Brantham hit Woodbridge for four!!!

Photo: (left)- Adam Bloss who powered a header home for our fourth goal and (right)-League leading goalscorer Ollie Mann who hit a first half hat trick.

RIDGEONS PREMIER DIVISION - SATURDAY MARCH 26th BRANTHAM ATHLETIC 4 WOODBRIDGE TOWN 0. After the midweek defeat at CRC were were keen to get back to winning ways and we did that with a good 4-0 win at home to Woodbridge Town, doing the double over them for the season. We started quickly and despite some of the game being concentrated in midfield we did create openings. Despite us looking the more confident side it was Woodbridge who had the first real chance. A ball was played into the Brantham area and as Sam Banya made ground towards the ball he was beaten to it by Andy French who put a deft header back to Ryan Bedingfield in the Brantham goal. At the other end Andy was involved again when he put over a corner that was played back to David Grimwood who was not that far wide with a snap shot. It was then the turn of Sean Gunn who hit the ball from outside the area only to see it clip the woodwork before being cleared. We broke the deadlock when a good move down the left ended with Ollie Mann collected the ball and made ground straight into the Woodbridge area only to be brought down and the referee pointed to the spot. Ollie made sure things were right before blasting the ball home, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-0. Woodbridge were struggling to hold the Brantham front runners and minutes later Ollie Mann was on target for his and Brantham's second goal. A good move from the back to the flanks saw the ball played into the path of Ollie Mann. Ollie ran directly at goal and as the keeper came out to narrow the angle Ollie hit it home past him. Midfield man David Grimwood who was playing well was then involved in the wars again, this time as David went to head the ball a Woodbridge man hit him in the head with a very high boot and David went down like he had been pole-axed. After a long delay for treatment David finally got up and was soon involved again in the action. Minutes later Ollie Mann grabbed his third goal of the game. He went on a mazy run, cut inside and drew the keeper off his line and sent in a hard shot that hit the bar and bounced down. A defender ran back to hastily boot it off the line but the assistant referee, who was right in line with the goal, signalled a goal and speaking to him after the game he said it had gone a good foot over the line. 3-0. This seemed to wake Woodbridge up a bit and they finished the first half with some good football with both Banya and Seaman going close.

Half time - Brantham 3 Woodbridge 0.

Woodbridge carried that momentum into the second half and were looking that much more determined and both Sam Banya and Churchyard saw good efforts well taken by Brantham keeper Ryan Bedingfield. Midfield man David Grimwood, who was still looking groggy, came off to good reception from the Brantham supporters and he was replaced by Ben Spencer. The Brantham defence were being put under pressure but they were coping well with some sustained attacks by an eager Woodbridge team. Brantham made the game as safe as it could be with a 4th goal. From a Sean Gunn corner it was defender Adam Bloss who made a surging run to leap like the proverbial salmon to power a header into the roof of the goal, leaving the keeper clutching at fresh air. Brantham brought on subs Lewis Blanchett and Danny Garrad and both were running straight at the Woodbridge defence. Despite this set back all credit to Woodbridge who still played some good football but they just could not find a way to open their account. Towards the end, Lee Grimwood who once again seemed to cover every blade of grass with his non-stop running laid the ball into the path of Marc Lowe who hit it first time and it sailed over the bar.

Brantham - 1. Ryan Bedingfield. 2. Simon Mann.3. Andy French.4. Jack Sibbons.5. Adam Bloss. 6.Kieran Lawler. 7.Marc Lowe.8.David Grimwood. 9.Ollie Mann. 10. Lee Grimwood. 11. Sean Gunn. subs used - Ben Spencer, Lewis Blanchett, Danny Garrad, subs not used - Chris French and Nathan Munson

----------barry felgate------