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Late leveller stuns Town

From the Bridgwater Mercury, first published Friday 19th Oct 2007.

BRIDGWATER Town were twice pegged back in a very entertaining 2-2 draw at Windsor and Eton on Wednesday evening.

The kick-off was delayed 30 minutes because of a floodlight failure - not because Windsor officials were going round the town to drum up support to raise the attendance above a miserable 66.

Only Hayes have played in front of fewer spectators so far this season in the British Gas Business League (Division One South and West).

Town recalled Tom Clarke and Nat Pepperell from the bench in place of the suspended Mike Mackay while Lee Smyth reverted to a substitute's role.

The combative John Harris was preferred in midfield to the more studious Pete Monks in an effort to nullify the influential Williams in Windsor's midfield.

It was Harris who sparked Bridgwater's first effort when his header fell for Clarke to try his luck from distance, and Clarke was soon in action again when picking up a pass from Ryan King, who intercepted a clearance.

This time Clark just failed to beat his marker.

A strong headed clearance from Matt Pitcher found King, whose cross was turned behind.

The corner was played short and fed back to Ben Kirk, lurking on the edge of the area, and his low shot found its mark to put Bridgwater deservedly in front after nine minutes.

Town held the upper hand, with King more involved than in recent games and threatening to carve out chances.

Bridgwater's superiority was underlined when Harris ran on to a Pepperell cross and his shot was saved at the foot of the post.

Windsor relieved the pressure with a couple of corners, one of which powerful defender and captain Butler headed over when Tom Manley didn't clear.

A miskick by Govier saw Case scamper to the byline and his cross was cut out by Manley.

Forward was bowled over by Williams, who took advantage of the referee's decision to play on and set up Chandiram, whose effort was diverted for a corner.

Neat interchanging by Case and Seedel indicated Windsor were coming more into the game, as Bridgwater clearances were being gobbled up by Butler and his co-defenders.

Windsor's equaliser on 32 minutes was the result of a good move.

A fine ball from Grier picked out Case and his pinpoint cross was turned in by Seedel.

The goal inspired the home side and their forwards were buzzing.

It needed two good tackles from Price to save Bridgwater, whose response was a dinking run from Clark, who nearly wriggled through.

The half ended with Grier shooting from 25 yards, just missing the target with Manley concerned.

Windsor had the first chance of the second half, when Seedel saw the ball bounce off him and into the grateful arms of Manley.

But it was Bridgwater who took the initiative. Forward, who had a quiet first half, ran through the centre of defence, combining well with Kirk, and was only halted by the concession of a free-kick, which Pepperell fired over.

With both sides very prepared to attack, there was action at both ends.

Pepperell's speed and touch were giving the Windsor defence a tough time while on the other flank King was bringing the ball inside to get his shots away.

Typical of the end-to-end action was when Kirk headed off his own goalline.

The ball found its way to King, who weaved his way into shooting range only for his effort to be deflected away.

Kirk was also active at the other end, taking the ball right through the home defence despite appearing to lose the ball twice.

His pass found Harris in a good position but his shot was a foot wide of the post.

Bridgwater were not to be denied and after 70 minutes Harris managed to scoop a pass while off balance to Pepperell, who went on to beat keeper Mizurek comfortably.

In the last 20 minutes Town looked the more liklely to add to their tally, mainly through the flying Pepperell, but Windsor were very much in the game.

And after sub Burgess had headed narrowly wide, it was another sub, Dunlop, who broke Town hearts with an equaliser with only four minutes left.

The referee halted a left-wing attack by Windsor to award them a free-kick 25 yards out.

Williams chipped onto the penalty spot and Pitcher was flattened in the melee that Manley also got caught up in.

The ball broke kindly for Dunlop to bang the ball home from a couple of yards as a dry, chilly evening suddenly turned colder.

Bridgwater team: 1 Tom Manley, 2 Jamie Price (sub Scott Laird 66), 3 Steve Orchard, 4 Piers Govier, 5 Matt Pitcher, 6 John Harris (sub Pete Monks 81), 7 Ben Kirk, 8 Dan Forward, 9 Ryan King, 10 Tom Clarke, 11 Nat Pepperell. Unused substitutes: Lee Smyth, Brett Trowbridge, Jeff Potjewyd.

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