For the second game in a row, there was a fantastic second-half comeback, and Bridge fans went from elated to deflated in the space of five days as Sawbridgeworth Town staged their second-half fightback in similar fashion to The Bridge’s on Tuesday night.

In a season where we have no idea what’s coming next, the smiling faces of Tuesday night were replaced with looks of bewilderment as we tried to register how The Bridge had let this one slip away. Carrying on from where they had left off on Tuesday, The Bridge started fast and strong and were one up after just four minutes. Before that, almost immediately from kick-off Piers Hatcliff broke down the right and fed Tobias Braney but his shot was superbly blocked. It didn’t take long for the home side to hit the target though, as Michael Osei attacked down the left and his cross found Louis Bragg who finished well for 1-0.

A flying start and it continued when The Bridge nearly scored from a corner but Sawbo’s keeper clawed it away before Sawbo had a couple of opportunities as they began to get themselves into the game. Louis Bragg was on target with a decent shot and Samuel Owusu in the Sawbo goal turned it over the bar. There were a couple of warning signs as the visitors tried to reply to The Bridge opener and they went close with a set-piece when Jude Collins delivered the ball into the area but Joshua Fox’s effort found the side-netting. As the visitors began to get a bit more of the game, from another set-play, the ball was cleared but not far enough, and prolific scorer Kieran David provided a low finish that found the bottom corner of the Hullbridge net and, suddenly, it was level.

The game was now quite even as both teams had a bit of the ball and went about creating chances with the next one falling to The Robins Jehovany Kinzonzi whose drive was pushed wide by Bridge keeper Laurence Whymark. The home side were then on the offensive and Piers Hatcliff, having another good game after his MOM on Tuesday, was through and into the Sawbo box where he was bundled over for an obvious pen. Up stepped Tobias Braney, in possibly his last game as his loan spell is up, and although Owusu went the right way, there was too much power and the ball was in the net, and The Bridge were 2-1 up.

The game continued as before, with both sides still vying with each other to gain the upper hand, and then The Bridge grabbed It when Braney got away from his marker, who had been tight on him all half, and provided a good cross for Louis Bragg who fired home his second of the day. On 41 minutes this gave the home side a big advantage as we reached half-time and the smiles were evident as we sipped our half-time teas.

3-1 up and playing well, although Sawbo were definitely still in the game, we made our way out for the second half. Sawbo had made three changes and they began to have an effect as The Bridge pushed for goal number four that would surely kill the game off. Tobias Braney was suddenly clear and one on one with Owusu but his lobbed effort drifted wide as we put hands to heads. That may have been enough to settle it and the visitors pushed on, encouraged that the margin was still two goals and not three. To be fair, their heads never dropped and they got their reward when scorer Kieran David became provider as he connected with an incoming Jude Collins on 56 minutes and Collins made it 3-2.

The Hullbridge nerves were jangling now as we prayed for a fourth but Sawbo were in the ascendancy now and the play was mainly at the Hullbridge end, furthest away from where we stood. The visitor's substitutes were fully involved now and causing Hullbridge problems on the flanks and Elijah Mambombe went on a charge breaking through three challenges and then firing home a low drive to level it at 3-3.

The Sawbo fightback was complete and almost as good as The Bridge’s Tuesday night example and, you have to give them credit, they could easily have crumbled at 3-1. The Bridge kept going, as did Sawbo and there were some late chances, one in particular from a Hullbridge corner that was heading towards the top corner before Owusu made a flying acrobatic save. The final whistle came soon after and the points were shared and, I guess, Sawbo will be the happier of the two sides. The Bridge are scrapping for every point and need to do so as the games come thick and fast after a break on Saturday. This topsy-turvy season continues, I’ve only been around a short while, maybe it’s always like this! In the short time I’ve been involved it’s certainly been a rollercoaster but I know two things...it’s going to be exciting stuff until the season ends and as ever…

Two goals and nearly three for Louis who showed some nice touches just in behind Tobias Braney and was always probing for another opening. A good game for the youngster that brings him the MOM award for an outstanding performance.