News
On The March
| 13 February, 2011
A third book following Bridgewood High FC will be released next month. Entitled ‘On The March’, the book will follow our team as they strive for league and cup competition glory. It will be available from all good bookshops or can be ordered online at www.quest-books.co.uk
Despite the teething problems that we have experienced during our early season fixtures I am 100% confident that the team will give it their all in the coming months. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors for the sports equipment that we were able to purchase with the proceeds from the first two books.
Finally, I would like to wish the team the very best of luck in their forthcoming games. Come on Bridgewood!
Bridgewood High 2–1 St Mark’s Academy
3 February, 2011
Mr Cauldwell reporting from Goresbrook.
With key players out of action the game against St Mark’s Academy (top of Division 3) was a true test of Bridgewood’s determination to climb up the league.
Straight from kick-off, Bridgewood dominated the midfield. Ten minutes into the game, Ashley Brown linked up with Duc Duong and split St Mark’s defence wide open and rattled the crossbar with a volley. Bridgewood continued to play with great maturity throughout the rest of the first half, passing the ball accurately and creating numerous chances.
Bridgewood’s intelligent play was rewarded just before half time when Ashley Brown chipped the ball over the advancing goalkeeper’s outstretched hands and into the back of the net. Unfortunately, the Bridgewood celebrations were soon muted when St Mark’s winger, Monty Salvin, equalised soon after the restart.
Their confidence boosted, St Mark’s relentlessly pushed forward in the second half. Schirtzer’s intense training had obviously paid off as he faced a barrage of shots, making six fantastic saves to keep home-side Bridgewood in the match.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch, Albinus Gardiner proved he had the necessary skills and determination to make the first team on a regular basis. With ten minutes of the game to go, Gardiner unleashed a thunderbolt shot, securing Bridgewood three points against the league leaders, concluding a great game for the football purist.
Bridgewood High 2–2 Mile End Academy
| 27 January, 2011
Timothy Houghton-Smith reporting after a shocking game against Mile End Academy.
The Bridgewood High FC Squad is now injury-ridden in the aftermath of a highly charged fixture against arch-rivals Mile End Academy.
Prior to the match, Mile End had received an official warning from the London Schools Football Association in relation to their poor disciplinary record. However, within a few minutes of the whistle it was apparent that the warning had fallen on deaf ears.
The first half was a scrappy affair with the run of play being continually halted due to fouls being committed. Conceding a poor goal just before half-time, away-side Bridgewood looked relieved when the referee blew his whistle, signalling the end of a ferocious first half.
Bridgewood changed their tactics in the second half, opting to play Total Football. The new style of play worked well for the first fifteen minutes, with Mile End failing to put in a single bone-crunching tackle. Emboldened by their domination in possession, Bridgewood created several chances in the space of just a few minutes. This renewed vigour was soon rewarded when a sensational move between Angelo Del Paggio, Salam Chalabi and George Lucas produced a breathtaking equaliser.
Ten minutes later, Timothy Houghton-Smith charged up the wing and skilfully slotted the ball to Dougie Butt. Butt smashed the ball into the back of the net to give Bridgewood the lead, much to the disgust of the Mile End players.
After the restart, a scything tackle on Christopher Coggins just outside the penalty area saw him collapse and writhe in agony. Coggins was stretchered off the pitch and taken to hospital, where it was confirmed that he had a broken tibia. Shaken by their teammate’s injury, Bridgewood never fully recovered and with twenty minutes of the game to go, their appetite for competing was lost. Five minutes after the injury, Mile End drew level and only a heroic display at the back by Charlie Oakley and Sam Smith saved Bridgewood from suffering a runaway defeat.
Victory for Bridgewood Boys!
| 12 January, 2011
South of England 2–0 North of England
Miss Cranson reporting from Prenton Park, Tranmere.
Bridgewood High FC players, Sam Smith and Charlie Oakley represented the South of England in a highly anticipated match against the North of England team earlier today.
The intense rivalry between the two teams was apparent from kick-off. Nerves and tension were high as scouts from all of the top professional clubs were present, carefully observing every move of the players.
The South of England side took the upper hand immediately, with a long-range pass from midfielder Don Fisher setting up striker, Alex Clarke, who smashed the ball into the back of the net. The South continued to dominate throughout the whole of the first half. During this period of domination, the rare North of England attacks were admirably rebuffed by the combined efforts of Oakley and Smith.
Despite maintaining possession it was not until the last five minutes of the second half that the South of England team scored again. After many attempts at goal, substitute midfielder, Bertie Hines, performed a beautiful mazy run along the touchline, passing to Clarke, who cannoned it off the bar. The ball bounced onto the waiting head of Matt Williams and into the back of the net, securing a 2–0 victory to the southern boys.
Oakley and Smith both had an excellent game and withstood a barrage of attacks whilst defending the goal admirably.
Bridgewood High 3–2 Dr Johnson Academy
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Mr Cauldwell reporting from Goresbrook.
A few new faces in the team inspired some fresh and exciting football, pushing home side Bridgewood up the league table.
The first ten minutes of the dramatic match was played at frenetic pace with the Bridgewood defence facing a non-stop barrage of attacks from the opposition’s talented forwards. Fortunately for the home side, newcomers to the team, Jack Wilkins and Justin Cornard were on top form and managed to hold them at bay.
A shift in the play became apparent fifteen minutes later when a beautifully measured pass from Wilkins to Salam Chalabi gave the midfielder a clear shot on goal. Chalabi deftly struck the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the net to put Bridgewood one goal up.
Two minutes later Timothy Houghton-Smith scored a second brilliant goal. Making an amazing solo run, Houghton-Smith passed four opposing players and unleashed a long range shot over the Dr Johnson keeper, which sailed into the back of the net.
An enthusiastic Bridgewood crowd cheered their team on, with two fathers in particular getting a little overexcited.
With the match approaching half time, Dr Johnson had a breakthrough. Following a mishap in midfield, a striker broke through Bridgewood’s defence and positioned himself to unleash a shot on an unmanned Bridgewood goal. Wilkins leapt into action to prevent the shot with a perfectly timed sliding tackle, skilfully guiding the ball wide of the goal for a corner. Despite the tackle being clean, the Dr Johnson player rolled dramatically onto the ground, clutching his leg. The referee awarded a penalty, much to the Bridgewood supporters’ dislike. Wilkins’ father in particular made his annoyance clear for everyone to hear and promptly got sent off the field in disgrace.
After several minutes, order was restored and Bridgewood’s keeper, Dominic Jasinksi, faced the penalty. The striker casually side-footed the ball into the back of the net and immediately the referee blew his whistle, concluding an extraordinary first half.
Although the second half was dominated by Bridgewood from kick-off, a mistake in defence saw Dr Johnson head in a scrappy goal after an amount of confusion in the box, levelling the score. The previous tackle and his father’s reaction to it didn’t seem to dampen Wilkins’ spirit and he had an excellent match, scoring a goal in the last few minutes of the match, securing Bridgewood High a 3–2 win.
Bridgewood High 3-0 Wapping Bow Academy
7 January, 2011
Miss Cranson reporting for Bridgewood High FC.
With old scores to settle Bridgewood High took to the pitch in the Second Round of the London Schools Cup Competition and rewarded their ranks of supporters with a great victory.
A terrific goal from midfielder Albinus Gardiner gave Bridgewood the lead after only five minutes of play. Sweeping into the Wapping penalty area Gardiner struck the ball powerfully into the goal, starting what was to become Bridgewood’s total possession of the first half.
Determined not to be outdone by his teammate, Dermot Riley broke through Wapping’s defence just before half time, making a blinding run before demonstrating his skill by expertly guiding a diving header into the back of the net as the half time whistle blew.
The start of the second half proved to be as explosive as the first with Bridgewood maintaining their fierce attacks on Wapping’s goal. After ten minutes, their sustained forward momentum provided Dicky Woodward with space. He calmly unleashed a shot that went through the goalkeeper’s legs and into the back of the net.
Taking full advantage of the comfortable lead, Bridgewood teacher Mr Cauldwell made a bold double substitution of the England trialists Sam Smith and Charlie Oakley to reduce their chance of injury for their important game at Tranmere Rovers ground next week. On came new defenders, Justin Cornard and Jack Wilkins, to preserve the Bridgewood lead.
Following the substitutions, Wapping adjusted quickly and looked revived. For thirty minutes they surged energetically forward with several dramatic attempts to get back into the game. Rocketing the ball into the Bridgewood penalty area, Wapping Bow gave it their all, but to no avail. Cornard and Wilkins withstood the furious bombardment and Bridgewood maintained a three goal lead to reach the quarter finals of the London Schools Cup.
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