Faili delighted as Bridges brush Athletic aside on return

AFTER an enforced two week break, an emphatic win over Crowborough Athletic was just what Three Bridges needed, according to manager Paul Faili.

A depleted Bridges team went ahead before the break through defender Andy Howard, and then striker Elliott Romain found his form with two superb goals to wrap up the points.

"It was just what the boys needed," manager Faili explained. "A win but not just a scrappy win but a convincing 3-0 win and a clean-sheet."

And the Bridges boss was particularly pleased with teenage striker Romain. "He was doing well at the start of the season, but after he returned from his ban he was distinctly average," the manager admitted.

"I still wouldn't have swapped him for anyone of course. But then in the friendly against Lewes we had a little discussion and after that he seemed to come of age. It just sort of clicked that he was a good player and he is back to his old self now - he was on fire against Crowborough."

With Ellis Hooper injured, Nigel Brake on holiday, and James Grant and Joel O'Hara suspended, Bridges were down to the bare bones on Saturday, bring on substitute keeper Rob Woodward at centre-back.

"We were a bit worried he might catch the ball rather than head it, but he did well and is a great clubman for Bridges," Faili added.

On Saturday, Bridges got straight on the front foot from kick off and showed their intentions. The first corner arrived for Bridges in just four minutes and the impressive Romain could have put them in front, but his shot went wide.

For the next 10 minutes it was one way traffic and but for the final ball in the last third of the pitch you forgot there were two teams on the pitch.

Eventually Crowborough got forward and a blistering shot from Mike Culverhouse scraped the bar and went over and out.

Another corner for Bridges saw Charlie Cooke send over a dangerous cross which Abu Touray should have converted but some how sent the ball over the bar.

Dean Carden, playing in an unaccustomed left-back position, tried to play himself out of trouble in the box and lost possession, which allowed Scott Taylor a shot on goal only to be saved by Simon Lehkyj on the line.

Bridges gained a free-kick just on the edge of the box which Lee Carney swung in, the ball bobbled around in the box and was cleared out to the edge of the six yard area to find Andy Howard, who shot on the volley and straight into the roof of the net.

Just before the break, Romain, who was a pain to the Crowborough defence all afternoon, found him self one on one with the keeper but shot straight into his hands.

The second half saw Crowborough come flying out of the traps and pushed forward on to the Bridges defence.

But this soon evaporated when Romain put Bridges two up after confusion in the box.

After this both sides seemed to settle for the result with Howard and Callum Donaghey marshalling the defence with ease, so much so that substitute keeper Woodward replaced Donaghey.

The final piece of action saw Romain go on a solo run from the centre circle and his pace took him past the defence to slot home wide of the keeper.