When you score four goals you don't expect to lose but you do expect to win. Last night neither defence looked at all comfortable and the score could have been a lot more for both sides. As on Friday against Bryntirion we started poorly, we walked out onto the pitch and didn't start playing until we were one down. Bridgend started strongly and Leon Cosker made a good save after 5 minutes but unfortunately the ball went straight to Geraint Frowen their right back who drilled in a low cross that went into the goal off Cosker. Just afterwards Bridgend had a free kick in a central position 30 yards out, Cosker turned it over for a corner which we cleared. On 10 minutes we equalised, it was our first meaningful attack and was set up by Dan Williams who found Sam Wade wide right in space, Sam crossed and John Felton dived full length to head home from 12 yards giving the keeper no chance.

Within two minutes we went 2-1 up when Felton competed for a through ball with Craig Lima and ran on, drew the keeper and coolly slotted it past him. These were John's first goals since we won 2-0 at Locks Lane against Bridgend in March 2007. On 16 minutes it was all level again when a ball through the centre of our defence allowed Anthony Waters to run through and beat Cosker with ease. Two minutes later Bridgend almost went ahead again when we lost the ball and Dale Raven's shot from 30 yards went inches wide of the right hand post. On 22 minutes there was again uncertainty at the back when a Bridgend cross caused us all sorts of problems before Cosker finally claimed the ball. 

On 28 minutes following a right wing throw, John Felton crossed the ball just beyond the far post but Sam Wade couldn't keep his header down, the ball clearing the crossbar. On 36 minutes Bridgend went 3-2 ahead, they were awarded a free kick 30 yards out in a central position, Cosker blocked the shot but didn't hold it and Anthony Waters followed up to net his second of the night. We had a couple of free kicks in good positions but our delivery wasn't good, most ended up going harmlessly away for goal kicks. However on 40 minutes Scott McCoubrey knocked one in that went off a Bridgend head for a corner. Ian Turner took the corner and it was headed away from under the crossbar by a defender. 

We came out for the second half with more purpose and our tempo was a lot better. On 49 minutes Michael Waters fed Sam Wade wide right but his shot was just wide of the far post. Sam Wade then touched a through ball on to Michael Waters, he found John Felton who made ground before shooting, the keeper saving at the foot of the post. On 55 minutes we were level, Michael Waters and Ian Turner played a one two and Waters shot, it was going wide but found the head of Sam Wade who directed the ball high into the right hand side of the goal giving the keeper no chance. Now we were back on level terms again we had half an hour to find a winner but despite a couple of half chances the goal didn't look like coming. 

Then on 72 minutes disaster, Scott Hillman the left back picked up the ball on the edge of his own area and ran fully 70 yards before firing home to put us behind again. On 79 minutes Cosker made a good save to his left to keep the score to 4, he managed to turn away a shot at the expense of a corner. Two minutes from time Michael Waters found Sam Wade in the area but the keeper closed him down and blocked Sam's shot which went for a corner. We still couldn't find an equaliser then the floodlights went out! When they were restored we were awarded a free kick 25 yards out in a central position, Michael Waters knocked the ball over the ball and Daniel Williams scored from a couple of yards for his first goal at the Marston's Stadium. His only other goal was in a 4-4 draw at Neath in December 2006. Both sides still had time for a winner with Bridgend having a corner which went behind for a goal kick and we had a free kick on half way which came to nothing.

Lido team:
Leon Cosker - Dan Williams - Steve Crabbe - Paul Evans - Carl Evans - Karl Lewis - Ian Turner - Scott McCourbrey
Sam Wade - John Felton - Michael Waters.

 Subs 
12  Corey Thomas for Scott McCourbrey 77
14  Dan Kingdom for John Felton 78
15  Steve Parry For Steve Crabbe 63
16 Rory McCreesh

Attendance: 60

No bookings

Match Report by Peter Reynolds

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