The Bridge overcame the handicap of missing players and produced a draw against a very good SOUL Tower Hamlets side, showing how versatile the squad currently is in a fascinating match at the T.J. Cottis Stadium.

With Ellis Devereux and Kamel Sassi missing up front, the ever-willing and ‘play anywhere’ Leo Clark started in the number nine position and made a pretty decent job of it, although lacking a bit of support in his endeavours. As for our opponents, they’ve been doing well all season, and they were pretty in pink, resplendent in colour and pretty as in they played some very nice football. The Bridge, however, matched them in the first half, and even though SOUL probably just shaded the second half, The Bridge were always in it and never gave up.

That ‘never give up’ attitude eventually resulted in a late equaliser and a share of the points, but a whole lot of stuff went on before that, although we had played nearly ten minutes before the first shot at goal that came from stand-in striker Leo and sailed over the bar.

Soon after, SOUL had a couple of attempts from Nick Bell that went wide and Ashaan Siddiik that was on target but saved comfortably by Michael Bett. Troy Osei-Bobie went on a mazy run that was finally stopped by a defender in the box, and for SOUL, Nick Bell sent in a couple of crosses that were cleared.

As both sides battled for supremacy, the chances kept coming. Sheri Artmeladze had a shot blocked by Ollie Jenkins, and JP Jhonnes -Ramos curled one just over the bar, as it remained goalless.

JP would soon depart with what looked like another hamstring injury, and by default rather than design, Leo Clark now had a bit more support up front as George Briton-Watkins joined the action. Rowan Dorling’s long-range shot was on target but straight at keeper Max Pitman, and Pitman was soon in action again, punching away a Billy Willis cross.

Further chances came and went as Darren Phillips sliced one wide, and Leo Clark was on target, but Pitman saved again. We never saw the best of Sheri Artmeladze in his short spell at The Bridge, but he’s a dangerous opponent, and he was involved a lot in this game. He had a couple of efforts at this stage; one went wildly wide, and the other was saved easily by Michael Bett.

As half-time approached, SOUL nearly took the lead when a Nick Bell cross was headed at point-blank range by Eric Koduah, but well saved by keeper Bett. There was just time left for a couple of Bridge crosses from Leo Clark and Kelson McFarlane that were both headed clear, and the half finished even and goalless.

SOUL are not second in the table for no reason, and they stepped it up a bit as the second half began, although The Bridge could have gone in front when George Briton-Watkins set up Leo Clark, but Leo fired high and over the bar. The visitors were still playing their neat passing game, and a move down the Hullbridge left eventually found its way to Georges Kebi, who turned superbly and shifted the ball before placing a measured shot beyond the diving Bett, and SOUL took the lead.

Sheri was then at it again, with a shot going wide and then one that was deflected and saved by Bett, while at the other end, Darren Phillips shot was saved by Pitman. The Bridge were still battling hard and defended a couple more SOUL efforts as Oscar Jones and debutante Rowan Balestreri joined the fray. This saw a Bridge reshuffle with Leo Clark now at left-back and Darren Phillips the new number nine.

Nathan Best then came on to add more firepower up front, and then Michael Bett kept the home side in it with a full-stretch save from Shomari Barnwell’s header from Jack Young’s cross. Nathan Best should probably have then equalised from a Briton-Watkins cross, but couldn’t get the chance on target as Sheri fired in another shot that Bett saved, and Samir Bihmoutine should have made it 2-0 with the rebound but put the chance over the bar.

With time running out, Leo Clark flung in a cross that Oscar Jones headed goalward. It deflected off a defender for a corner that Leo swung in, and Billy Willis connected with, and then it was chaos as everyone appealed for something! Was the ball over the line? It nearly was, but Georges Kebi had saved it on the line … but with his hand, and it was a Bridge penalty. Cue, Billy Willis, to calmly smash home the spot kick and level the game. Suddenly, from staring defeat in the face, The Bridge were level, and then they almost won it!

From the restart, Leo Clark picked the ball up on the left side and ran forward. He played in Nathan Best, who then fed Oscar Jones and his short pass found George Briton-Watkins, who finished superbly, but the flag went up for offside. Dubious is not the word, or maybe it is because it looked onside to me and many others.

SOUL then had a couple of free kicks, one cleared and the other too long. Then Sheri Artmaladze was back and had a shot that clipped the top of the crossbar and went over.

Talking of dubious, as we were a little while ago, SOUL attacked again and were awarded a free kick that was, yes, dubious! Rowan Balestreri was penalised for a tussle with Rian Patel, and SOUL had a free kick just outside the 18-yard box. If this goes in, it will be an injustice! Luckily, Samir Bihmoutine hit the wall with the last kick of the game, and the whistle blew.

All in all, a good point for The Bridge. Just a few short weeks ago, we would probably have lost this game 3-0 or something similar, but the fighting spirit Marc & Liam have instilled now makes The Bridge a very different proposition. Things are heading in the right direction, and fingers crossed that it continues.

Calm and controlled at the back, Jack didn’t put a foot wrong all game. Just what was required against a strong opponent in SOUL Tower Hamlets. Jack scoops his first MOM award, and there’s likely to be more to follow if he puts in more performances like this one.