Bitton were beaten for the third time in 4 games as they went down 3-2 to Hengrove on another rainy evening. Bitton were once again on top for long periods but continued to be wasteful in front of goal and sloppy at the back and a resolute Hengrove came away with the points

With several defensive players unavailable Bitton were forced into switching to a back 3 and for the opening 20 minutes it seemed to be a good move as they completely dominated the play. They took the lead after only 2 minutes when Ryan Batten found space following a Adam Mahdi corner to head home his first goal of the season. Mahdi nearly doubled the lead soon after but his free kick was just over the bar. It was all Bitton in the opening stages as they pressed their opponents and chances were time and again given up. Bitton were once again guilty of a poor final ball as they got into some great areas but the closest they came was when a Hengrove player directed the ball onto the cross bar following a scramble. Hengrove rode out the early storm and started to come back into the game as the tempo from Bitton dropped. Luke Crewe found his brother Ben with a long diagonal ball but his header was tipped over by Ben John before John had to be alert to make a stop from a direct free kick. Bitton were still on top but couldn't get a second and it proved costly as Hengrove got the equaliser following a corner. The ball was whipped into the near post and with Joe McClennan slightly out of position his attempted clearance sliced off his head into the net for an own goal. This lifted Hengrove and they took the lead shortly after in controversial circumstances as from another corner John appeared to be fouled on the line by two Hengrove players and the ball dropped to Hengrove skipper Scott Lewis who rifled home. Bitton did pull back level right on the stroke of half time when a Ben Wych corner was met by Batten and after his initial shot was blocked he was quickest to react to fire home for his second of the evening. A strange half that Bitton had dominated but went in at the break level with all four goals coming from corner kicks.

HT-Hengrove 2-2 Bitton

Hengrove started the half with a lot of caution and appeared to be happy with a point as they were slowing the game down at every oppertunity. Despite plenty of the ball the Bitton attack looked out of ideas early on as they struggled to really test Carl Bush in the Hengrove goal thanks to some good solid defending from the Hengrove back four. Tooze, Powell & Griffiths all got into good areas but all produced weak shots that were easily dealt with by Bush. Hengrove were defending well and looking to hit Bitton on the break and they should have taken the lead when Joe Brimble was allowed a free header from another corner which he headed over when well placed. Ben Crewe then did well down the left but couldn't find a final ball. Hengrove took the lead midway through the second period when Ben Crewe found Lewis Dunn in the left channel and his shot across goal had too much pace for John in the Bitton goal. Hengrove sensibly now wound the clock down even more much to Bittons frustration and got bodies behind the ball as Bitton pressed for an equaliser. The Ton had two opportunities from free kicks but Wych and Morgan Williams both hit the ball straight at the wall. Tom Knighton looked to be in on goal but was pulled back for an offside before Morgan-Williams found Griffiths with a great ball but after somehow dribbling round the keeper Griffiths couldn't find the target with his shot. Mahdi then tried his luck with a volley and Wych hit a long ranger but Bitton were lacking any real cutting edge and it was Hengorve who went home happy

FT-Hengrove 3-2 Bitton

Bitton are next in action when they host Bridport at home on Saturday 23rd SeptemberY

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