Bridgwater College’s Team BC Men’s Elite Football squad restored some national pride after the events at the rugby World Cup by beating Marist College from Canberra Australia 7 – 2 in a fast paced and entertaining game hosted at Bridgwater Town FC ground under floodlights.
Marist College are on a three week UK tour having started their fixture schedule in Scotland and took on the Team BC football squad after narrowly losing to Oxford City FC two days previously, so were looking for their first win in the South West part of their tour.
Team BC started well by keeping possession of the ball and early chances fell to firstly Kofi Martin and Will Moyse but the Marist College goal keeper had a knack of being in the right place at the right time, even if some of the shot stopping was a little unorthodox.
Typically, the Australian sporting mentality of ‘never giving up’, paid dividends as Team BC goal keeper Ashton Granter passed the ball out from the back under no pressure, but chasing a lost cause for the Marist centre forward was rewarded with a goal as he caught centre back Macauley John by surprise and slotted home the opening goal against the run of play.
Stunned into a reply, the ever attacking Finley Wilkinson playing at left back, whipped in a series of crosses that threatened the Marist goal but the equaliser was not forthcoming. Marist College extended their lead in the closing minutes of the first half, as a long ball caught the Team BC defence too high and the quick Marist centre forward took full advantage to lob the advancing Granter to take a 2 nil lead into the break.
The second half saw an immediate reply with Harry Fitchew taking centre stage after replacing Moyse and he instantly latched onto a through ball straight from the kick off and instinctively struck a right footed shot into the back of the net from 20 yards.
Bouyed by this instant goal, Bridgwater College’s Team BC Men’s Elite Football squad went on the attack and Fitchew struck again by finishing of a fine move started by substitute Savvas Petrau to level the scores.
Marist were obviously stunned by these goals and their UK travels started to look like it was taking a toll on their legs and were beginning to get overrun in midfield as Fitchew grabbed his hat trick with a well taken goal from good work again from Will Bartlett and Petrau, who slipped an inch perfect pass through to the Team BC striker who spun and turned another 20 yard shot into the billowing net.
Conceding three goals in quick succession rocked the Australian side and Team BC took advantage and Owen Sellick, replacing the speedy Kofi Martin, ghosted through the Marist defence to slam the ball home in only his second touch since entering the game and took the scoreline to 4 – 2.
The fifth goal came from a set piece and Macauley John volleyed in from 5 yards after a well taken corner from Harry Hamblin found John at the back post unmarked and his finish was not one you would expect from a centre half.
Fitchew grabbed his fourth goal and Team BC’s sixth, with a fine spin off of his marker and this sharp movement gained him space to receive a well-paced through ball from substitute Nash Eastwood and with confidence flying high, Fitchew slotted the ball past the advancing keeper.
The seventh and final goal came from some scintillating football and Kye Whelan playing at left back, scored a bullet header after a 7 pass move found Dunster whip a teasing cross in front of the Marist goalkeeper and Whelan charged in at the back post to the cheers of the crowd and team mates alike to end the game with a 7 – 2 confidence boosting win.
