When things are not going to plan, change the plan!

Maybe this was @ThGaffa’s thinking as The Bridge faced a daunting encounter with high-flying Romford, if not with trepidation, certainly with apprehension. Football cliché number 65…you’re only as good as your last result and we all know what the last result was for The Bridge but, surely this is why we all love this game, sometimes you just don’t know what will happen next.

So, it was a much-changed Bridge team that took to the difficult surface of Rookery Hill to take on second-placed Romford and football did it to us again as The Bridge came out on top in a tough battle decided by a moment of magic or good fortune by Solo Ofori. That 8th-minute cross/shot that beat Romford keeper Jake Anderson, who was probably unsighted by the low sun (on our side this time, unlike at Saffron Walden recently!) was enough, although the battle for the points that followed was hard fought and, thankfully for The Bridge, successful.

The Gaffa and his team had obviously been working hard on the squad during the recent difficult run of form and the team in Green and Yellow included new additions Lemar Joseph-Johnson, Billy Willis, Billy Karby, Alfie Leach, and the returning from last season, Adam Topley. The question was how well it would all gel.
Michael Dixon was also a starter, and he went close early on before Solo Ofori chipped home for 1-0. It could have been a cross and an assist for the sun but, whatever, it went in, and The Bridge were in front. When times are tough you need a bit of luck, and The Bridge were happy to accept it.

Lemar Joseph-Johnson (Lamz), previously a Romford player was making his debut in goal for The Bridge and made an excellent save from Charlie Morris to keep the score at 1-0, and around the half-hour mark Michael Dixon went close again as Jake Anderson saved. Hullbridge keeper Lamz was in action again soon, saving from Morris again and Kris Newby. As we approached half-time Romford went close when a header was chested off the line and The Bridge kept their first-half lead as the teams headed for their half-time cuppa’ (do they still do that?).

So far so good but nobody doubted that Romford would be going all out for a goal that would keep their run of scoring in every game this season going. Romford were having more of the possession but creating few chances as The Bridge battled to keep their lead. Determined to keep his debut clean sheet Lamz was saving anything Romford did create and, you could say that Romford were like Lamz to the slaughter as the man in pink would not be beaten and he hung on determinedly to his clean sheet.

As the game wore on Michael Dixon was at it again and his lob went wide as he chased a Mike Agboola clearance, whilst Romford kept pressing but couldn't find the target as The Bridge hung on resolutely. Could they hold out or was there a final twist in this game’s tale? Into added time and out of the nervous nineties and still, the game went on. Surely there wasn't to be last-minute heartbreak, no there wasn’t, just the ref’s final whistle and a hard-fought three points for The Bridge.

Maybe unexpected but certainly welcome and hopefully this will be the start of a run, although next up it’s another tough away at Sporting Bengal who went second after the weekend’s results. Bring it on, The Bridge are back and long may that continue…there remains just one thing left to say…

A good debut from Billy on a day of good debuts. MOM could have gone to a number of players in this battling Bridge performance, and it was a team effort more than anything but if you’ve got to name one, so be it and on this occasion be it, Billy.