A nice drive through some lovely Essex countryside takes you to Burroughs Park, Great Wakering, the shared home of White Ensign and landlords Great Wakering Rovers. What you get next is anybody's guess as proved by recent visits to play either team but on Saturday we got what could be the start of a bright new era for The Bridge under the leadership of Marc Harrison and Liam Wallace and, with the addition of some experience to The Bridge squad, the Hullbridge contingent in the stand had an enjoyable day out in the Essex countryside.

That experience saw the addition of Darren Phillips as centre-back and captain, and the return of Bridge favourite Lewis Green in goal, back to help out after the injury to recent signing Harry Fairs. Add the back from injury, Billy Knott, who started from the bench and suddenly The Bridge team was looking more than a little interesting. Bearing in mind we lost 1-4 at home to Ensign the last time the teams met, revenge was due, and by the end of the game, completed in some style.

In fact, the first twenty minutes of the game was virtually played in the Ensign half as The Bridge dominated the game but couldn’t get the first goal. A couple of early Ollie Jenkins crosses showed pretty much how those twenty minutes would go; one drifted wide, and the other was caught by keeper Dondre Abraham. Ten minutes in, a run by Leo Clark saw the ball come off a defender for a corner that Jack Unwin swung in, and Ensign headed clear. The ball was then lobbed back into the box and fell to another debutante, Jack Mochalski, who prodded home just as the flag went up to rule the goal out. No goal but a signal of intent from the visitors.

A cross then came in from the heavily involved Leo Clark, and Ellis Devereux headed the chance wide. The game continued with The Bridge with the upper hand both on the pitch and in the dugouts as our new management duo out-bantered their dugout opponents. Ensign hadn’t done much until, in the 21st minute, Kelson McFarlane got a yellow for a foul, and the free kick was aimed into the box, but The Bridge cleared the danger.

Back to The Bridge, and Nathan Best had a shot blocked before McFarlane’s cross was headed clear, and Jack Unwin’s header was saved by Abraham. Ensign full-back Ben Sargent sent in a sort of cross/shot that went wide as The Bridge dominance continued, and just after the half-hour mark, the lively McFarlane had a cross tipped wide of the post off a defender. The resultant corner was headed wide by Darren Phillips as The Bridge pushed for the opener.

That should have come a minute later as Devereux played a pass to Jack Unwin, who picked out McFarlane with his cross, but Kelson fired over from a good position, and the game remained goalless. Still, the home side could not get a foothold in the game, and Jack Unwin played a pass to Ellis Devereux, his cross just missed Leo Clark in the box, and Ensign cleared. A couple more chances from a Jack Nolde (on for the injured Jack Unwin) corner and a McFarlane cross went begging before the hosts finally came alive.

As we approached half-time, Craig Ferguson unleashed a shot from distance that crashed back off the bar, and Riley Weir followed up, but his effort was cleared off the line by Jack Mochalski for a corner.

The corner, not for the first time or the last, was headed clear by Captain Phillips before Evernage Nyahunda sent in a cross that Kieran James connected with and Lewis Greene saved from close range before Riley Weir fouled him trying to get the rebound. If The Bridge had gone in behind at half-time, it would have been an injustice, but the half finished level despite The Bridge’s dominance.

Encouraged by the first half performance, we anticipated more of the same, but, as often happens, we got a bit of a different second forty-five as The Bridge struggled to find their rhythm and Ensign found theirs a bit. However, The Bridge had the first corner from a Nathan Best deflected shot, but the corner was cleared.

As Ensign upped their game, Lewis Greene saved a Joshua Colyer free-kick down low, and Albie Keith’s cross went over the bar. Then there were chances at both ends as Leo Clark’s cross was headed wide by Kelson McFarlane and Lewis Greene saved Albie Keith’s close-range effort, which probably should have been the opening goal, before the game quietened down for a bit.

Darren Phillips was still heading anything that moved, and Ollie Jenkins was partnering him superbly at centre-back and blocked a Ben Sargent cross, and Billy Knott replaced Jack Hauser as The Bridge fought for control of midfield. Ellis Devereux then made a run and crossed into the box, where Joseph Atoki’s high boot connected with Kelson McFarlane’s head, and it was a penalty and a red card. Nathan Best stepped up, sent keeper Abrahams the wrong way, but hit the post, and the ball bounced away. A couple of minutes later, though, the post would have no chance as The Bridge went in front.

A sublime ball from Leo Clark found Ellis Devereux on the wing, and Ellis sent in a tempting cross that Jack Nolde couldn’t resist, and Jack’s bullet header from the edge of the penalty box flew into the Ensign net at pace. I hope my words do it justice because it was an absolute cracker!

From here on in, Ensign had a bit of a spell, and The Bridge defended well, led by Phillips and Jenkins and ably assisted by everyone else. Albie Keith had a shot deflected for a corner, and the home side threw on their subs to try to get back level. The Bridge, however, were not willing to give up their lead, and as we neared the end of normal time, they battled on as Ensign desperately went for the equaliser. George Godfrey sent in a free-kick that Phillips headed clear yet again, Lewis Greene came out to kick a long ball forward clear, and Emmanuel Sergio’s cross was headed clear by, guess who, yep, Phillips again.

Darren’s match would end soon after, though, as he was sent to the sin-bin, meaning the match would end 10 a-side. There was still time for Sergio’s cross to be blocked for a corner that was headed over by Kieran James at the back post and a Henry Hart cross to drift wide before the whistle blew.

A good Bridge performance and our new management duo have already made a difference, and despite a better second half from Ensign, for me, The Bridge deserved the three points. The new additions are going to be massive for the club, I think, and the fight shown in the last two games is really encouraging...It’s all getting a bit exciting!

Headed everything, organised the troops and led by example (except maybe for the sin-bin bit!).

Great start by the big man, and he edges the MOM award on a day of good Bridge performances that bode well for the upcoming games. Well played, mate and welcome to The Bridge!