Merlins Bridge 5

Herbrandston 4

HERBRANDSTON were gutted they lost for the first time in a nine-goal bonanza against Merlins Bridge at The Racecourse.

Coming into this game Herbie had not lost a league game and only conceded one goal in four games, but this clash was a cracker with both sides going for the win.

The Wizards raced into a 3-1 lead, Jordan Raymond marked his return to the first team with two sublime strikes and Stephen McNabney also rifled a low drive home. Scott Reid replied for the visitors and just before the break, Alex Ouzman’s grass-cutter shot went through the legs of keeper Dan Birch, as the score stood at 3-2 to the Wizards at half time.

Herbie equalised after the turnaround as Ouzman struck his second goal of the game, but back came the Wizards as Daniel Bryce scored his side’s fourth. But determined Herbie refused to throw in the towel as Shane Walsh equalised. But ten minutes from the end substitute Nathan Greene bagged the winner for the rather relieved Wizards.

Merlins Bridge: Dan Birch, Andrew John, Paul Thomas, Peter Thomas, Simon Thomas, Jordan Raymond, Daniel Bryce, Dai Davies, Stephen Dockerty, Stephen McNabney, Scott Crawford. Subs: Lee Hudgell, Nathan Greene.

Herbrandston: Gareth Marshallsay, Sean Williams, Daniel Armstrong, Simon Mathias, Chris Darlington, Mike Evans, Craig Nicholson, Mark Jones, Scott Reid, Alex Ouzman, Shane Walsh. Subs: Liam Tester, Josh Smart, Hayden Dimond.

Referee: Kevin Milich.