Brantham grab all three points in 93rd minute!!!!

RIDGEONS PREMIER DIVISION - SATURDAY MARCH 5th BRANTHAM ATHLETIC 1 ELY CITY 0 We left it late in the match at home to Ely City to claim all three points, with our winning goal coming in time added on by the match referee (93rd minute I have been informed). For the first time we could watch a game without getting soaked through and despite the persistent drizzle the supporters from both teams enjoyed the game. Ely started the game quickly and within minutes a free kick from Parkinson went just wide of our post. We hit back with a good move involving Simon Mann and Lee Grimwood and the ball was hit towards the near post of the Ely goal and the Ely keeper got to it just seconds before Ollie Mann did. Five minutes later we had a free kick a good 25 yards out. Ollie Mann stepped up, lined his shot up, and sent a fierce shot that the keeper just managed to steer round the post. Ely's Mason was put through but hurried his shot and put it wide of our goal. Minutes later Chris French hesitated a tackle and this gave Bridgeman the chance to send in a hard shot that our keeper Ryan Bedingfield did well to push round for a corner. Lewis Blanchett, playing wide, tormented his marker with some great ball control and at times the Ely man was forced to dive in to try and stop him. The half ended with both teams looking good going forward but both solid in defence. Ely's two big centreal defenders, Murdy and Lawrence, were doing a good job of keeping Ollie Mann off the score sheet at the break. The second half started with us looking that bit more determined and a good corner from Lee Grimwood was well taken by the Ely custodian. Our Adam Bloss and Ely's Robbie Mason then got in a tangle and with the free kick being given to us the Ely man turned on Adam Bloss and seemed to throw a punch. This was spotted by the assistant who called the referee over and the Ely player was shown the red card, something by listening to comments, did not please some of his team mates as he trudged off. Ely sub Ebanks-Blake went through and tried a shot on the run that was not that far wide. At the other end Ollie Mann latched onto a superb Marc Lowe pass and Ollie turned his marker and sent in hard shot which was matched by a good save by the Ely keeper. The Ely keeper was making sure he kept the Brantham fans behind his goal informed of what was going on and everybody, including the keeper, was enjoying the banter. We then lost Lewis Blanchett who had skipped past one man only to be scythed down by a defender and even after treatment Lewis could not carry on and he to be replaced. Midfield dynamo David Grimwood combined with brother Lee Grimwood in a good move that ended with Lee hitting his shot just over the bar. Lee turned provided minutes later when he put through the perfect ball for Ollie Mann to run onto and Ollie's shot looked a goal until the Ely keeper, somehow,managed to stop and hold the ball. With the game going into time added on by the referee we finally made the breakthrough. A good through ball from midfield was played to the edge of the area and Lee Grimwood was the quickest to react and he latched onto the ball and made ground into the area only to be brought down by the keeper. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and during the heated arguments from the Ely players the only one who seemed to be ice cool was our Ollie Mann.Ollie took his time, got the ball in the right spot, made sure his boots were clean and then blasted the ball home into the back of the net. Brantham - 1.Ryan Bedingfield. 2.Simon Mann. 3. Chris French. 4. Jack Sibbons. 5. Adam Bloss.6. Kieran Lawler. 7. Marc Lowe. 8. David Grimwood.9.Ollie Mann. 10.,Lee Grimwood. 11. Lewis Blanchett. subs used - Sean Gunn. Subs not used - Shaun Webb and Andy French. ----barry felgate---- Next two games - March 12th - Brantham versus Walsham le Willows at Brantham. March 19th - Kirkley and Pakefield versus Brantham - at Lowestoft (there is a coach going to this game and there will be room for supporters to travel with the team)