MATCH REPORT: Street Reserves 2 Bridgwater Town Reserves 1
Street Reserves remain well placed for a top-six finish in their first season in the Somerset County League Premier Division after beating struggling Bridgwater Town Reserves 2-1 at the Tannery on Saturday.
This was always likely to be a lively game as Bridgwater are battling to retain their status in the top tier but, although the scoreline suggests it was a close encounter, Street should have won the game by a wider margin.
The home side were short of numbers in the goalkeeping department and it was left to striker Ian Howse to take over between the posts.
Although the early exchanges were evenly balanced, it was Street who created the better opportunities, the best of which fell to Steve Murray. A superb defence-splitting pass from Brendan Davies found Murray but, having done the hard work, he lifted the ball straight into the grateful arms of the keeper.
The second half was a lot livelier in terms of opportunities and the home side took the lead on 55 minutes when Murray beat the Bridgwater offside trap to slot the ball home from close range.
Howse produced a fine save to push a shot from the edge of the penalty area onto a post and it proved to be important as Street went on to double their advantage after 75 minutes.
The goal came following a catalogue of errors in the Bridgwater defence and, with the ball looping up into the air following a third attempted clearance, it was Dale Hunt who rose to head the ball into the back of the net.
Bridgwater reduced the arrears in the final minute when a long goal kick was latched onto by Adam Long, who beat Ben Amghar to the clearance and slotted the ball wide of Howse and into the far corner.
Man of the match: Robbie Ashdown.
Street Reserves host title-chasing Ashton & Backwell on Saturday (3pm) before the season ends on Tuesday with a trip to Stockwood Green (6.30pm).
