GeCrea8 Hockey Championship

Bridgwater 1 ISCA 2nd 4

BRIDGWATER suffered a second successive league defeat when they were beaten 4-1 by ISCA 2nd XI on Saturday.

Bridgwater started, looking to keep possession and set the tone for the rest of the game - but ISCA set up well in the middle and when they attacked, they flooded the wings with their midfield players to overload Bridgwater’s defence on every attack.

Scott Mills, Carwyn Jenkins, Andy Taylor, Joe Sibley and Liam Pigden all put in 100% for a chance to create something in the match, with Bridgwater creating several chances, including a shot which slammed the cross bar.

But a few ISCA attacks later and against the run of play, the visitors went 2-0 ahead.

After the break, Bridgwater held strong with a solid performance from man of the match, Matt Upham.

Bridgwater started pushing higher and holding the midfield to intercept the ball.

Chances paid off, with Matt Upham starting the attack from his own half, Ben Rogers picking the ball up and working it into the D for Liam Pigden to slip the ball away for a much deserved goal to start the comeback.

With only eight minutes to go, tired legs led to two injuries to Joe Sibley (lower back) and Ian Roswell (hamstring).

This affected the substitutions and with several short corners by ISCA, one slipped through to make the score to 1-3.

Heads started to drop and tiredness kicked in more, resulting in a green card for Ben Rogers for a stick tackle - the only minor ill-discipline of the match, an improvement on recent weeks.

ISCA weren’t giving up though and turned defence into attack, catching out Bridgwater, securing the final goal of the game for a 4-1 win.

Next week Bridgwater head to Cardiff to play second place Cardiff & Met A (2.30pm).

Bridgwater Ladies 1st 1 Old Bristolians 2nd 2

IN wet conditions on Saturday, Bridgwater faced Old Bristolians and from the start Bridgwater pressed forward.

Chances were created with several one-on-ones, but Bridgwater just couldn't convert the chances into goals.

Against the run of play, Old B's had a quick break and slotted the ball past the oncoming Bridgwater keeper.

The second-half saw plenty more attacks from Bridgwater and finally the breakthrough came, when Becky Oram slotted home to bring the scores level.

With the final five minutes approaching Old B's had a solid run of possession and several penalty corners.

It was from open play that Old B's managed to squeeze the ball through the Bridgwater defence giving them the lead and the points.

Bridgwater Ladies 2nd 4 Winscombe 4th 0

BRIDGWATER Ladies 2nd XI had a superb win this weekend, making it their third victory in a row.

The home team were put ahead by Sue Chaplin after a good spell of attacking play which saw Karen Chilcott playing probably her best game for the club.

Kate England and Heather Tinkler worked tirelessly up front alongside Chilcott, making it difficult for the Winscombe team to penetrate the Bridgwater defence in the early stages.

By half-time Chaplin had put Bridgwater 2-0, but the opening spell of the second-half saw Winscombe threaten from the start.

Bridgwater went three up when Hobbs’ cross was met by England who slotted the ball home.

Bridgwater kept the pressure on Winscombe and got a well-deserved fourth goal from Chilcott.

Clare Wilson was unlucky not to get a goal when her fine strike from a penalty corner was well saved by the keeper.

Bridgwater will be looking to extend their unbeaten run, albeit with a tough away game against ECVH next Saturday.

Bridgwater Mens 5th 3 ECV Hornets 4th 4

BRIDGWATER 5th XI lost out by the odd goal in seven at ECV Hornets on Saturday.

Bridgwater took the lead when Hicks guided the ball into the corner, but ECV levelled from a penalty flick.

With ten minutes to go in the first-half, Hicks set up Dillon for Bridgwater’s third.

But ECV weren’t finished and drew level with two goals in five minutes, before a miss-hit saw them steal the points with eight minutes left to play.