I think it’s fair to say that season 24/25 has been a bit up and down! Saturday was another one of those games to add to the down list as 13th-placed Frenford took the points away from The T.J.Cottis stadium with a slightly surprising win against an off-colour 7th-placed Hullbridge.

I treated (!) the family to this one and when asked before the game whether we should win, I was fairly confident in my reply of “Yes, but this is The Bridge so anything is possible”. Anyway, they took my word for it and we settled down to watch the game, quickly putting on the coats we were carrying as the blustery wind did what it does quite often at Lower Road by blowing an absolute gale and lowering the temperature by quite a few degrees.
The first half saw the visitors with the upper hand and the dangerous Jordon Elongo was soon showing his intent with an early header saved by Luis Shamshoum but we’ll come back to Mr Elongo a bit later.

At this stage, most of the play saw Frenford on the front foot but not creating too much to worry The Bridge, with just a few free-kicks and corners but nothing too dangerous. The Bridge weren’t creating much either although Mechack Asuka had a half-chance but his effort went over the Bar. My companions for the day commented that the away side were playing better than The Bridge and I couldn’t really argue with that as I hoped that things would improve.

The pattern of the play, however, continued and Elongo was still looking like the most likely scorer and was getting shots on target even If they didn't look like being converted into goals. As for The Bridge, they were struggling to get the forwards into the game and giving the ball away too regularly to establish any foothold in the match. As we approached half-time, Elongo went close again with Luis Shamshoum saving well and Aidan Brown broke through and accepted the through ball from Louis Bragg but keeper Jimmy Parker saved well with his feet and Frenford scrambled away the rebound. Just before the whistle blew to end the half, Freddie Moriaty looked to be in for the opener but lost his footing at the crucial moment and the chance was gone and the half finished goalless.

A quick half-time Guinness and I returned to my spot to watch the second half whilst the others took a bit longer, not wanting to exchange the bar for the touchline and the dropping temperature. Delaying their return, they nearly missed the first goal or what should have been as just seconds after kick-off Elongo should have scored but somehow placed his shot wide. The Bridge were playing better but were soon to be trailing as Elongo was not to be denied and finally found the net after 54 minutes.

The Bridge had found it difficult to get their game going and they now had to fight their way back into the game which was now quite evenly balanced despite the visitor's lead. There was a half-chance for Freddie Moriaty from a pass from Louis Bragg but, frustratingly, it went wide. The play was now in Hullbridge’s favour but it was a case of whether The Bridge could create the chance for an equaliser as they pushed forward.

Asuka had a shot go wide and the free-kicks and corners were piling on the pressure and finally, The Bridge found the net, but the goal was ruled out for a foul on the keeper. Despite the pressure and Frenford being reduced to ten men when Wilton Domingos received a second yellow card and the red, we couldn't convert the pressure into goals, or at least one, and the game petered out into a 0-1 defeat. By now our watching contingent was down to two as the wife and daughter had already headed for the bar and I couldn’t really blame them!

The day ended in more defeat later, this time probably expected, when Haaland does what he does and City won 3-1. One expected loss and one probably unexpected but at the end of the day, a day of defeats. It could be an interesting season for Hullbridge as the up-and-down rollercoaster continues and we’re not sure what we’re going to get next with 3rd placed Romford up next on Tuesday. Without the family this time, I won't need to make any pre-match prediction which is good because I have no idea what to predict…but as always…