The Bridge visited the Mile End Stadium, and I was hoping for a Sam and Dave in the line-ups as that would have opened up endless possibilities for jokes about Soul, Soul Men, Soul songs, etc., etc., but alas no, although SOUL did have a David at centre-half but no Sam.

This left a Joe as the SOUL man on the score sheet (knew I’d get one in!) as the game was settled by a solitary goal from Joe Gregory in the second half.

Coming into the match, both teams were in good form, so a close encounter, not of the Spielberg kind, but a tight game was expected, and that’s what we got, although the home side probably deserved the win after a dominant second-half performance.

SOUL TH started on the front foot and forced an early corner, as did The Bridge, but both came to nothing. Tobias Braney was the first to have a shot on target that keeper Sidi Bakhai Haidara saved down low, and then Jack Hauser dragged a shot wide. Sheri Artmeladze, previously a Bridge man, was lively down the wing, and he had SOUL’s first attempt that went wide.

SOUL’s tactics were definitely to get the ball over the top for their forwards to run on to, but the plan was thwarted somewhat as they kept getting caught offside. Meanwhile, at the other end, Braney turned and shot, but the ball went wide. The game was even, but SOUL were creating more chances, although they were failing to hit the target with Artmeladze and Gregory both shooting wide. Dom Alexandru really hadn’t made a save apart from catches at this point, and then from a short corner, the ball fell to Kevin Krans right in front of goal, and he should have made it 1-0, but his attempt ended up in Dom’s hands.

The game’s controversial moment was up next when another ball over the top from the home side, this time saw Artmeladze onside and running on to the ball in a chase with John Sonuga. There was a tangle, and Sheri went down amidst screams for a red card from the home side, but only a yellow was brandished. The free kick from Steve Carvell was blocked, and Sheri tried a spectacular overhead kick but missed the ball and with no more goalmouth action, the half ended goalless.

The first half had been fairly even, but SOUL were the major force in the second, and Artmeladze was soon in the action with a 25-yard effort that Alexandru superbly saved. A Bridge free kick from Billy Willis was headed clear and fell to Billy Knott, but keeper Haidara made the save. Eli Benoit, having a great game, and John Sonuga had been solid at the back, ably suported by full-backs Billy Willis and Danny Hurford and they had cleared most of the danger and did so again as we approachd the hour mark, only this time the ball fell to full-back Nick Bell who crossed and the ball went just over the head of John Sonuga. Joe Gregory was waiting at the back post and controlled and calmly slotted home for a SOUL TH lead.

At this point, apologies if I get any names wrong, as it was very difficult to identify players under the Mile End Stadium lights. However, I could see that SOUL were having most of the chances, and Dom was now having to make saves to keep it at 1-0. Artmeladze and Carvell went close and SOUL thought they had gone two up (as did many people, especially the stadium announcer!) when another ball over the top saw one SOUL player who I couldn’t make out (Gregory?) and Artmeladze through and Sheri scored, but it was very tight, but IMHO and the officials, just offside.

The remainder of the game saw most of the chances go the way of the home side, although Taylor Jacobi fired in a shot, but it went over the bar. The last part of the game was very bitty and stop/start as play was interrupted by fouls and injuries. Julian Sarmiento-Ramirez and Steve Carvell were booked for a tangle, and the game was now really messy. There were a couple more chances for SOUL that fell, I think, to Rowan Larrington, but Alexandru saved both, and the game petered out, and the final whistle signalled a home win.

Another decent performance from The Bridge, although once again IMHO we didn’t do quite enough and the home side deserved the win. So, SOUL were left singing even without Sam and Dave, whilst The Bridge were left singing the blues, but we’ll be back and there’s loads more songs!

It’s great to see Eli back and commanding at the back alongside John, and this was a typical Eli performance that so nearly helped The Bridge keep a clean sheet. He was good when with us last season, and it’s great to have him back, and this display earns him the MOM award, which I’m sure won’t be his last.