A football match held in Highbridge this week has raised hundreds of pounds for a good cause.
Highbridge firm B-Line by Eaton has chosen the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance as its charity of the year and held a special fundraising football match this week at King Alfred School’s astro-turf.
The first Eaton-Highbridge charity 9-a-side football match took place on Tuesday evening.
Team Dorset was lead onto the field by captain Neil Congram who started in goal, with defenders Andy Gibbons, Paul Walton, Ian Merrett and the midfield line of Andrew Williams, Kevin Dibble, Ryan Mogg with Dean Adams and Calvin Christopher in attack.
Team Somerset captain Peter Guntripp starred as goal keeper alongside defenders David Oliveira, Chris Yates, guest player Andrew Kitch and midfielders Daniel Holden, Dale Champion, left side Peter Radford, right side Mark Matthews and Tomas Wiglasz up front.
Referee Stuart Thornton started the game and it began tight with neither side wanting to lose. The first chance fell to Dorset striker Christopher who did not make full contact with the ball and was easily dealt with by Somerset defence.
A few more openings for both sides then saw Adams hit the Somerset cross-bar and a relieved defence cleared. At the other end Yates then rounded the Dorset keeper Congram on the left and hit the target with Walton clearing off the line.
The first goal came after good pressure from Somerset. The ball broke down their right and was crossed into the centre where Holden coolly found the bottom corner leaving Dorset keeper no chance.
Somerset continued their strong spell with another attack down the right and the cross found an unmarked Champion with a decent finish, making it 2-0 to Somerset. Dorset rallied somewhat with Dibble swapping with Congram in goal and managed to make it to half time without conceding any more.
When the second-half got under way, it looked like the Dorset team talk was working with them, earning an early penalty for a push on Williams by Kitch.
Thornton pointed to the spot and Mogg dispatched the penalty into the bottom corner, 2-1 to Somerset and it was game on!
Somerset then started to move the ball well with some legs starting to tire on the Dorset team, then a smart move down the left finding Kitch unmarked in the centre to tap in, making it 3-1 to Somerset.
With Wiglasz leading the line for Somerset and causing increasing problems for Dorset’s defence; his hard work paid off when he was able to round replacement keeper Christopher and found the empty net, making the score 4-1 to Somerset.
Dorset swapped Walton and Adams and Williams dropped deeper into midfield with Mogg working hard in Somerset’s half and were given a life-line when Mogg found the top corner for the goal of the game, and it was then 4-2 to Somerset.
It was ‘too little too late’ for Dorset as Somerset then turned the screw and created more chances with Holden, Radford and Yates pushing forward linking up with Wiglasz and Matthews. A good battle between Adams and Oliveira saw them down together and later on Wiglasz was down injured after he and Williams challenged for a high ball.
Dorset had little left in the tank and there was no late comeback as Somerset emerged worthy winners, 4-2 the final score.
A great match played by all, Man of the Match has been awarded to Dan Holden with Tomas Wiglasz not far behind.
“A massive thank you goes Quick Sign for providing the banners, Asda for the refreshments, King Alfred School for use of the pitch, Huntspill Crown & Highbridge town for the kits and to Stuart Thornton for refereeing,” said a spokesman.
The B-Line by Eaton’s Community group will be marshalling at the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance coast to coast cycle event on May 18th.
