Team BC Men’s Football Elite side’s first home game of the season was a local derby against Weston College in the AoC North League. The game started brightly with Team BC dominating the early possession and keeping control of the game.
Team BC never let the opposition get the better of them and were inspired to take a stranglehold on the game, their reward coming in the 25th minute with a superb team goal going from one end of the pitch to the other, driving into the box without the ball touching the floor. A great mid-air back heel from Kofi Martin allowed Kye Whelan to deliver a pinpoint cross onto the edge of the 6 yard box allowing Alex Male to volley home for the first of the afternoon. A goal that is sure to be in contention for goal of the season come the end of the Team BC sporting calendar.
It wouldn’t be long for Team BC to double their lead. A long ball forward bounced just in front of the Weston centre back allowing Kofi Martin to hassle and steal the ball, slotting home under pressure to put BC two up.
On the 40 minute mark Weston capitalised on some poor clearances and managed to win a free kick on the edge of the box. Their young central midfield player delivered a ball round the inside of the wall just in front of Bridgwater's goalkeeper James Annison, forcing an own goal to be conceded. With three minutes remaining until half time Team BC made up for their error and Harry Fitchew found space to turn outside the box and fire low into the right hand corner and reinstate Bridgwater's two goal advantage as both teams went into the half time break.
Weston College started out the blocks quicker than the home side coming out the stronger of the two teams, dominating the opening 15 minutes of the second half, Team BC remained disciplined and defended well deep in their own half.
Team BC reshuffled the line up with the introduction of Nash Eastwood, who caused problems with his speed and persistence out wide. It would be game on as just after 60th minute, Weston struck home their second of the afternoon after a well worked through ball allowed their wide player to slot past Annison making the score 3 – 2.
After another Team BC reshuffle, this time paying off, Alex Male was able to slot home his second with the outside of his foot into the far corner. With 15 minutes to go and scoring their fourth of the afternoon, BC looked comfortable but a mistake at the back allowed the Weston striker to run through and power a shot into the far corner, only seconds after play had resumed. With ten minutes remaining Weston looked to press and level the score at 4 – 4 but Bridgwater delivered a cross which Alex Male was able to tap in past the goalkeeper from close range under pressure and claim his hat-trick, rounding off a very good attacking performance from Bridgwater.
Team BC Coach Tom Sage after the game said,
“Our lads played a very good attacking game this afternoon managing to score 5 goals past a young but confident Weston side who at times were hard to break down. We made the game more difficult for ourselves with some errors at the back and not clearing the ball properly which enabled Weston to stay in the game but you could see that we always had the edge over them and looked like scoring on every attack.”
The side would also like to thank Jason Gunningham for all the work he has done for Team BC over the years as he moves into his new role at the college. Jason will remain involved in the partnership between the college and Bridgwater Town under-18 side.
Final Score: Bridgwater College 5 – 3 Weston College
Man of the Match: Alex Male
