Bar Surge to Victory

Tuesday night saw the Scholars take on Brightlingsea at the Pakex. O’Leary’s men were looking to regain top form in the game to ensure that confidence would be high when Bar head into an important run of games against similarly placed sides to the Scholars.

Bar started brightly, as Sach spun his marker in the box and forced a good save from Turner with a couple of minutes played.

Bar scored a wonderful goal to go in front, the ball was knocked down to Hutchinson from a long ball who smashed the ball past Turner with just four minutes played.

The goal did produce a response from Brightlingsea, who tried to assert themselves in the game with a couple of good chances from corners in the first 15 minutes of the tie.

A free kick on the edge of the box was well saved by Janata with twenty minutes played. Brightlingsea were starting to take control of possession in the game for the first time, and Bar had managed to withstand the pressure thus far.

Despite the pressure, the Scholars mounted a counter attack in the 21st minute and missed a glorious chance to double their lead through Sach following Pascal’s cross into the box.

The Scholars did double their lead in the 30th minute, as a long ball was met by Sach, who cut the ball back to Hutchinson, who doubled his tally for the night. The finish went into the roof of the net and beat Turner in the Regent goal to put the maroons in control.

Bar were denied a third by a top save, as a back post cross to Sach looked to have given Bar another goal, only to see his effort denied by Turner. He scooped it over the crossbar, as he somehow managed to get a hand on it.

Half time ended a successful half for the Scholars: they had managed to put themselves firmly in control of the game via a brace from Hutchinson. O’Leary had the choice to go for more goals to boost confidence or ensure victory by holding on in the second half.

The Scholars started the second half with free-flowing football, they had strung a few combinations of passes together, and whilst they had not threatened the goal as such, they were dominating the game.

O’Leary’s men got their reward for their dominance soon after, as in the 56th minute Ward-Cochrane turned in a cross at the far post to seemingly give Bar a valuable three points.

Brightlingsea pulled one back following some acute passes down the wing that played Bugg in on goal, who converted to give Regent hope with 64 minutes played.

A great block denied Ward-Cochrane a second and a guarantee of the win, as he looked to have been set away by Craddock, only to be caught as he aimed his shot at goal.

Regent cleared Pascal’s lob over the ‘keeper off the line with 18 minutes to play, as both sides looked to attack. Bar wanted to kill the game off, whilst Brightlingsea were trying to find a way back into the match.

Bar wrapped the game up when Sach fired a strike that crashed off the post, only for Hutchinson to seal his hattrick by following in on the rebound with 77 minutes played.

A through ball played Bugg in on goal again, who got the game’s sixth goal to make it 4-2. With only four minutes plus added time to be played, it was surely just a consolation goal for Brightlingsea.

Full time crowned an excellent result for the Scholars, as they had coasted to a convincing win over Brightlingsea, which is sure to raise spirits ahead of an important few weeks for O’Leary’s side.

Attendance: 128