Bridgend Boys Club in a red top, black shorts and red socks were at home to Stonehouse Boys Club in a blue and white striped top, blue shorts and socks. It was a Central Lanarkshire YFA mid-table clash and the venue for this game was Chryston High School. The visitors came away with the three points after a 5-3 win.

 

Bridgend set up in a 4-3-3 formation and Stonehouse set up in a 4-4-2 formation. Both captains were rallying their teams as they awaited the referee’s whistle to start the game.

 

It was a nervy start from both teams and for the first five minutes or so neither team could keep possession of the ball for very long. Bridgend got an early free kick in a promising area. Leo Kelly took it short to Jack Fagan who turned inside and hit a shot but it was blocked and cleared away.

 

Bridgend kept up the early pressure as Leo Kelly struck a volley behind for a goal kick to Stonehouse.

 

Stonehouse went in search of the opener as Jack Perry tried a promising ball through to Grant Mitchell but Cameron Campbell slid in and won the ball back for Bridgend before Mitchell could pull the trigger.

 

Stonehouse broke the deadlock when the ball was cut back across goal for Dean Anderson who finished it off nicely to put the away side ahead. 

 

Stonehouse kept the pressure up as Kyle Hamilton was causing problems for the Bridgend midfield with stepovers, but he couldn’t pick out a pass.

 

Jonathon Kelly got the ball into feet, turned and cut inside to get a clear shot at goal, but it flew over the crossbar.

 

Bridgend won a corner, which they took short. Jack Fagan twisted and turned into the box and flicked the ball into the air in hope that a teammate would get onto the end of it but the keeper was first to it.

 

Hamish Boland tested Sam Williamson by hitting a shot from outside the box but the keeper dealt with it easily.

 

It was Hamish Boland who seemed dangerous. He was out wide and whipped the ball towards the back post, but a scramble in the six-yard box allowed the goalkeeper Sam Williamson time to pounce onto the loose ball.

 

Stonehouse went in search of a second goal as Kyle Hamilton won the ball just inside the Bridgend half with a terrific tackle, but he was unable to pick out either of his strikers.

 

Grant Mitchell picked out Angus Middlemas with a long ball. Middlemas hit the byline and drilled a pass across goal but it was missed by everyone and ran out for a throw in to Bridgend.

 

Bridgend looked to get an equalizer when they had a corner. Jack Fagan floated the ball towards the head of Hamish Boland, who got a strong head on the ball but Sam Williamson somehow managed to react quickly and get a hand on the ball to stop it from crossing the line, the ball fell to Conlan Maher and he hit a first time shot but Williamson was their once again to make another spectacular save.

 

Bridgend looked determined to get a goal before the half time break. A great cross form Jonathon Kelly met the head of Conlan Maher but Sam Williamson was able to pull off a brilliant save and keep Stonehouse in lead. 

 

Stonehouse had felt the pressure of Bridgend and wanted some insurance of getting a second goal. Lewis Picken played the ball inside to Grant Mitchell, he cut inside and hit a shot but Ciaran Shaw did well to get down and save it.

 

Grant Mitchell had the ball for Stonehouse deep inside the Bridgend half. He got the ball to Mathew McFadyen and he cut inside onto his stronger foot and hit a thunderbolt of a strike that flew into the top right corner to double the visitor’s lead right before half time.

As the second half got underway, Bridgend looked the stronger team. Hamish Boland threaded the ball through to Jonathon Kelly who took it first time but the keeper got his fingertips to it.

 

Jack Joyce got the ball just inside his own half, and went on a driving run down the left side of the pitch, the shot was a low-drilled one and once again Sam Williamson got down to keep Bridgend out.

 

Bridgend kept up the pressure with a good ball from Jack Fagan to pick out Hamish Boland. Boland held the ball up well and turned the defender as he headed towards goal. Grant Mitchell was running to the back post in an attempt to cover his keeper, however it made no difference as Boland powered through the defence running along the byline and found the back of the net from a tight angle.

 

With the momentum with them, Bridgend fancied their chances of a comeback. Almost straightaway Jack Fagan found the ball at his feet and played the ball through to Kian Aitken who was making a brilliant run. Aitken was one on one with the keeper and he took his time before burying the ball in the back of the net.

 

Bridgend now back on level terms wanted to take full advantage of the good spell of play they were having. A good ball from Hamish Boland gave Kian Aitken the chance to score another in nearly an identical chance to the one that leveled the scores few moments earlier, but it was a good save by Sam Williamson.

 

Bridgend looked like they could go on and win the game when Jonathon Kelly cut the ball across goal for a simple tap in by Kian Aitken, but the referee blew his whistle for offside.

 

Stonehouse had to pick themselves up and try and regain the lead. Angus Middlemas beat Jack Fagan and was through on goal, but Fagan recovered well and put in a last ditch tackle to stop Stonehouse from going ahead.

 

Bridgend went on a counter attack. Kyle McKee had the ball with his back to goal, he set the ball up for Hamish Boland who curled a shot into the bottom corner, giving the keeper no chance, and giving Bridgend the lead for the first time in the game.

 

Stonehouse reacted well to going a goal behind and upped the tempo. Lewis Picken had the ball at the right side, he cut it back to Cameron Hamilton at the edge of the box, and Hamilton kept his composure and slotted it past the goalkeeper getting Stonehouse back in the game. 

 

The second half would prove to be a real goal fest as Stonehouse regained the lead through Mathew McFadyen. The break of the ball fell to Grant Mitchell who tried to beat his man and won a corner. Jack Perry crossed the ball into the box and McFadyen was there to finish it off. 

 

Stonehouse had less chances to score than Bridgend throughout the second half, but they proved to be more clinical than their opponents in the final third, and this would be shown when Cameron Hamilton scored a fantastic volley as he smashed the ball into the top left corner and sealed the points for Stonehouse.

 

Overall it was a frustrating day for the home side, as they didn’t take their chances in the first half. However, a positive start to the second half saw them make a comeback and go in front. But Stonehouse dug deep and went on to win the game after a poor start to the second half. Bridgend will be looking to bounce back with a win in their next fixture and Stonehouse will be looking for more of the same in their next match.