The first competitive home game of the season for AFC Bridgnorth proved to be a midweek cracker; the hosts matching the visiting Droitwich Spa blow for blow in an enthralling and tense contest under the lights at Crown Meadow, the final score 2-2. Whilst a draw was probably a fair result given the balance of play across the entire 90 minutes, both sides will doubtless feel that they had chances to steal all three points. Droitwich have been tipped by many to at least make the play-offs again this season, so this result perhaps suggests that Bridgnorth can match the top sides in the league given they perform to their best.
Bridgnorth began the game brightly, a jinking run and cross by Mark Danks on the right and a ball forward to Luke Morris forcing the Droitwich ‘keeper off his line. Droitwich were denied by two tight offside calls in the box and had a freekick comfortably saved by Ryan Cheshire. Bridgnorth felt they should have had a ninth minute penalty as Elliot Lee latched onto a long ball in behind the Droitwich backline, poking the ball past the ‘keeper but then being blocked from reaching the ball, however the referee waved away the appeals. Morris then attempted to lob the Droitwich ‘keeper from distance as Bridgnorth broke quickly but the effort was wide. Droitwich then had a strong 15 minute period of dominance and whilst Brett Taylor, Harry Walker and Calum Hill were defending well, the hosts were guilty of clearing the ball wildly and thoughtlessly on several occasions. During this period Droitwich had several noticeable chances, including a shot that was deflected wide, the subsequent corner headed wide at the backpost, in addition to a goal that was correctly ruled out for offside. Bridgnorth managed to regain some composure and had the better of the final fifteen minutes of the half, Matt Dean cutting the ball back to Bailey Storey in the box but he turned down the shot to attempt a pass that was cleared for a corner; Charlie Swingwood subsequently hit the bar with a lofted effort before Lee was denied after he was released by a superb diagonal from Swingwood with five minutes to go. Bridgnorth took the lead with two minutes remaining in the half; a poor Droitwich clearance landing at the feet of Chris Sterling, his through ball finding Morris who managed to stay on his feet despite a slight tug by the defender before curling the ball into the corner as the ‘keeper came out to narrow the angle. HT 1-0 AFC Bridgnorth.
Droitwich equalised in the 51st minute as Bridgnorth hesitated to deal with a ball down the middle, the Droitwich frontman just beating Taylor to the ball to poke into the corner. Bridgnorth responded immediately, Morris having a shot from a tight angle that was saved and Sterling also firing over. Cheshire then did well to save a shot on the break by Droitwich, the follow-up drilled wide by the finest of margins. The visitors were really stretching the game in wide areas, Bridgnorth scrambling the ball away after one such attack down the left. To combat this Bridgnorth reverted to a 4-4-2 shape before almost retaking the lead; Sterling flicking the ball on to put Morris clear but he shot wide. Swingwood had a shot over the bar from distance before Droitwich were awarded a penalty in the 74th minute; from a Bridgnorth point of view it looked soft, the referee deeming a Bridgnorth defender was too tight to a Droitwich player shielding the ball on the edge of the area. The penalty was dispatched but Bridgnorth responded strongly, driven on by the tenacious performances of Swingwood and Sterling to win a penalty of their own five minutes later; a sliced Droitwich clearance dropped into the box for Sterling who evaded the ‘keeper before both he and Morris were sent tumbling in the box in the ensuing scramble for the ball. Following a delay in which a Droitwich player was sent to the sin bin for protesting the penalty decision, Danks stroked the penalty home. Both sides pushed hard for a winner in the final ten minutes or so, the best chance for Bridgnorth a header over the bar by Sterling from a corner, whilst Cheshire remained alert and was off his line to punch the ball clear in injury time. FT 2-2.
Bridgnorth will look to build on their solid start to the league campaign as they travel to Ingles on Saturday 19th August before the midweek visit of Wolverhampton Sporting Community on Wednesday 23rd August at Crown Meadow.