BRISTOL TELEPHONES 2 RADSTOCK TOWN 3
The pointless-thus-far Telephones must have thought that their fortunes were on the up when they found themselves two goals ahead after just nine minutes into the game . . .
The first, after two minutes, was a gift – Jack Scrivens in the visiting goal couldn’t control a pass from Scott Gregory, and the rebound went straight to a Telephones forward who rolled it into the net! Seven minutes later, another piece of suicidal defending resulted in another tap-in from six yards, being gratefully accepted by the Bristol players.
The visitors were always trying to, and often did, out-pass their opponents to get into good attacking positions, but the crossbar, from a Gregory header and last-ditch tackles, prevented them from scoring.
However, the home side’s long-ball tactics were a constant problem for the visitors, and they wasted several chances to increase their lead.
Just after the half-hour, Radstock’s increasing pressure was rewarded when James Rustell reduced the arrears with a well-taken penalty given for a pushing. Right on half-time, the home keeper denied Nathan Flynn an equaliser when he was quickly off his line to spread himself well and divert the ball away for a corner.
Radstock’s belief that they could get something from the game grew in the second half as Jack Biddescombe terrorised the desperate home defenders with some mazey runs and tantalising crosses, and it was no surprise when James Rustell lashed a loose clearance into the net from ten yards.
With the minutes ticking by it, was Biddescombe again who did the damage, this time his cross finding substitute, Rico Sobers’ head, who steered the ball past the stranded keeper to score what turned out to be the winning goal.
Not a vintage performance by any stretch of the imagination, but rather one of patience and belief in the way Radstock play.
Dave Wilkinson