Goalie is dubbed man-of-match after letting in six balls in FA cup game

Bridport 0 Clevedon Town 6

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   Clevedon Town Poster

 

FA Cup sponsored by E.On – preliminary round Saturday, August 28 Clevedon Town travelled to Dorset to take on Toolstation Division One team Bridport and cruised through to the next round of The FA Cup with a resounding 6-0 victory full of excellent passing, movement and teamwork.

This result put the smile back on the face of Nailsea man Micky Bell the club’s new high-profile manager.

Players Kyle O’Donovan and George Brimson returned to the starting 11 in place of the absent Paul Michael and Neikell Plummer, who dropped to the subs bench.

On a sunny afternoon Clevedon were quickly into their stride with Bridport goalkeeper Simon Filkins doing well to block an Adam Mahdi shot, and then push Ashley Kington’s effort out for a corner.

The home team temporarily relieved the pressure on their goal with a free kick from Dan Wise going wide, before Clevedon went close again as Callum Fisher latched on to Lewis Ellis’s pass to force another save from Filkins.

A promising Kyle O’Donovan dribble was well defended by the hosts but The Seasiders were not to be denied when a few minutes later a deep cross from Fisher found Kington at the back post and his ball back across the box was blasted in by O’Donovan.

Another Fisher cross found Brimson whose shot was saved before Clevedon went two up as a Brimson pass found Adam Mahdi who took it on the half-volley with a superb right foot shot that flew into the net.

Mahdi was now terrorising the Bridport defence as he curled another shot just wide and followed this with a free kick that narrowly missed the target.

But on 42 minutes Mahdi had his second, and Clevedon’s third, as he ran on to a rare long ball, took it round the keeper, and hit it - left footed this time - from a narrow angle into the unguarded net.

Just on half time a Bridport cross was headed goalwards by Russell Legg, but Clevedon custodian Jason Mellor was alert to the danger and plucked the ball out of the air.

Clevedon continued their dominance as the second period got under way, with first Mahdi, and then Kington, having shots saved by Filkins.

When Mahdi was replaced on 65 minutes by Neikell Plummer the home team breathed a sigh of relief, but the chances for The Seasiders continued to come thick and fast.

It looked like Clevedon had scored a fourth as an Ashley Kington cross came off a defender at the near post and appeared to cross the line before Filkins got the ball properly under control, however the linesman didn’t award the goal.

But minutes later this was forgotten as Kyle O’Donovan scored his second goal with a crisp drive from the edge of the box to put Clevedon four up. Neikell Plummer was next to go close as Brimson played him through on the keeper, but Filkins got down well to save his low shot.

Plummer then had an even better chance to extend Clevedon’s lead as he took a penalty, awarded after O’Donovan was upended in the box, but again Filkins’s heroics saved the day, and the penalty!

Plummer tried to make amends with a powerful header, only to be thwarted by Filkins yet again, and Brimson and O’Donovan also wasted good chances.

But the fifth goal duly came on 83 minutes as George Brimson went on a mazy dribble into the box and, as defender Darren Lock tried to shield the ball for his goalkeeper to pick up, George cheekily toe-poked the ball between the two and into the net.

Finally on 87 minutes a thoroughly entertaining and professional performance from The Seasiders was rounded off with a sixth goal as Johnny Moss, on as a substitute for O’Donovan, beat his marker on the edge of the box and coolly curled his shot into the top corner of the net out of the reach of Bridport’s man-of-the-match, goalkeeper Simon Filkins.

Team: 1. Mellor, 2. Fisher, 3. Townley, 4. Thorne, 5. Kingdon (c), 6. Teale, 7. Ellis (14. Mills 80m), 8. Kington, 9. O’Donovan (16. Moss 84m), 10. Mahdi (12. Plummer 65m), 11. Brimson. Subs not used: 15. White, 17. Adams & Burgess (gk) Scorers: O’Donovan 2 (27m & 66m), Mahdi 2 (34m & 42m), Brimson (83m) & Moss (87m)

FT 0-6 (HT: 0-3)

Attendance: 184

• As there is no Championship or Premiership football Saturday, September 4, the Evo Stik, Ryman and Zamaretto leagues have got together to designate the day as Non League Day. This is when fans of the bigger clubs are invited to come and sample the unique atmosphere and support the non-league game. Clevedon Town say that if you haven't got a game why not come and see us play Sholing in a Southern League Division One South and West fixture, all are welcome.

• Clevedon Town is looking for a main business sponsor for its manager Micky. Contact the club for further details.