Bridge up to second (From Western Telegraph)

Bridge up to second

Football - division one MERLINS BRIDGE 2 HERBRANDSTON 0

A GOAL created in each half was enough to give Merlins Bridge the precious league points over gritty Herbrandston at the Racecourse.

The match was hampered by an artic gale force wind which made life very difficult for both teams to play their normal free-flowing football.

However, Wizards' manager Peter Jones will be delighted with the result and the news that St Ishmaels slipped up at Milford United, which means that the Bridge now move ominously into second spot behind league leaders Monkton Swifts who they surprisingly beat last week.

The home side broke the deadlock in the 29th minute. Sean Halpin's high cross from the right got caught in the wind and caused havoc among the Herbie defenders.

When it finally came down Marc Gelona failed to clear and it fell kindly for left sided midfielder Simon Thomas to strike wickedly from the edge of the box past 'keeper Martin Langdon into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Full credit to Herbrandston - they didn't cave in and they acquitted themselves very well throughout, but they just lacked that vital firepower up front which could have made a difference.

Right on the stroke of half time striker Simon Mathias missed a glorious opportunity to equalise, when his header from only six yards flashed past the Wizards' goal, when really he knew he should have done better.

The second period followed a similar pattern with neither side gaining the upper hand, but the Bridge grabbed a second goal in the 58th minute and that killed off Herbie's hopes of getting anything from this clash.

Sean Halpin drilled an 18 yarder which Martin Langdon parried, only for Adam Raymond who was lurking with intent to make no mistake with the rebound. And that was that!