This one was always going to be a hard game for The Bridge as they visited the home of the current ESL Premier League leaders, in the middle of a bad run of results and against opponents who were in opposite form to that of The Bridge. The question was, could The Bridge use the performances of the last two games to spur them to victory against the odds?

Ultimately, the answer was no but they had a really good go at causing an upset before finally losing out in the late stages of the game, and this, despite going behind early in what could have been a confidence-destroying moment conceding in the 9th minute of the game, with Harrison Chatting the first of many to add his name to the scoresheet on the night.

Not long after Nathaniel Mardell tried to make it two but Laurence Whymark made a good save with his legs and then Milo Grimes headed over from the resultant corner. However, it was the Bridge who struck next when Reece Conway gave away a free-kick and Tobias Braney’s shot went in off the post. This was a bit of a pointer of how the night would go but what happened next didn’t seem to reflect this.

The Bridge could have gone in front but Owen Bellamy’s header went over and as so often happens, the home side went ahead instead when George Okoye’s shot deflected off Ollie Jenkins for what seemed like an OG but was later accredited to Okoye. As half-time approached Rovers could have gone further ahead when Reece Harris whipped in a free-kick and Joe Debell’s looping header escaped Laurence Whymark and the ball was tapped home but the goal was disallowed, presumably for a foul on Whymark. If the visitors thought they had survived until half-time with just a one-goal deficit, they were proven wrong as Jamie Bennett had other ideas when he received the ball in the box from the left and curled an unstoppable shot into the top right corner. Hullbridge followers must have been fearing the worst at this stage but things were about to change.

The second half started with little indication of what was about to happen as the hosts continued to press and go close with Reece Conway the main protagonist but, on 52 minutes, The Bridge hit back when Piers Hatcliff was sent through on the right and his cutback found Owen Bellamy who tapped home for 3-2. Shortly after Tom Maycock sent an effort fizzing wide before both teams started to bring their subs into play.

One of those subs, Harry Thomas, went on a mazy run and then cut inside and his shot was saved by Whymark with Reece Conway firing over from the rebound. Jamie Bennett nearly upped his tally to two in the 73rd minute but his shot was straight at The Bridge keeper but then, just a minute later, the 120 attendance probably couldn’t quite believe it as The Bridge levelled the game as Tobias Braney bagged his second of the game and it was 3-3 with fifteen to go.

Back in the game and hoping to stay that way, football then did what football so often does and smashed Hullbridge hopes before they even dared to have them, and just 4 minutes after The Bridge had clawed their way back into the game a dribbling Jamie Bennett was tripped in the box and Rovers were awarded a penalty. George Okoye’s spot kick was well taken and 4-3 it was, surely The Bridge couldn’t level it again?

Unfortunately, they couldn’t, and as the game neared its end, substitute Joe Burton was sin-binned for protesting the award of a Stanway free-kick. Even worse, Tom Maycock’s free-kick was deflected into the Hullbridge net and, this time, there was no way back. Even then, there was just enough time for Mechack Asuka to get his head to a corner and head wide in the 90th minute.

A somewhat crazy game ending in a crazy scoreline and another defeat to add to the run but The Bridge must take heart from their fightback and take that spirit into the coming games and now, more than ever, is the time to back the boys in blue in the upcoming matches and as ever…

He was one of the candidates for MOM in the GWR match, and this time, he takes the award for another good display and getting on the scoresheet again. Welcome back to The Bridge, Owen.