Town are out of the F.A.Trophy following an unlucky defeat in a replay at home to Banbury United on Tuesday night writes Brian Austin.
Atrocious weather as heavy rain throughout the afternoon probably kept the attendance down but those who turned up were treated to an exciting match that was decided by a Banbury goal,against the run of play,in the 67th minute.
Town started the brighter and soon had Banbury on the back foot. As early as the 6th minute a quick free kick found Natt Pepperell and his low cross almost found Marcus Duharty but the danger was cleared for a throw in.
Banbury's first threat came from a free kick which was fisted away by Manley and Martin shot wide from twenty five yards following up.
On 11 minutes,Banbury's keeper, Murrell, handled outside his area and was promptly booked.The resulting free kick caused mayhem in the Banbury goal mouth until Murrell pounced to save from Duharty.
Manley was in action at the other end two minutes later when he brought off a fine save to deny Ashton following good one touch football down the left side by the Banbury duo of Redknap and Coleman.
Redknap then shot over the bar for Banbury but from the goal kick Town moved the ball swiftly to the other end and Brett Trowbridge brought the best out of Murrell as the keeper flung himself to his left to preserve the deadlock.
On 21 minutes a Manley clearance found Duharty who in turn set up Pepperell but his shot was cleared for a corner.
Robertson then shot from twenty yards and again Murrell was up to the task as he pushed the ball away for yet another corner.
Town were now right on top and a goal seemed imminent at any time but somehow Murrell and his defenders kept Bridgwater out and the game goal-less.
On 30 minutes another Pepperell cross found Duharty who just failed to score,Kirk then had another shot deflected for a corner,Orchard was next to be foiled by Murrell and from the resulting corner Duharty was again unlucky not to give Town a deserved lead.
Torrential rain then descended as half time approached and conditions became slippery under-foot which added to the excitement and goal-mouth action.
In the 42nd minute Town again pressed and a succession of shots rained in on the Banbury goal and only desperate defending and good fortune meant Banbury somehow survived.
Half time arrived and Town will have felt aggrieved not to have been well ahead.
The second half began in similar fashion as Town again sought the opening goal.First Orchard and Mercieca combined well down the left which ended with Mercieca shooting wide and then, following a foul on Kirk just outside the area, Pepperell shot over the bar from the free kick.
A clever Duharty back-heel then sent Trowbridge clear but he was thwarted by a great tackle by central defender Learoyd.
Banbury were now clearly rattled and gave away a succession of free kicks but Town were unable to convert their superiority into goals.
Former Yeovil and Birmingham striker, Howard Forinton then showed his experience as he cleverly won a free-kick just outside the area but the "wall" did it's job and the danger was cleared.
On 67 minutes disaster struck for Bridgwater as a hopeful punt forward into the box found Jason Taylor in the clear and as the Town defence hesitated,he had a simple task of putting Banbury ahead against the run of play.
To their credit Town refused to let their heads drop and came back at Banbury with wave after wave of attacks.
Orchard and Trowbridge worked an opening which resulted in another first class save from Murrell and Pepperell was somehow prevented from scoring when following up on the loose ball.
On 71 minutes Banbury thought they had put the game safe but the referees assistant had raised his flag for off-side and at the other end,Young,on for Duharty,was foiled by more resolute defending.Mercieca had a shot cleared off the line and as Town became more and more desperate in their search for the equaliser Banbury started to look dangerous on the break.Forinton hit the bar with a header but Town finished the game as they began,on the attack.
Town will play a lot worse than this and win.Banbury will have travelled back to Oxfordshire knowing they had the best of the good fortune available on the night and in goal-keeper Joe Murrell they had the undoubted man of the match.
The game was excellently controlled by referee Justin Amey from Bournemouth who had a fine game and missed very little.