MOUSEHOLE EDGE OUT BRIDGWATER IN TOUGH TOP-THREE ENCOUNTER

Mousehole 2-1 Bridgwater United

Toolstation Western League, Premier Division

Saturday 4^th March 2023

At Trungle Parc

Scorers: George King (Bridgwater) 14’, Adel Gafaiti 45+2’, Own Goal (Jacob Spence) 71’

SUMMARY

In front of their fifth 200+ home attendance of the season, the second-place Seagulls faced the third-place Robins in an afternoon of hotly contested refereeing decisions, frequent stoppages, a flurry of yellow cards, two sendings-off, game-changing missed chances and a decisive ‘own goal’ – the victory extending Mousehole’s excellent winning sequence and keeping them handily placed for the last seven weeks of the current campaign.

KEY POINTS

14’: Goal for Bridgwater. Mousehole have already missed a clear one-on-one chance but the visitors have started strongly and take a deserved lead, as a miscued defensive header in the windy conditions opens up space for GEORGE KING to stride forward and drive into the far corner from 15 yards.

45+3’: Equaliser for Mousehole. Both sides have come close, with Mark Goldsworthy’s shot blocked in front of goal with Referee Shaun Edge turning away penalty appeals, and Conor Hartley denied by Seagulls’ keeper Lewis Moyle when clean through on goal. With the half-time whistle coming, Jack Calver lofts a free kick from the right into a crowded area, it’s cleared as far as Hayden Turner on the left of the box, who controls in an instant, turns his marker the wrong way and chips in an inviting cross for ADEL GAFAITI to rise and send a downward header past Jake Viney in the Robins’ goal.

45+4’: There’s a lot of added-on time in a half of frequent stoppages and disputes over decisions. As Referee Edge blows for the interval, he’s involved in prolonged conversation with visiting captain Mark Armstrong, which ends with a Red card being shown. The second half of Bridgwater’s season has been dogged by a poor disciplinary record and the former League leaders are now down to ten men for the whole of the second half. Half-time score: 1-1.

The second half:

63’: Bridgwater are handed a lifeline as Mousehole’s Andy Elcock is shown a Red card after reacting to a sin-bin dismissal. The Seagulls’ advantage has disappeared and it’s now ten versus ten for the last half hour.

71’: Goal for Mousehole. Hayden Turner drives a left-sided corner towards the near post where centre-back JACOB SPENCE gets ahead of a trio of Mousehole attackers but crashes a header into his own net for a spectacular own goal. Mousehole 2-1 Bridgwater United.

10 minutes to go: Bridgwater have had a dangerous period since conceding – they’ve stepped up the pace to gain a much-needed something from this game, and have exposed gaps in the home defence, with Jack Taylor and Jack Thorne each coming within inches of scoring.

90+4’: At the full-time whistle, Mousehole have held out against a strong Bridgwater comeback. A game of tenacity, character, controversy and the narrowest of margins – and a hugely important three points for The Seagulls.

CONCLUSION

Mousehole’s win – their 22^nd unbeaten League game in a row and their 11^th straight win since Bonfire Night – puts them six points ahead of Bridgwater with two games in hand, and keeps them six points behind leaders Saltash with four games in hand.

MOUSEHOLE (with used substitutes):

Lewis Moyle (GK), Harry Bell, Adel Gafaiti, Max Hill, Kyle Fraser, Andy Elcock, Tallan Mitchell (Steve Burt 85’), Jack Calver (Capt), Callam Mconie (Reece Thomson), Mark Goldsworthy (Jack Bray-Evans 77’), Hayden Turner. Other substitutes: Josh Otto, Josh Bissett.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Sean Edge (Referee) with Ken Swift and Neil Rudkin (Assistant Referees)

ATTENDANCE: 222

NEXT FOR MOUSEHOLE

Jake Ash’s team have 10 games remaining –