First year Team BC football scholar and Bridgwater Town u18 player, Will Bartlett scored a well deserved hat trick in this South West Counties Youth League quarter final match, but it still wasn't enough to get past a talented FGR team that comprised of a number of new U16 players, which bodes well for their club.

The game was only in its first minute when FGR took the lead with a stunning strike from 25 yards that left a flailing Eric Evans in goal remonstrating with his defenders for not closing the ball down quicker.

However, TeamBC/BTFC were not deterred by this early set back with forwards Will Moyse and Kofi Martin causing the FGR defence some nervous moments with their high pressing and physical presence. This determined response was rewarded as a great team goal drew the game level, as the ball was worked through midfield via Finley Wilkinson, Joel Dunster and Harry Hamblin and a neat interchange between Moyse and Martin released an overlapping Will Bartlett to race through on the left hand side and get a superb strike off inside the box to start the fight back.

FGR refocused again and their midfield began to take control via sharp movement and passing to exploit space behind the TeamBC/BTFC defence and they regained the lead again after neat interchange play that saw Evans with no chance to stop a close range shot that gave FGR a 2 – 1 lead after 30 minutes.

‘You are at your most vulnerable once you have scored’ is a clich√©d phrase used in football, but this certainly proved the case from the re-start, as a long through ball from the kick off from captain Harry Hamblin, found Bartlett in a foot race with his marker and the on coming goalkeeper and he squeezed between the pair to nudge home an instant equaliser.

The game was opening up with 10 minutes to go to half time and TeamBC/BTFC were looking to take the 2 – 2 score line into the half time break, whilst FGR were stung back into their attacking style of play, wanting to restore their lead.

They again gained the lead after a corner was not cleared and the resulting quick interchange of play saw a mistimed tackle result in a penalty which was converted to ensure FGR took a 3 – 2 lead into the second half and finish an exciting and good quality first half.

The start of the second half saw Reece Malcolm, making a welcome return at centre back after his broken foot, Ollie Evans, Ben Cherry, Kieran Ireland and keeper Ashton Granter making his debut for TeamBC/BTFC coming on for Danny Mahoney, Joel Dunster, Will Moyse, Nash Eastwood and Eric Evan's.

The fresh legs of Ireland and Cherry in midfield ensured some early impetus for the home side with both taking long range shots within the first opening parts of the second half.

However, FGR, making their own substitutions, extended their lead, firstly from a quick counter attack from a defensive corner that saw centre half Spencer Fitzpatrick unable to stop his opposing striker getting a shot off from a tight angle past Granter at the near post and then they scored from a corner, after disappointing defending from TeamBC/BTFC after a front post flick on.

Now chasing the game, TeamBC/BTFC changed their shape to try and force a way back into the game, but were caught out of position as Max Sellick was outnumbered on the right hand side and a fantastic cross found Granter unable to save the powerful header that met it to make the game 6 – 2.

TeamBC/BTFC spirit and desire to continue to play shone through until the end of the game and Bartlett got his third and well deserved hat trick after a great pass from Cherry turned the FGR defence and Bartlett out sprinted his marker and got to the ball before stumbling over the advancing keeper and regaining his feet to poke the ball home to bring the score line to 6 – 3.

Tom Sage, TeamBC/BTFC u18 manager said,

“I was delighted with some of the play we produced today and our first goal was a culmination of a 9 pass move that would grace any game and that style of play is what we have been developing over the last couple of years. FGR played extremely well in the final third of the pitch and we could and should have dealt with a couple of their goals a lot better but we wish FGR all the best in the semi final. For us, this match was another great game for all of the players to develop their own performances and this all bodes well, not only for the following set of matches, but for their future progression also.”