North Leigh F C

Bridgwater Town 1 - 3 North Leigh
In what was without doubt their best away performance to date, the Yellows scored three excellent goals in a 15 minute period midway through the first half to put the game beyond the home team, although Bridgwater tried mightily hard to recover in a hard fought second half that provided excellent entertainment for the crowd.
On 4 mins Yellows keeper Sam Warrell was booked following his protest after collecting the ball on the edge of the box and spilling it/falling outside the box under a challenge from a home striker that many considered a foul. Leigh soon recovered and their smooth midfield passing set up a number of attacking opportunities in the opening spell.On 17 mins a move down the right involving Brian Bowles, Kieran Sanders and Elliot Osborrne-Ricketts cut open the home defence and but for an overhit centre, could have led to the first goal. However a minute later Osborne-Ricketts received the ball down the centre moved
it forward to the edge of the box and curled a delightful left foot shot around a couple of defenders and totally surprised keeper Sam Hutchings to put the Yellows one up.
On 20mins Michael Hopkins centred from the left, the keeper dropped the ball and the home defence scrambled it away from the goaline for a corner. The Yellows were in full flow now and on 30 mins Morgan Williams a constant headache for the home defence received the ball down the left channel and hit a great shot from fully 25 yds that gave the keeper no chance. Arguably the best goal of the trio came four minutes later with a move down the right invloving Toby Clark and Kieran Sanders. Sanders pinpoint cross was met by Joe Burnell thundering in who powered a header into the roof of the net from 8 yds.

HT: Bridgwater Town 0 - 3 North Leigh

The expected response from the home team started as soon as the second half commenced with two striking subs on and with the away box under constant threat Bridgwater struck back after only 3 mins when a low cross from the right was only half cleared by the Yellows and Kye Palmer running in clipped the ball past Warrell from 5 yds. This early success galvanised the home team and for the next 20 mins Leigh's defence had to withstand waves of attacks. With the home team running out of steam it was left to the Yellows in the last 15 mins to counter attack and nearly snatch a fourth goal. Williams, Osborne-Ricketts,
Andy McCabe and Tom Roberts all had chances that were either blocked or
deflected wide. North Leigh finished the game much the stronger of the two teams and Manager Mark Gee must be happy the team answered his call to add strength of purpose to their undoubted quality after a couple of disappointing results.

FT: Bridgwater Town 1 - 3 North Leigh



North Leigh: Warrell, Bowles, Hopkins, Clark (Willoughby 86), Hole, Organ, Sanders (Roberts 88), Burnell, McCabe (Caton 88), Osborne-Ricketts, Williams