greatly when his pass found Reid all alone, but he blazed over on the hour and a few wondered if that miss would come back to haunt them later.

As the rain turned almost biblical, Burrows volleyed over and Ham’s trickery ended with a shot from an angle which Freeman gathered and, from the next break, Camper threaded Burrows through and his chip over the keeper was goalbound until Gazzard somehow got back and kept it out.

With minutes left, Sekani Simpson shot but his effort was cleared over the bar by Shaun Lambert.

It seemed there was always going to be a winner and with eight minutes left it arrived.

Ingram curled a corner under the Bridgy bar and it seemed destined for the net before Bridgy defender Mark Armstrong helped it in to bring a climax to a game which did not have any right to be entertaining given the weather, but it was nevertheless.

Bridgwater now sit 12th in the table ahead of Saturday's home clash with Hengrove Athletic, who are two places below the Robins.

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Somerset County League Premier Division

Bridgwater Town Reserves 1, Ilminster Town 2

BRIDGWATER Town Reserves suffered their fifth defeat of the season to newly promoted Ilminster Town on a blustery Tuesday night.

Town executed a great move in the first half to take a deserved lead at through Jamie Howson but, with the aid of mother nature and mishit crosses, Ilminster scored two similar goals to take what was a surprising victory.

The game was difficult for both sides to play any consistent football with the weather dictating the evening and making the game frustrating and unpredictable throughout.

The home side started brightly and had the first chance of the game through an Andy Venning cross which found Lee Villis at the back post, but he was unable to keep his shot down.

Bridgwater worked the ball nicely in the wide areas, which was causing many problems for Ilminster, and the hosts took the lead from this approach.

Tyne Govier expertly played the ball in front of Ash Tandy, who delivered well for Howson to get across his man and slide the ball home for a 1-0 advantage.

Howson went close again soon afterwards, receiving a throw in on the left before spinning and curling his shot that skimmed the top of the crossbar, but the home side had to settle for a marginal lead at the interval.

At half time Bridgwater made two changes; Matt Redman replacing Venning and Josh Champion, standing in for the injured Paul Goss, who suffered a back injury in goal.

The second half changed the fortunes of both sides, with the visitors now benefiting considerably from the horrendous conditions, and Ilminster’s Davis’ cross-shot sailed over Champion’s head from 30 yards to level the scores with 55 minutes played.

Bridgwater struggled to cope with the nature of the goal and struggled to retain the ball for any length of time.

It was in almost identical fashion that Ilminster scored again to take the lead through the same player.

Following the award of a free kick 35 yards from goal, Davis looked to pick out his towering team mates but, with the wind supporting his cross, the ball looped out of Champion’s hands and he could do nothing to prevent the ball crossing the line.

The rest of the second period was agonising for the home team.

Playing into the wet and windy conditions, they were wasteful in possession and Ilminster managed the game brilliantly to slow the tempo down.

The home side squandered a good chance to equalise following excellent work from Villis down the left flank, but Will Sneddon-Coombes was able only to hit a recovering defender on the line.

Reflecting on the game, Manager Dan Wright said: "It was such a frustrating and freakish night in horrible conditions.

"The goalkeeper injury and substitution really cost us tonight. If Goss was able to stay on the pitch he’d likely have denied both long range goal attempts and we would have won with a clean sheet.

"Ilminster created absolutely nothing other than two crosses from deep positions which, with the help of Mother Nature, crossed the line against a player who isn’t a regular goalkeeper.

"Tonight summed up our luck so far this season to be honest.

"However, fair play to Josh Champion, he said he would put the on the gloves and do his best and nothing more can be asked or expected of him.

"We now have the challenge of picking up points against higher ranked opposition following our recent two defeats, starting with our away trip to Stockwood Green this coming Saturday (3pm)."