Stur travelled to Bridport and twice came from behind to take home a well
deserved point.
Bridport went ahead after just two minutes when Stur keeper Adam Tong blocked
a close range shot but the ball fell straight to the feet of a Bridport forward
who had an easy finish. The goal was about as welcome to Stur as giving
Linda McCartney roast hedgehog in a basket for her dinner but the players
reaction was positive and they took the game to Bridport. Thirty minutes into
the game, Luke Geddes won the ball on the left and hit a cross field pass into
the path of Lee Thomas. The Stur striker outpaced the home defence and fired an
unstoppable shot past the Bridport keeper.
As half time approached Stur were looking the more likely of the two sides to
score, but they were indebted to keeper Adam Tong when he rushed from his line
and cleared from the feet of an onrushing Bridport forward. The Stur keeper was
cautioned for his enthusiastic challenge, but the subsequent free kick was
easily cleared. Matt Jones then forced a good save from the home keeper and the
half ended with the scores level.
Stur fell behind for the second time ten minutes into the
second half when Tim Littler challenged for the ball in the area. If this had
been figure skating, the judges would have been holding up perfect tens for the
pirouette and triple salko as executed by the Bridport forward, but the referee
pointed to the spot.
The penalty would have had Old Trafford regulars blushing,
but once again the players reaction to the setback was pleasing and they
immediately went in search of an equaliser.
Lee Thomas pace had caused the Bridport back line problems
all game. The Bridport keeper looked favourite to reach a through pass first but
the Stur man reached the ball first and nicked it past the surprised keeper and
into the net.
What do Jack Geddes and elephant droppings have in
common? They are both big, smelly number two’s, except elephant droppings don't
get booked for saying nasty things to the referee. In the last minute of added
time, Geddes almost made up for his misdemeanour when he played Lee Thomas in on
goal. The Stur man hit his shot early but the ball dropped agonisingly over the
bar with the Bridport keeper well beaten.