Red hot City burn Bridges

If, at the start of this season, it had been suggested that our Pitching In Isthmian South East Play Off Final would be contested between Three Bridges and Chichester City, we suspect that the response would have been one of surprise. After all, Bridges finished the 22-23 season in fifteenth spot, and City in tenth- and despite some occasionally notable performances there was nothing there that shouted ‘promotion contenders.’

And yet, nine months later, there were very few reasons for amazement. The achievements of both sides this season will remain long in the memory of those who witnessed them. Our Final was about to be contested by two sides who very much deserved their place in it.

Tonight’s hosts had a fine roll of honour. They led the table from match two to match ten, were in the top two until December 30th, and despite a mid-season blip which saw them drop down as low as eighth, came storming back into Play Off contention with a run of fourteen unbeaten matches- fifteen after their midweek victory at Sittingbourne- and entered the Final on the back of nine consecutive wins. They were the only side to defeat title winners Cray Valley PM, and only the Millers and second place Ramsgate scored more goals. They had been very much an irresistible force.

So now, welcome the immovable object.

Chichester City couldn’t even play on their own ground at the start of the season, a legacy of ongoing 3G pitch installation works, so started the campaign along the road at Bognor Regis Town’s Nyewood Lane. By the time they returned to their own patch on December 23rd they had managed to play only five home matches, and were down in eleventh place, thirteen points shy of tonight’s hosts, who were second. More patchy form followed, until, on February 3rd, Sussex rivals East Grinstead Town took the trip along the A27. City won seven-one, and never looked back. Their last fifteen matches had delivered twelve wins and ten clean sheets- and their only defeat during that period, against Ramsgate, had been soundly revenged when they knocked the Rams out in the Semi-Finals on Tuesday night, silencing not only their hosts but the vast majority of the one thousand, four hundred and sixty two watching on.

Bridges finished one place and four points above their visitors at the end of the regular campaign, and on that basis- and the fact that they were at home- took on the role of favourites. The fact that they had defeated City home and away this season improved those odds yet further, but nobody really expected this to be anything other than close.

On that basis, we were very wrong.

For all Bridges largess at one end of the field, at the other they had been rather porous, conceding more goals than anyone else in the top half of the table. It took the visitors little more than twenty seconds to demonstrate why.

Kick off, a ball forward, and it ended up with Josh Clack, inside the box. A quick chip, the ball propelled over home keeper Jasper Sheik, and City were one up even before all of the crowd had found a good vantage point. The away fans cheered, the home fans were stunned into silence.

Goal: Three Bridges 0 Chichester City 1, Josh Clack, 1 minute

Bridges attempted to fight back, although the match had a number of stoppages and two early substitutions, Tressor Dinka having to go off for Bridges, top scorer Jimmy Wild replaced for City. The hosts were perhaps on top when, on thirty six minutes, the visitors went two up, a fine finish from Joe Clarke, Sheik with no chance and the top corner the final resting place for the ball, and perhaps for Bridges chances.

Goal: Three Bridges 0 Chichester City 2, Joe Clarke, 36 minutes.

Six minutes later an already bad night got even worse for Bridges. A ball in behind, Lloyd Rowatt quickest to react, and it was three. How could the hosts come back from here?

Goal: Three Bridges 0 Chichester City 3, Lloyd Rowatt, 42 minutes.

There were lots of added minutes, not surprisingly given the earlier injuries, but no further addition to the score. Bridges had a mountain to climb, but at this point looked as if they had no head for heights.

Half time: Three Bridges 0 Chichester City 3

Bridges surely needed an early goal if they were to stand any chance, but again it was the visitors who were forcing the home defence into action, Isaac Bello and Rowatt causing further alarm to Sheik and his defence. Just after the hour the match did have a fourth goal, however, and it ensured that the contest was as good as over. City got a free kick, the ball was fired into the box, and captain Connor Cody threw himself at it, his diving header flying into the bottom corner.

Goal: Three Bridges 0 Chichester City 4, Connor Cody, 63 minutes

On seventy minutes we had another goal, and again it went to the side in green. Joe Clarke got his second of the night, finishing from the edge of the box, and there was almost as much disbelief as jubilation.

Goal: Three Bridges 0 Chichester City 5, Joe Clarke, 70 minutes

The hosts looked for a consolation, and Kevin Riviera faced a fine save from Kieran Magee, but that attack was something of a rarity. By this point, both sides just wanted the match to end, albeit for different reasons. The last twenty minutes ebbed and flowed- but mainly ebbed, as if we’d had more than enough excitement already, as indeed we had. Three extra minutes were added, and then it was over. City had reached Step Three for the first time in their history.

Full Time: Three Bridges 0 Chichester City 5- City are promoted!

Earlier this month, City lost their beloved Assistant Manager, Graeme Gee. Graeme had been part of the management team at Oaklands Park since 2015; an enormous part of their promotion to our level during 2018-19, and their success since- including that famous run to the FA Cup Second Round during the unfinished 19-20 season. Since his passing his name has been on the lips and in the minds of all at the club; there was a determination to make him proud, to honour his memory. As full time, with victory confirmed, the first tweet from the club account stated, ‘For Gee.’ It was a nice touch, and there were undoubtedly many drinks raised in his memory as the visiting fans celebrated long into the night.

As for the hosts, they’ll be down, understandably so, but it surely won’t be long before they take stock of their achievements and give themselves a pat on the back.

Both sides have taken on opponents with much greater resource, much bigger crowds. And neither have been found wanting.

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