It has been six weeks since the Pumas last had a competitive game and what a game to come back to. This was a top of the league clash with the two unbeaten teams in the league facing each other for the first time this season. It was Pumas’ first visit to the Bamber Bridge ground and what a marvellous facility they have to ply their trade on. This was a game that both teams and their respective supporters were looking forward to.
The Pumas had a full squad to pick from and started the game with Matt, Eddie and Tyler on the bench. The game kicked off in cool, dark, dank conditions with the pitch quite heavy underfoot due to the awful weather that has plagued the NW since before Christmas. A bright opening by both teams with some good early possession for the Pumas saw our first meaningful attack which involved Robert linking up well with Ben who fed Dion through towards the Bamber Bridge goal, unfortunately this move was broken up well by the Bamber Bridge defence before Dion could test their keeper. Bamber Bridge were moving the ball well through their midfield and they also had a chance on goal that just went wide past Conor’s right hand post. The teams looked evenly matched through the first ten minutes of the game but the deadlock was to be broken by a superb individual effort from Dion who ran onto a through ball 30 yards out to make no mistake as he slotted a great shot past the Bamber Bridge keeper. 0-1.
The Pumas had a full squad to pick from and started the game with Matt, Eddie and Tyler on the bench. The game kicked off in cool, dark, dank conditions with the pitch quite heavy underfoot due to the awful weather that has plagued the NW since before Christmas. A bright opening by both teams with some good early possession for the Pumas saw our first meaningful attack which involved Robert linking up well with Ben who fed Dion through towards the Bamber Bridge goal, unfortunately this move was broken up well by the Bamber Bridge defence before Dion could test their keeper. Bamber Bridge were moving the ball well through their midfield and they also had a chance on goal that just went wide past Conor’s right hand post. The teams looked evenly matched through the first ten minutes of the game but the deadlock was to be broken by a superb individual effort from Dion who ran onto a through ball 30 yards out to make no mistake as he slotted a great shot past the Bamber Bridge keeper. 0-1.
Bamber Bridge enjoyed the majority of possession and territory in the next ten minutes of the game, in pursuit of an equalizer and a couple of corners for them certainly tested the Pumas defence to the full. Dion though was looking lively up front with Elliot, and Dion was unlucky not to find his strike partner after two penetrating runs down the right. The Pumas midfield was being driven well by Ben and Lewis working hard and tackling well in testing conditions. The pivotal move of the first half happened after 25 mins of play. Dion picked up the ball on the right and ran a full 50 yards up the pitch withstanding great pressure from a pursuing Bamber Bridge defender to again slot a shot past the Bamber Bridge keeper for his 2nd goal of the game. 0-2.
It was important that the Pumas kept hold of this lead into the half time break which they managed to do through some good, tight defence, marshalled well by Tom and Sam respectively.
Half time 0-2
Robert and Elliot were replaced by Eddie and Tyler at the beginning of the second half. Wayne and Karl impressed on the lads at half time that a determined second half effort by Bamber Bridge was to be expected and protecting the lead was paramount and the lads responded to this request superbly. The first ten minutes of the half were indeed tough for the Pumas as the Bamber Bridge team pushed forward to try and force a goal. However, solid and determined work by the Pumas defensive quartet kept this expected Bamber Bridge effort out. The Bamber Bridge No 2 was at the heart of all the good work for the Bamber Bridge team during this period as he proved time and time again to be a very technically gifted player. The first real effort of the half for the Pumas fell to Tyler in the Bamber Bridge box - unfortunately he couldn’t quite get the ball from under his feet to test the Bamber Bridge keeper. This half of the game was punctuated with some brilliant defensive play by both teams with hard but fair tackling by both defensive units with Sam, Tom and Lewis to the fore for the Pumas. The last ten minutes of the game saw some good play down the flanks by a busy Jack and an industrious Eddie but the scoresheet wasn’t to be added to by either team before the final whistle.
Half time 0-2
Robert and Elliot were replaced by Eddie and Tyler at the beginning of the second half. Wayne and Karl impressed on the lads at half time that a determined second half effort by Bamber Bridge was to be expected and protecting the lead was paramount and the lads responded to this request superbly. The first ten minutes of the half were indeed tough for the Pumas as the Bamber Bridge team pushed forward to try and force a goal. However, solid and determined work by the Pumas defensive quartet kept this expected Bamber Bridge effort out. The Bamber Bridge No 2 was at the heart of all the good work for the Bamber Bridge team during this period as he proved time and time again to be a very technically gifted player. The first real effort of the half for the Pumas fell to Tyler in the Bamber Bridge box - unfortunately he couldn’t quite get the ball from under his feet to test the Bamber Bridge keeper. This half of the game was punctuated with some brilliant defensive play by both teams with hard but fair tackling by both defensive units with Sam, Tom and Lewis to the fore for the Pumas. The last ten minutes of the game saw some good play down the flanks by a busy Jack and an industrious Eddie but the scoresheet wasn’t to be added to by either team before the final whistle.
Final Score Bamber Bridge 0 Ladybridge Pumas 2
A very tough and competitive game played in the right spirit by a couple of determined and skilful teams battling against the conditions as much as against each other. The difference between the teams in the end was probably down to our top scorer’s ability to take the chances on goal when they were presented to him in the first half. A determined second half defensive effort by all the Pumas players ensured that the hard fought for first half lead was preserved. After a six week break and just two training sessions in this time I thought the boys did extremely well against an unbeaten team at an unfamiliar ground.
Gordon
