Well, this doesn’t happen very often! Even in my short time of following The Bridge, I’ve realised that an away day at Catons Lane usually ends in defeat, but not this time!

The Bridge followed up their 3-2 win at West Essex last time out with a comprehensive victory that takes them to their second cup quarter-final of the season, and what a victory it was too!

Two goals from Leo Clark and a third from Billy Willis saw The Bridge to a comfortable victory as the turnaround in our season gets better and better. Billy Knott started the game after recent matches starting from the bench, and we welcomed back Jack Mochalski and JP Jhonnes-Ramos into the side, and it was JP who was instrumental in the first goal after 13 minutes when he played a sublime pass with the outside of his right foot that dropped just over the head of Toby Salmon and Leo Clark was in and finished superbly.

The Bridge put in a solid display and created the majority of the chances, and, in fact, the home side didn’t threaten too much throughout the 90 minutes, and when they did, The Bridge defence stood strong and in control.

The first half ended 1-0 to the visitors, but there were chances for that margin to be increased with efforts from Ellis Devereux, Rowan Dorling, Billy Knott and Leo Clark. Saffron Walden didn’t really have too many efforts on goal, with just a Jack Clarke overhead kick going wide and a shot wide of the mark by Jordan Gent. Everything else was blocked by The Bridge defence.

Just before half-time, Ellis Devereux had a shot on target saved by keeper George Coton, and a corner fell to Darren Phillips, but his volley was high over the bar. On balance of play, it could have been more than 1-0, but that’s how it finished after the first 45.

Needing to do something, the hosts started the second half well and from a corner, Henry Mabassa saw his shot at goal glance off the outside of the post. This early second-half flurry petered out, though and soon The Bridge were creating chances as JP Jhonnes-Ramos had a shot go over the bar and Leo Clark’s cross shot was saved by keeper Coton, and then Kamel Sassi had a shot go over the bar also.

Not long after this, The Bridge doubled their advantage when Sassi made a good run and supplied Billy Willis out wide. Billy’s cross found Leo Clark at the back post, and his first shot hit the post and bounced back t o him, and he made sure with his second, and it was 2-0. Still, The Bridge attacked as they went for a killer third, and another shot went over the bar, this time from Ellis Devereux.

Jhonnes-Ramos’ shot went wide from around 25 yards out, and although SWT had a couple of chances by Jordan Gent, The Bridge seemed more likely to score again than the hosts. There were further Hullbridge attempts from Freddie Lawless and Rowan Dorling, and then a Kelson McFarlane corner was headed home by Billy Willis to kill the game and put The Bridge 3-0 up.

There was still enough time for George Briton-Watkins to feed Rowan Dorling, and keeper Coton saved as he closed Rowan down.

The Bridge had done enough and were the dominant force in the match, and marched onto a second cup quarter-final to add to their Peter Butcher one at Benfleet.

As I mentioned at the start of this report, The Bridge don’t often pull off good results at Saffron Walden, but this was a deserved and comfortable victory with some really good play and excellent finishing.

The turnaround in form is a joy to watch, and it was good to see another chance for a Hullbridge youngster working his way through the system when Freddie Lawless came on in the second half to prove that there is a pathway to the first team, as Kelson McFarlane and Freddie have shown, and long may that continue.

This could have gone to many candidates, but JP was superb all game and played an absolute peach of a pass for the first goal, and he deserves the award for that alone! Nice one, JP, and good to have you back.