A brace from Jordan Lovibond and goals from Oli Hucker and Liam Winter saw TeamBTC / BTFC gain a very well deserved 3 points in their latest South West Counties Youth League match on Saturday 1 April.

The game started at a pace with both teams looking to play open attacking football from the off but it was the home side who capitalised first as Lovibond intercepted a stray pass from the Weston goalkeeper and calmly slotted the ball home to open the scoring within ten minutes.

Weston's response was thwarted soon afterwards as Harrison Buller pulled a terrific double save to prevent the visitors levelling the score line.

TeamBTC/BTFC dictated the tempo of the game with the back three of Kane Tucker, Keelan Gunningham and Corey Hucker keeping any attacking threat from Weston at bay. Goal number two came from a terrific piece of play from Liam Winter and Harry Hamblin releasing Sam Sheldrake who put in a pin perfect cross for Oli Hucker to thump home a powerful header that left the keeper rooted to his line.

 Lovibond, who chased and harangued the Weston defence all game, won himself a penalty as he nipped the ball past the advancing keeper only to be brought down, but the keeper responded well as he produced a fine save to deny TeamBTC/BTFC their third goal of the first half.

The second half saw wing-backs Max Cattle and Sheldrake produce telling crosses in the opening 20 minutes but forwards Nash Eastward and Lovibond couldn't find those finishing touches that would have extended the lead.

However, the third goal did come from a delightful Winter curling free kick after the Weston keeper was adjudged to have handled the ball outside of the box.

Injuries to both Corey and Oli Hucker, Winter and Cattle saw Liam Gilbert, Niall Carr, James Salt and Reece Malcolm take their place, and the injection of fresh legs saw TeamBTC/BTFC turn up the pace of the game. Lovibond made amends for the penalty miss in the first half by slotting home a characteristic goal as he beat his marker from a neat pass by Hamblin and slid the ball under the advancing keeper to seal a very convincing win against their neighbours and take the derby day honours.

Tom Sage, Manager for TeamBTC/BTFC said,

“This was a fine squad performance today and really a culmination of the past few weeks where we have played well but not had the results. We have 3 games left and the target is to win all three, which will be a hard but the players are capable.”

“TeamBTC/BTFC will be hosting open trials for potential players next year and I am looking to seeing who we recruit to compliment the players we already have”.

To find out more about the forthcoming trials for next season, or applying for Sports, Outdoor Education & Public Services courses at Bridgwater & Taunton College please contact Tom Sage on 01278 455464 or email saget@bridgwater.ac.uk