THE start of 2015 was something of a damp squib for teams from the Trowbridge Windows & Conservatories-sponsored Trowbridge & District League with the heavy overnight rain leading to the postponement of half of the scheduled matches.

One fixture that did survive deluge was the Division One heavyweight duel between Anthony Ottavanio’s high-flyers Bradford United and Chris Birleson’s defending champions Freshford United.

The game at Brown’s Park lived up to expectations as they slugged it out in a thrilling contest that ended 5-5.

Freshford went into the game having won all their previous 15 matches, but they were up against a Bradford side who had started the day in pole position.

It was Freshford who made the best start and they deservedly took the lead on 15 minutes when Dave Percival put them in front.

Bradford fought back well and drew level in the 25th minute, Richie Bliha heading home a Theo Sing cross to restore parity.

Freshford got their noses back in front on 30 minutes, Gavin Eyre making it 2-1 and after that the villagers had Bradford under the cosh for the remainder of the half but they were unable to make their superiority count.

Freshford flew out of the blocks in the second half and made it 3-1 through Ricky Trott in the 49th minute.

Bradford kept themselves in the game as they hit back a few minutes later, a second neat finish from Bliha this time with his left boot reduced the gap to the odd goal.

A second of the afternoon for Percival saw Freshford regain a two-goal cushion and it looked as if they had steadied the ship.

That wasn’t to be the case as Bliha, who was causing his former side no end of problems, netted his third of the game to start a Bradford revival and when Dan Jones finished well to square things up at 4-4 it was game on.

With both teams not wanting to settle for a draw they went in search of the victory and, with time running out, Freshford would have through they had done enough to get it when Waleed Bakali fired home to hand his team the lead for the third time in the contest.

Bradford’s never-say-die attitude paid off once again as for a third time in the game they fashioned themselves an equaliser, Bliha and Ryan Mortimer combining well to set up Jones for his second and his team's fifth that brought the 10-goal thriller to an end.

Castle Combe capitalised on Bradford's draw, a 3-1 win at home to Hilperton United saw the villagers, who had conceded 20 goals in their previous two matches, reclaim pole position as they recaptured the form of October that saw them beat Hilperton 8-3 in the reverse fixture.

Mickey Taraskevics goal for Combe separated the teams at half time and although Hilperton saw parity restored early in the second period when Dean Coles made it one apiece, goals from Ciaran Lyons and Keenan Burnell earned Combe a much needed victory.

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