Derby day in the ‘EL Essexo’ Derby certainly lived up to its billing as Rovers won a blood and thunder clash at Burroughs Park, but not before The Bridge gave them a late scare as the hosts hung on with ten men to extend their unbeaten run to seventeen matches.

Overall, GWR deserved their victory as they were roared on by a partisan crowd amidst a competitive game of crunching tackles and vociferous verbal exchanges... just what you’d expect from a fierce local derby!

GWR are a big, strong and well-organised side, but this new-look Bridge were not overawed or overpowered and pushed the league leaders right until the end, although, as mentioned, the home side did work hard and deserved their win. It may not have been pretty, but it was pretty effective.

The home side showed their intent early on with a Luke Hirst header that went over, and then a Bradley Bennett shot that did likewise, and the lively Max Gnandi was involved in a couple of bits of action with a cross headed away and a shot deflected for a corner. The corner was headed goalward by Mitchell Arthur but caught easily by Michael Bett. On the quarter-hour mark, a throw-in found Harrison Topliss, and it should have been 1-0, but his effort was well-saved by Bett before Jack Unwin’s cross was blocked for a corner that was caught by keeper George Martin as The Bridge got forward.

Thomas Barton found himself in the action when his shot was tipped away superbly by Bett, and then he was yellow-carded for a cynical foul on the breaking Archie McFadden. On the edge of the box, the free kick was in a dangerous position, but Billy Willis’ kick hit the wall, and the cross that came after was too high and drifted away.

As the home side pressed for the opener, Jack Dickinson’s cross was cleared for a corner by Ollie Jenkins, and the resultant corner from Ben Search found Harrison Topliss, who evaded his marker and headed home at the back post. Leo Clark’s attempt to clear off the line was unlucky, but despite protests, the referee pointed to the centre circle and the goal stood.

A 1-0 deficit at half time would not have been too bad for The Bridge, but unfortunately, that became 2-0 right on half time when Bradley Bennett’s throw into the box was not cleared, and the ball eventually fell to Thomas Barton, whose shot was well saved by Michael Bett. Unfortunately, the ball came back to Barton, who hammered in a shot off the post for 2-0.

The second half began in the middle of a downpour that luckily ceased after a short time, and as the rain ceased, Thomas Barton commenced raining shots on the Hullbridge goal. A long-range shot was headed for a corner, and then Barton had a shot deflected for another corner that he got on the end of and fired wide.

A shot on the turn from Luke Hirst just rolled wide and was followed by a weak Harry Talbot effort saved by Michael Bett. Hirst then had a shot saved by Bett for another corner as GWR seemed determined to score the third and secure the game. The Bridge were not giving in, though, and Archie McFadden’s throw found Ellis Devereux in the box, and Ellis’ attempt just went over the bar. Ellis then had a shot that was deflected for a corner that GWR cleared as The Bridge wound up the pressure.

In the end, that pressure told as a cross by Archie McFadden was headed clear but then put back into the GWR box by Ellis Devereux, and Connor Hart was unmarked at the back post and calmly finished for 2-1.

GWR kicked off the restart and played the ball forward, and Ollie Jenkins cleared to centre midfield, where Ben Search challenged Ellis Devereux for the ball but led with his elbow and caught Ellis, who went down. The referee had no hesitation in brandishing the red card, and GWR would play out the remainder of the match with ten.

The Bridge continued to pile on the pressure in search of the equaliser. Connor Hart had a header deflected wide, and when Billy Willis’ free kick was cleared as far as Archie McFadden, he fired in a shot, but it went over the bar. Meanwhile, Rovers went up the other end, and a free kick fell to Mitchell Arthur, who got a touch, but Michael Bett saved and held it.

Deep into injury time now, and The Bridge were still pushing as Ollie Jenkins’ header was saved by keeper Martin, and an Archie McFadden free kick was cleared, and Ethan Evison’s half-shot fell to Billy Willis, but his shot was deflected wide. Kamel Sassi took the corner, and there were shouts for hand ball, but GWR were awarded the free kick and held on for victory.

A tough battle throughout, and GWR managed the game well, but The Bridge stayed in it all the way and certainly made Rovers work for those three points that they will be happy to have won in their quest for promotion. All in all, an excellent derby even without the result we hoped for. Still, there’s plenty of season left, and it’s nearly time for some semi-final action...bring it on!

On a day when The Bridge battled hard, but nobody really stood out, Archie was always involved in the midfield battle against a strong GWR midfield. Along with Connor Hart, he worked hard to get midfield control against a very strong opposition and, for that, it’s another MOM award for Archie.

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