Western League
Premier Division
Bridgwater United 1 Saltash United 1
Ben Goulty’s equaliser deep into time added on earned Saltash a deserved point at fifth-placed Bridgwater on Saturday.
The Ashes trailed at half-time to Josiah McKayle’s 43rd minute strike but were the better side in a second half which saw home left back Jack Llewellyn sent off six minutes in for two yellow card offences.
Keeper Luke Purcell seemed destined to be Bridgwater’s hero when he saved a 65th minute Jake Curtis penalty. He was later injured and replaced in goal by Sam Hedges.
But the young Ashes, on the back of a superb 4-1 win at Torpoint in midweek, continued to push until Goulty finally forced an equaliser.
Ashes manager Macca Brown said: “To a man, or boy, we were excellent. Before the game we asked for personality and boy did we see it.
“Personally, I love going to Bridgwater because it can be an unforgiving place, there’s a great following there, it’s always loud, and they’re obviously an excellent side so you have no choice but to perform.
“It really is sink or swim stuff and we are so proud of the boys on that front.
“There were a few crisis moments for us within the game which we have been guilty of not dealing with well this season.
“We lost Muz (Laurence Murray) in the warm up, Preecey (Joe Preece) after half an hour, then conceded just before half time but we responded to every moment.
“Then in the second half we were denied a blatant penalty, and were then given one and missed and lost Tylor (Love/Holmes) to injury, but nothing affected us negatively and we kept digging and finally got our rewards which I thought we thoroughly deserved.
“I’m pleased for Ben, he made an error which took the game away from us last week and was left out on Tuesday, but responded brilliantly to that, and it was a great finish so late in the game.
“We made a switch to the shape very late in the game and moved him into midfield because he does bring energy in there and will get forward and put himself in positions like he did, he’s so versatile and has so much promise, and that was a great moment for him.
“The club can be proud; we had one 16-year-old and three 17-year-olds on the pitch in the final 10 minutes chasing the game for us. Pete and Scott have supported us brilliantly from the Reserves with Freddie Tolcher and Jack Jeffard stepping up.
“Freddie showed great composure in the box to assist the goal, and Jack was outstanding after coming on for Preecey.
“They’ll continue representing both sides as we look to develop them in the right way, but it was superb to see them making such an impact in a big game.
“When their goalkeeper got injured with 15 to go we felt this could give us a real chance, but it’s not as straight forward as that.
“Bridgwater could put a traffic cone in goal and you’ve still got to break them down first and foremost, and we didn’t test him enough, but we did in the end and I don’t think their number one would have even saved Ben’s effort.
“It’s been a great week after the disappointing defeat to Helston last Saturday. The immediate post match reaction to that was what it needed to be and I felt going into the Torpoint game we would deliver and we did.
“I missed that game myself but Britch (coach Lee Britchford) had them raring to go and watching it back it could have been even more convincing than it was, and that gave us a bounce into today.
“We’ve now played four away games on the spin and taken seven points which is a decent return and we’ve got a few days to recover ahead of Thursday’s home game against Ilfracombe.”
Saltash: J Duffey, B Goulty, E Wright, E Goodman, T Huyton (F Tolcher 84), T Badcott, T Love-Holmes (J Kelsey 66), J Toulson (N Salop 71), J Curtis, A Goulty, J Preece (J Jefford 35).
Goal: B Goulty (90+5).
Yellow card: A Goulty (11).
KJM SPORTS 