Brantham hit the "Jockeys" for six......

Our two hat trick men on the day against Newmarket Town.Ollie Mann (Left) and Lee Grimwood (right) but it the end it was a great team performance from every player on the day that won us the game and the points.

RIDGEONS PREMIER DIVISION - SATURDAY APRIL 30th
NEWMARKET TOWN 2 BRANTHAM ATHLETIC 6
We made the journey to Newmarket for the last game of the season and after a match on a rock hard pitch we came away with a deserved 6-2 win. As this is the last first team report of the season I hope you will excuse the "journalistic licence" I have taken as the report is longer than usual, but it was the last game!!
Strikers Ollie Mann and Lee Grimwood grabbed a hat-trick each, with Ollie's third goal coming from an unselfish pass from Lee Grimwood when in fact Lee could so easily netted himself, but he didn't and his tee up for Ollie gave them both a hat-trick.
As one Newmarket supporter said " with the twin tornadoes up front (Ollie and Lee) what hope did Newmarket have of getting anything out of the game".
However, despite the final scoreline it was the home team who opened their account first early on. The Brantham defence seemed to give James Lane the space and time he wanted to hit home from close range.
We hit back when influential midfield man David Grimwood sent in a free kick which was headed goalwards only to be cleared by the keeper. We then had a corner and Andy French put a good ball into the area and Thomas Wray, who had motored up from the back, hit the ball just over the bar. Lewis Blanchett, enjoying the space he was being given by the Newmarket defenders, laid off a good ball for Ollie Mann to run onto but Ollie seemed to hurry his shot and put it just over the bar. Newmarket hit back and Tyte was allowed room to turn and shoot at goal but Ryan Bedingfield who had the shot covered saw it fizzle past the post.
We finally equalised when Lewis Blanchett played a good through ball for Lee Grimwood to run onto. Lee beat the advancing keeper,slotting home in style at the near corner. We took the lead when a good move orchestrated by David Grimwood. David went through and sent in a fierce shot on the the run which the keeper could not hold and as the ball bobbled about Ollie Mann, following up, hit home from close range. We made it 3-1 prior to the break when a move started at the back saw David Grimwood beat his marker and he played an inch perfect ball for Lee Grimwood to latch onto. Lee went round the oncoming keeper to hit home his second of the game. Half time - Newmarket 1 Brantham 3
The start of the second half saw manager Tony Hall make a couple of changes, bringing on substitutes Simon Mann and Chris French. Newmarket seemed a bit quicker out of the gate from the restart and they pulled a second goal back. The ball was played into our area and as a defender tried to clear the ball it bobbled up and hit him on the arm and the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Grant Robbins who gave Ryan Bedingfield no chance with a hard shot from the spot and giving Newmarket some hope. Newmarket pressed forward and Bell broke through but put the shot wide of the post and that seemed to knock a bit of the stuffing out of the Newmarket lads.
From then on it was mainly us doing the attacking and we made it 2-4 when Chris French made ground down the wing, cut inside and let fly with a shot that the keeper seemed to fumble and "poacher supreme" Lee Grimwood was right on hand to hit home for a well deserved hat-trick. We made it 5 when the the ball was played down the flank and played into the area and with the ball bobbling about on the hard surface Lee Grimwood laid the ball for Ollie Mann to hit home from close range. We could have had more as several times the ball was put just the wrong side of the post but we made it 6-2 when Ollie Mann notched up his hat-trick after some unselfish work by Lee Grimwood. We had a quick break down the flank and the ball was played into the Newmarket area. Lee Grimwood was the quickest to react and he could well have put the ball away himself but Lee unselfishly teed the ball up for Ollie Mann to hit home from close range and join Lee on a hat-trick.
We might have added another goal towards the end when Thomas Wray, who had moved up front, ran through and hit the ball at goal. The keeper,somehow, managed to stop it and he hit it right back into the body of Thomas and the ball ricocheted off Thomas and back towards the goal and flew past the bemused keeper but went just the wrong side of the upright, and at that moment I have a feeling that Thomas knew he would not get onto the score sheet.
A great performance from a great bunch of lads and they did themselves and the club proud.
The only thing on people's lips after the game as to who was the new found "friend" of Vice Chairman Alan Clarke!! ( answers on a post card please!!!)
After the game all the team, plus some supporters had a night out in Newmarket and Ipswich and by all accounts they had a good time and they thoroughly deserved it. I would have gone but I have a feeling that by 8 o' clock at night I would be sound asleep in a chair!!!
Thanks also to the travelling supporters, Mr & Mrs.Sibbons, who have not missed a game, Mr.Blanchett, chairman Peter Crowhurst, Vice chairman Alan Clarke ( and his new found friend!!),Asst.Director of football, the one and only Robbie Rothwell, Mr.Mann and Mick Lowe, looking resplendent in his warfare shorts, and it was good to see Jono Crouch at the game and I am sure he was kicking every ball for the team and hopefully we will see him back in action at the start of the new season. The only regular member of the travelling supporters who could not make the game was Mr.Bloss, father of our Adam.
Brantham - 1.Ryan Bedingfield. 2. Jack Sibbons. 3. Andy French. 4.Thomas Wray. 5. Marc Lowe. 6.Kieran Lawler. 7,Lewis Blanchett. 8.David Grimwood. 9.Ollie Mann. 10. Lee Grimwood. 11.Sean Gunn. subs used - Chris French and Simon Mann. subs not used - Adam Bloss ( injured) and Nathan Munson.
---barry felgate--