This was a huge game for Frenford, and they were certainly desperate to get the three points as they started the match in bottom place in the ESL table and ten points adrift of 19th placed West Essex and 18th placed Athletic Newham.

They showed their intent with additions to their team selection, bringing in the experienced and much-travelled David Knight up front, with Jamie Reynolds and Olusesan Ayudele making debuts, and others new to the line-up in recent weeks, also included in the starting selection in what looked like a last throw of the dice for the visitors.

For an hour or so, it looked like Frenford’s intent on winning the game was going to work as the visitors built themselves a 2-0 half-time lead as The Bridge struggled to get their game going amidst a number of team selection changes, enforced or otherwise. However, you often hear that old cliché, a game of two halves, and this really was a game of two halves!

Frenford started the game the brighter of the two sides, and The Bridge just couldn’t seem to get their game going, but for nearly half an hour, the score remained level until a Frenford header from a free kick was well saved by Micahael Bett for a corner. The corner caused problems for The Bridge when Ollie Jenkins headed clear but only to the edge of the 18-yard box, where Jamie Reynolds mishit it back into the box, and a challenge between David Knight/Tom Anderson saw the ball fall to Tom Troubridge, who slotted home.

1-0 down, and The Bridge were still struggling to get their game going as the visitors continued to look impressive, but probably without looking like adding to their tally. There was a controversial moment when Jack Unwin‘s run was brought to a halt in the penalty box, and it looked like a foul, but nothing was given amidst loud protests.

To make matters worse, a Frenford corner, from the other side, caused problems when Michael Bett punched clear to the edge of the 18-yard box again, and this time Shad Ugandu mishit a shot back into the box, and it fell to David Knight, who back-heeled Frenford’s second.

The half finished 2-0 to the visitors, and the half-time clubhouse discussion was how The Bridge could get themselves back into the game. The Bridge management had some ideas on this one, and Mo Malik replaced Oscar Jones, adding pace up top, and Tom Anderson moved into the backline. Before things started to get better, though, they would get worse as Connor Hart was sent to the sin-bin and The Bridge were now 2-0 down and down to ten for the next ten minutes.

Kelson McFarlane came on for George Briton-Watkins and, despite the numerical disadvantage, The Bridge started to claw their way back into the game. Archie McFadden was having a decent debut in midfield, and Hart re-joined him as the ten minutes in the sin-bin elapsed.

The feeling now was that if The Bridge could get a goal back, without stating the obvious, they would be back in it. With 69 minutes on the clock, a ball out wide to the left wing to Kelson McFarlane saw Kelson play a lovely little ball in behind the Frenford defence to Ellis Devereux, who finished across the goal and in off the far post for 1-2. Thoughts of the recent Barking comeback now came to mind! As The Bridge pushed for the equaliser, Frenford cleared their lines to midway in their half, where Leo Clark picked the ball up and played a little lob pass into space that sat up perfectly for Archie McFadden, who, from about 25 yards out, smashed an unstoppable volley past ex-Bridge keeper Dom Alexandru and the scores were level and a contender for goal of the season had just made its claim!

Frenford had not been an attacking force in the second half up to now, but on a rare foray upfield, a Jamie Reynolds cross found the head of Nickal David Luzolo, on for David Knight, and it should have been 2-3, but somehow the header went wide. If that was bad news for Frenford, worse was to come when Shad Ngandu received a red card for violent conduct after he clashed with Ellis Devereux, and now The Bridge had the numerical advantage.

Determined to make the advantage count, The Bridge were now powering forward and when a Frenford free kick was headed clear and then cleared upfield with a long pass out of defence, keeper Dom Alexandru came out to clear and mis-kicked, and the covering defender also couldn’t clear the danger. Jack Unwin, chasing it down, pounced on the ball, turned and placed the ball into the open goal and The Bridge were 3-2 up, incredible!

Mo Malik had caused loads of problems since coming on and did so again when Ollie Jenkins played a ball forward, and Mo outpaced Tom Troubridge, who pulled him down in the penalty area. Ellis Devereux stepped up to place his kick low, bottom left, and Ellis had two, and The Bridge had four! A superb comeback, and Frenford were, understandably, devastated and left facing a massive task to avoid the drop.

Not an easy victory for The Bridge by any means, and credit to Frenford for a valiant effort, but as games of two halves go, that was a fantastic second one by the lads who showed great spirit and a never-say-die attitude...bring on the ‘El Essexo Derby’!

A solid debut for Archie, topped by that stunning strike for the equaliser. Really stepped up when The Bridge were down to ten for ten minutes and collects the MOM award for a top performance and a superb goal.

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