This was another example of how far The Bridge have progressed in recent weeks. A visit to Ashtons usually results in defeat amidst the wide-open spaces as you peer into the distance beyond the running track and cover your eyes as the goals accumulate. Not this time, oh no! not this time!

This time, The Bridge made it six games unbeaten with a well-deserved 2-0 victory to take them three places up the table to 12th and continue the fantastic run of unbeaten games that is rapidly becoming, whisper it quietly, a bit of a run!

Two decent finishes, one slightly deflected and a top-class save by Michael Betts at 1-0 to The Bridge, were the highlights of a solid and commanding Bridge performance. In fact, The Bridge started the game well and never looked back as they dominated the first part of the match. George Briton-Watkins had the first Bridge chance on target that was saved by keeper Martin Arnauchkov and a ball through by Kojo Apenteng was just too far for Ellis Devereux and was picked up by Arnauchkov.

The home side then had a spell without causing too many problems for The Bridge rearguard, who cleared a couple of corners and a free kick before a header from a corner went wide, and then Jibran Ahmed’s shot was also wide of the mark. The Bridge then took over the play for the rest of the half, but couldn’t find the opener (It’s usually at the back of the kitchen drawer!) despite a number of free kicks from Troy Osei-Bobie and a couple of Briton-Watkins crosses that were either cleared or caught by the keeper.

The half ended with more Bridge corners, this time from Marlon Agyakwa, and an Ollie Jenkins shot deflected for a corner, but with the score at 0-0 despite The Bridge having most of the play.

To be honest, the second half was very little different to the first, and The Bridge continued to run the play but just needed a goal to show for their dominance of possession. On 53 minutes, they finally got the opening goal when a Woodford clearance was headed back from midfield by Troy Osei-Bobie, and Kojo Apengteng picked up the ball and outpaced the home defence before stroking home superbly.

Woodford tried to hit back immediately, but Ollie Sotoyinbo’s header from a Ryan Hervel free kick was caught by Michael Bett before play swung back to The Bridge again, and Leo Clark’s corner was headed off the line and then cleared. In fact, Leo was now peppering The Woods with corners and crosses, but they held firm defensively, as did Darren Phillips, who continued to head and clear anything Woodford aimed his way.

As The Bridge pressed for a second goal, Phillips headed a corner wide, and Ellis Devereux’s cross was deflected for another Clark corner that the keeper punched clear. Could The Bridge kill it with a second? Well, they were still looking more likely to add to their tally rather than the home side getting their first, but, obviously, it’s not over until it’s over.

Leo Clark played a ball down the line to Ellis Devereux, whose shot was saved by The Woods keeper as time ticked by. A free kick then came into The Bridge box, and a shot from Luke Steele was going in but was superbly saved by Michael Bett. That superb save kept the score at 1-0 and was as good as scoring a second goal, which The Bridge did soon after when they broke, Kelson McFarlane swung in a cross, and keeper Arnauchkov punched clear. Oscar Jones tried to get something back on target, but Woodford cleared the ball to the edge of the box, and Leo Clark fired in a shot that was slightly deflected and found the net for 2-0, and so killed the game, which by now was deep into injury time.

A classic victory for The Bridge and the unbeaten run continues, and The Bridge are now becoming formidable opponents, winning games against teams that they generally struggle against and looking like a very solid outfit. The rest of this season could get very interesting, me thinks!

Another commanding performance from the captain, who just pips Leo Clark and Michael Betts to the match award on a day of pretty decent, solid performances from the entire Bridge squad.