Three Bridges 1 VCD Athletic 2, Bostik League South East Division,
Saturday 12th January 2019
Having not been to a game for 12 days (my longest gap between
matches so far this season) this Saturday’s round of matches couldn’t come round soon enough as far as I was concerned.
I’d started pining for some much-needed non-league football action.
After spending much of the week umming and ahing over where
to resume my groundhopping travels, I eventually plumped for Three Bridges’
Jubilee Field for their Bostik League South East Division match against VCD
Athletic.
I had previously visited the ground once before… albeit not
as a spectator. Or even as a player.
In fact, Jubilee Field was the venue for the highlight of my
coaching career to date. It was where I led my then Withdean Youth Under 14s to
the final of the Mid Sussex Youth League’s Shield Competition. A final which we went
on to win 1-0.
Yes, I know coaching children is all about aiding their development
rather than measuring success by results… but it still felt blooming great to
win a trophy.
Even if it was the competition that was only open to the teams
knocked out of the actual league cup in the first round. Even if there were
only eight teams in the competition to begin with. Even if we were the only Division
One side in it (in fairness, we were also the only top division side to face a
team from the same division in the first round of the actual cup – a game which
would ultimately turn out to be the best defeat of my life). Even if a few of
my players (rather unfairly in my opinion) labelled the competition ‘the losers
cup’… I was still blooming proud. And they should be too!
It goes without saying therefore, that I’d been rather looking
forward to revisiting this ground for a while now.
With my Saturday morning coaching commitments having now
resumed after a break for the festive period, my Saturday afternoon jaunts have
become a bit of a rush again. With Brighton also being at home this afternoon.
there was a part of me that was slightly concerned about the traffic on the
A27, bearing in mind I would be heading past the Amex at just after 14:00.
Fortunately, aside from a slight delay to get on to the A23, the roads weren’t
too bad. I arrived at the ground’s car park – which is located pitch-side – at
just after 14:45. I paid my £8 admission fee from the comfort of my car and was
then waved around to park behind the club house. The friendly steward did say that I
could park behind the nearest goal where there was ample space. However, having
seen a few wayward non-league strikers this season, I decided not to
brave it.
In addition to the admission fee, I also purchased a decent
little program for £2. It was good to be in possession of a good old-fashioned
program again, following my disappointment at Lewes last time out.
The main covered searing stand at the ground holds around
200, while there is another smaller covered seated area on the other side of
the pitch with around 70 seats in it. I don’t remember the smaller stand being
there during my last visit. That isn’t to say it wasn’t there. It may well
have been. I had other things on my mind, don’t you know! There is also a
covered terraced area outside the clubhouse.
VCD started the game far quicker than the hosts, who in the opening
20 minutes or so continually gave possession away cheaply. The Vickers’ hit the
post from their very first attack, before a follow up effort was well saved by
James Shaw. Good saves from Shaw would turn out to be a feature of the game, as
he thwarted VCD on numerous occasions throughout the 90 minutes.
After a lethargic opening, Bridges did grow into the game as
the half wore on, although despite a couple
of decent corner deliveries that they couldn't take advantage of, they didn’t really create any clear-cut chances.
In fact, as the game approached the interval, the main
talking point was arguably the inconsistency of the referee. Throughout the 90 minutes
the man in the middle handed out some baffling bookings, while he let other
things that looked far worthier of a yellow go completely unpunished. He also
appeared to forget to wave injured players back onto the field on at least occasions;
although, in fairness, this may have just been me not paying attention.
Anyway, with the game meandering towards the break goalless,
the hosts took the lead out of nowhere. The dangerous Connor French got a yard
of space outside the area and produced a tidy low finish to give Three Bridges
a barely deserved lead. About a minute later, VCD could have been reduced to
ten when their goalkeeper hauled down a Bridges striker as he bore down on
goal. Fortunately for him, the ref deemed there to be enough covering defenders and the
keeper was handed a reprieve. Much to the obvious consternation of the home team’s
players, supporters and management.
The second half was a more open affair, with both teams having more
in the way of chances.
It was the Vickers who got the next goal, though, with Jake
McIntye curling a low free-kick that was precise enough to beat the hitherto unbeatable
Shaw (see video below).
Bridges nearly hit-back immediately through a free kick of
their own, but Joe Mant was alert enough to the danger to tip the ball away
(see video below).
After a fairly even opening to the second half, VCD once again
began to take control. However, just as they were starting to build up a real head
of steam, denied only from taking the lead by some more heroics from Shaw, with
15 minutes to go the advantage seemed swing in the opposite direction
when Athletics’ Bradley Simms was sent off for a second bookable offence. As mentioned
earlier, there were a fair few bookings handed out to both teams during the
match, so that one of the sided ended the match a player down came as no great
surprise.
With Bridges suddenly sensing blood, they pushed more men
forward in search of the three points. However, it was this approach that led to VCD getting the winner, as the visitors took advantage of acres of space being left down the left flank. Two visiting players had
the chance to run on to a loose ball, but it was ultimately skipper Charlie
MacDonald who reached the it first, cut inside and fired past Shaw.
Bridges pressed for the equaliser, but despite a couple of
decent balls into the box, they failed to create any clear chances of note as VCD
held out for the victory.
It may have been a freezing cold afternoon. It may not have
been the best game in the world. The referee may have been highly frustrating
to watch at times. But my word it was good to be watching some non-league footy action again.
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