Both sides created early chances, Bridgend had a shot over the bar before a Steve Davies cross was just cut out with Mark Jones waiting to pounce. Bridgend had a ten minute spell where they put us under pressure before Matt Lavis picked up the ball in midfield and fed Damon Thomas who played a 1-2 with Karl Lewis, Damon then fed Mark Jones but Brendan Cropley just managed to save his goalbound effort. We now came into the game and Mark had another effort which went over the bar. After 21 minutes Bridgend had a free kick just outside the area, the shot was straight at Wyn Walters but he failed to hold it. However in the ensuing melee the ref gave us a free kick to relieve the pressure. 

One of our problems was that we were unable to link between the defence and up front, numerous passes were intercepted which put Bridgend back in possession. Just when it looked as though Bridgend were going to take the game by the scruff of the neck we took the lead. Luke Harrington knocked a diagonal ball wide to Carl Edwards and his pin point cross was headed home by Mark Jones on his debut for his first senior goal. This gave the lads more confidence, on 37 minutes a Steve Davies cross caused panic in the Bridgend defence and it was headed from under the bar for a corner. Mark Jones got in a header from the corner which was knocked behind for a second corner. This time Bridgend cleared and Damon Thomas did well to clear up the break. 

Just before half time Mark Jones fed Steve Davies but he was unable to find the target the ball hitting the side netting.
The Bridgend equaliser came after 49 minutes, a Wyn Walters goal kick was intercepted, the ball was played wide right and from the cross Mike Parkin shot across Wyn and inside the far post. However within 4 minutes we were back in front, Damon Thomas fed Andrew Pearson and his cross from the right eluded everyone for Mark Jones to side foot home from a yard. This stirred Bridgend and they made two substitutions straight after the goal. 

On 62 minutes a free header was directed straight at Wyn, we went down the field and Carl Edwards played a ball inside the back for Steve Davies to get to the byeline. His cross found Karl Lewis but his shot sailed way over the bar. On 69 minutes Bridgend attacked and Tom Billings hit the ball over the bar from inside the 6 yard box. The equaliser came minutes later, firstly they had a free kick just outside the area in front of goal but the shot went over the bar. A minute later from an identical position the free kick went over the wall and into the top right hand corner. On 76 minutes we had a free kick on the edge of the box but Andrew Pearson's shot was saved by Brendan Cropley. 

On 82 minutes Carl Edwards played Mark Jones into the box, he went down under the challenge but the ref waved play on. With 5 minutes to go and mounting Bridgend pressure Wyn did well to hold a sliced clearance under the bar with several Bridgend players in the hunt for the ball. The final whistle came with both sides still striving for the winning goal.

Lido side
Wyn Walters Carl Edwards Luke Harrington Dan Williams Carl Evans Damon Thomas Steve Davies Matt Lavis Mark Jones Andy Pearson (C) Karl Lewis

Subs 12 Paul Evans for Luke Harrington 90 + 3
14 Corey Thomas not used
15 Carl Payne for Matt Lavis 79
16 Andrew Wright for Andy Pearson 79
17 Brian Thomas not used

Yellow card Steve Davies 74

Report by Peter Reynolds.