Saturday the 24th saw Unsworth take on Bridge FC in their first real challenge of the season. Bridge were promoted from the B division last season and have had a decent start in their opening fixtures.

 

A very late kick off for us at 11.00am awaited and we looked really smart in our new kit (Thanks to Dave Lomas of Lomas Newsagents on Parr Lane for his sponsorship.) The question was would our display match our appearance?

 

On a truly great footballing morning with little wind, the sun shining and the pitch looking in great condition Bridge kicked off. They looked very much up for the fight. We lined up with a very similar team. The back 4 was as normal and the centre of midfield now looks like it picks itself. Charlie started on the left with Dom on the right and Khol and Tom were up front. Right from the off Bridge looked a very good unit. We knew that we would face better opposition by moving up to the A division but can the lads cope? The first 10 minutes saw the home side being put under constant pressure but we were holding firm, albeit looking slightly shaky.

 

We really weren’t playing very well and the lads seemed a little panicked. Two touch football it was not but Jake was leading the way in the middle of the park winning most challenges and virtually every header. Our play was stuck in the middle of the park and it was kick and run as well as a bit of headless chickens at times. We are great when we get the ball out wide but it wasn’t going that way at the start.

 

We were however starting to get a grip and our play paid off. We had started to get into the oppositions half and after a couple of half chances Charlie finished off a fine effort and we went 1-0 up. Our play was building as well as the confidence, but a lack of concentration (some from the ref as well) saw a ball over the top and the Bridge centre forward, who looked a few yards offside sprinted past Luke to make it 1-1. We looked a little shaken but how would this effect the lads? Simply put it did, another ball through the middle and a missed header saw the home team go 2-1 down. Not long after it was 3-1 to Bridge and the game could very easily have slipped away, but to give the lads credit we fought our way back. Bridge were a little bit more physical than us and tackles were flying in, not all of then well timed by the visitors. We won a free kick about 25 yards out and Tom only had one thought as he placed the ball to take the free kick. It was a sweet effort and the ball flew into the back of the Bridge net making it 2-3 at half time.

 

Danny and John had some stern words for the lads. We are no longer in a league where we can expect to win 10-0. We needed effort and a little bit more composure. We needed to show fight but also our flair and skill and we needed to play football and work as a team.

 

The second half saw Unsworth take the game by the scruff of the neck and we literally camped out for most of the second half in the Bridge half of the pitch. Time and again our football was paying off and the break finally came. A fine run down the right saw Dom and Luke link up. Luke continued his run and as he ran past John on the touchline I shouted “shoot” and he did. Another screamer flew into the net and it was 3-3 with another great goal scored from outside the box.

 

It was looking like the game was heading in the home teams direction but Bridge were not for giving up. Time and again they broke and our defence was holding steady but eventually Bridge got a fourth. Again it came from a break through the middle so all the work we had put in would have to be done again and the boys rose to the challenge.

 

This time it was Mason who struck a sweet effort again from outside the box to make it 4-4. The old phrase of next goal wins looked likely and so it was to prove. The Bridge centre forward yet again broke away to score his and his teams 5th of the day. We were not for giving it up and battled to the very end but it was not to be and at the final whistle it was 4-5 to Bridge.

 

Our display showed that when we need to, we can knuckle down and battle with very good teams, but ideally we need to do this from the very start. Our second half display was a very good effort but our first half needs picking up.

 

Next week we take on Middleton Lads Blue in the first round of the cup at Hillock. For those of you who were around 2 seasons ago this is the team who knocked us out of the Cup on penalties, so a few scores to settle, especially from the lads who missed the penalties.

 

Winter training at Castlebrook starts this Thursday 8-9pm. See you there

 

PS tickets for the Unsworth fund raising evening are still on sale at £10 each. This is adults only and on  a Saturday night so plenty of beer and no need to get up for footy in the morning.