Bridgham Utd were not helped by unavailabilities, a late call-off and a no show as they kicked off the new season with a 6-4 defeat at Brandon Reserves.
After a promising start Bridgham lost Michael Watts to injury and this seemed to affect the team as they went 3-0 down.
The visitors did pull one back when Tom Cusack fired home but keeper Steve Ainsworth, on his debut, then conceded a penalty which was converted. Before half-time Brandon made it 5-1 from a close range header after poor defending.
Bridgham restored some pride in the second half as Cusack scored again after good work by Tom Wood and completed his hat-trick on his debut after good play by Luke Wheeler. On the hour mark Bridgham pulled it back to 5-4 after Wheeler scored after more good play by Wood and they could have equalised before Brandon scored five minutes from time to make it 6-4. Man-of-the-match: Adam Bunting.
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