Three Bridges v Broadbridge Heath
Isthmian League South East
There’s one thing that’s remained a constant since starting the wandering journey two and a half years ago, whenever I attempt a game where my train journey takes me via Gatwick, I am always delayed. Today was no exception, a points problem on my second connecting train between Wokingham and Gatwick meant a slow moving train and a delay meaning I missed my planned third connection. Some things never change!
All that being said I managed to get to Jubilee Field around 2pm despite walking backwards and forwards along the main road trying to find the entrance to the ground! Entry was £10 for adults and an excellent printed programme was also available for £2. I did my customary wander around a new ground before heading into a large and very pleasant clubhouse. A pint of cider was under £5 and the lady behind the bar was very friendly and welcoming.
Next stop was to visit the food hatch, as I do so many times if I see it on the menu I opted for a bacon double cheeseburger with fried onions for £6.50 which was very tasty.
So onto the match. There is only 10 miles or so between the two clubs so a tough local league derby in prospect. Before the match Three Bridges were sitting in 8th place in the league, just four points off the play-off places while Broadbridge were comfortable in mid table in 13th. Both teams sat with a better record away from home, both winning eight games on the road.
In a nice change from recent weekends, the game started in bright sunshine and, as you can imagine, it was a fast paced but cagey start with the hosts probing for an opening and the visitors playing a high pressing game. The first chance came to the home side, Reece Hallard beating the full back down the left and sending a deep cross towards the far post where Noel Leighton got to the ball first but could only head over the bar under pressure from Sean Terry.
At the other end a corner from the right was swung in left footed towards the middle of the goal but Will Tillman was there to tip it over the bar.
The game followed a similar pattern with the home side passing the ball around waiting for a chance and the away side trying to hit them on the break. Goalscoring chances were at a premium with neither keeper being forced into action.
A driving run down the right flank and cross fired to the edge of the six yard box by Elliot Hanslow was blocked and flicked up, Leighton knocked it down and passed the ball into the net but referee Redmond Egan adjudged it had come off his arm and disallowed the goal.
The Bears hit back and a long through ball saw Callum Dowdell beat the offside trap and rush goalwards. His first touch took him around keeper Alfie Hadfield but sent him a bit wider than he’d have liked and this gave a defender time to get back on the line and control and clear Dowdell’s left foot shot.
In added time in the first half a forceful run from Louis Evans down the left was halted when he was bundled over in the area with the referee pointing straight to the spot. Byron Napper took responsibility and powered the ball past Tillman and into the bottom left corner. 0-1
It proved to be the last kick in a hard fought first half as the half time whistle was blown while the visitors were celebrating.
H-T: Three Bridges 0 Broadbridge Heath 1
Three Bridges started the second period as if they’d been given a carpeting at half time and had the visitors on the back foot from the first whistle. In the first five minutes they forced three corners which were all defended well, the closest they came was when Hallard found space on the edge of the area and shot but once more the visitors got a block in and it looped over the bar.
The waves of attacks kept coming with Hayden Velvick making several penetrating runs but still the Bears held firm. When they did get through, a ball fired across the six yard box was deflected by the foot of a defender and that touch was enough to take it away from Hallard coming in at the far post.
Hallard again found space inside the box following good work from Kevin Rivera on the right, this time his shot was goalbound until Hadfield parried the ball away diving to his left. As the hosts continued to try to force an equaliser a well flighted corner found the head of Leighton but again Hadfield was there to make a point blank stop.
On a brief foray forward Broadbridge might have made the game safe in the90th minute when Oli Leslie broke clear of the defence and into the box only to have the ball taken off his toe by a covering defender and knocked away to safety.
After six minutes of added time the referee brought an end to the game, giving the visitors their ninth win on the road from sixteen games and a valuable three points.
F-T: Three Bridges 0 Broadbridge Heath 1 Att: 204
Three Bridges will probably look back at this game and wonder how they didn’t score after having so much of the possession especially in the second half but you have to take your hat off to Broadbridge for their work ethic and an impressive defensive performance. Time and again they got numbers back and made last ditch blocks in an effort to ensure the local bragging rights were theirs.
The hosts played some nice football throughout but today just didn’t have the cutting edge needed to break through the well marshalled Bears defence.
All in all it was a decent game and a typically robust local derby. I really enjoyed my visit to Three Bridges, thank you for being so welcoming and your hospitality, I will be back at some point in the future. I might have to try to see if I can squeeze in a Broadbridge home game between now and the end of the season too!
All the best of luck to both sides for the remainder of the season.
Epilogue.
I reached the station after the game to find two trains cancelled and another running late so it took me over three hours to get home. The joys of match hopping using public transport and it seems my Gatwick train curse continues!