Carl Evans was ill, Adam Carpenter cup tied so Leigh Shrimpton and Shaun Best started as did Craig Langdon.

The omens weren't good, in the first minute Bridgend attacked down the right and crossed into the six yard box but no-one got a touch on the ball to score and the ball went behind for a goal kick. Justin Williams was penalised for a tackle, the first of some odd decisions, Justin's tackle saw the ball go for a corner but instead the ref awarded a free kick 25 yards out in a central position. Justice was done when the ball went out for a goal kick. 

Bridgend continued to put us under pressure but following a 1-2 with Raith Plant, Dale Raven shot wide from a good position on the edge of the box. We finally got in the game on 10 minutes when Corey Thomas played great ball through for Shaun Best but Brendan Cropley a former Lido keeper just beat him to the ball. Corey again won the ball and played a great ball down the left flank to Craig Langdon who beat the defender, cut inside but shot over the bar. On the quarter hour we had a free kick in an attacking position, the ball was cleared but Daniel Lancey did well to tidy up in our defensive third. Daniel then found Mica Chunuonsee who fed Scott McCoubrey but his shot was saved by Cropley. A minute later however we were ahead, the ball fell kindly for Scott and from 25 yards he chipped Cropley who was off his line. Craig Langdon then made a nuisance of himself and put Cropley under pressure, he won the ball and tried a shot from outside the area. He didn't quite get enough on it and a defender got back to clear. Bridgend's main threat now was reduced to free kicks which they were able to pump forward but the defence easily coped with them.

On 36 minutes we went two up when Craig Langdon challenged for the ball and it broke for Scott McCoubrey who again chipped Cropley from outside the area to send the team and supporters into feelings of ecstasy. Bridgend had a chance to reduce the arrears when Justin Williams for once missed a challenge but Leigh Shrimpton got back to block Raith Plant's shot at the expense of a corner which we cleared with 4 or 5 crisp passes out of defence.

Bridgend were obviously going to put us under pressure in the second half which they did in the early minutes but a Carl Payne header set up Craig Langdon on 48 minutes however Cropley just beat him to the ball. Good defending by Craig Lima stopped Daniel Lancey making it three with a good block on his shot. Bridgend were getting the rub of the green with some decisions but the defence was standing up to their attacks. On 56 minutes a Bridgend corner was headed out by Corey Thomas to Craig Langdon and he attacked down the right, both Craig and the defender fell over but we continued the attack and the incoming cross was just too long for Scott McCoubrey. 

Bridgend at last reduced the arrears when they were awarded a free kick 22 yards out in a central position, Dale Raven scored with a shot low to Rory's right side. Bridgend put us under intense pressure after the goal but the defence still stood firm and after 78 minutes we finally broke the shackles and played Scott McCoubrey in but from 25 yards he shot straight at the keeper. On 83 minutes Bridgend won yet another corner but we cleared it and the ball was played forward to Scott McCoubrey who picked it up just on the half way line, he made ground with only the keeper to beat. He kept a cool head and went around the keeper to turn the ball into the empty net.

Yet another Bridgend free kick saw Rory McCreesh make a good save to protect the two goal lead, Scott McCoubrey was nearly in for a fourth but was correctly given offside. However in the first minute of added on time he got his reward when a through ball skimmed the head of a defender and Scott in space again lobbed Cropley to score his and the team's fourth to record a superb win.

Lido side:
Rory McCreesh, Corey Thomas, Leigh Shrimpton, Justin Williams, Rhys Williams, Carl Payne, Shaun Best, Mika Chunuonsee, Craig Langdon, Scott McCoubrey, Daniel Lancey.

Subs:
12 Remi Whitelock for Daniel Lancey 85
14 James McEvoy for Shaun Best 89
15 Karl Reynolds for Craig Langdon 79
16 Vince Lewis
GK Gareth Couch

Att: 60

Match Report by Peter Reynolds

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