Early Lead Slips Away as Broad Plain Rally to Win 3–1
Saturday, 1 November – Away – Kick-off 14:00
Conditions: Cold, wet, and unforgiving
With one third of the season gone, Tunley made the trip to Bristol to face Broad Plain House. For much of the first half, they had every reason to believe the lads were on their way to a hard-earned result.
Bright Start and a Curtis Breakthrough
Tunley started well. The passing was crisp, the shape disciplined, and the front line pressed with real intent. Ryan Edmunds was equal to everything in the early going. His brilliant reaction stop in the third minute, one on one with a Broad attacker, set the tone for another strong afternoon between the posts. Broad came again with a flurry of corners and speculative efforts, but Edmunds and the back line held firm.
In the seventh minute, a sloppy off a short goal kick was picked off by Tunley’s midfield. One quick touch sent the ball wide to the right and Jake Curtis was already shouting for it. The cross came in perfectly, curling through the rain, and Curtis met it first time with his left foot, rifling it past the keeper. It was only his second appearance of the season, but the finish carried the confidence of a player that who knows his way around the net.
The intensity carried on. Tunley were snapping into tackles and linking up well in possession. The visitors nearly doubled their lead in the 13th after some clever footwork and nice passing led to another dangerous cross, but the header went high.
In the 11th, tempers briefly flared after a hard challenge. A Broad player acting as a linesman stepped onto the pitch to protest, sparking a brief scuffle before calm was restored. The referee kept his cards in his pocket, which suited both sides given the conditions.
By the 20th, Tunley had taken full control. Broad Plain were struggling to clear their lines and Tunley dictated play. A series of corners had Broad scrambling. In the 30th, Ben Curtis made a brilliant solo run of more than half the pitch, slicing straight through the defence and leaving two men chasing shadows. The powerful attack ended with a cross and a point blank header just tipped over bar by the home keeper.
Broad responded with a rare spell of pressure around the half-hour mark. A dangerous cross from the right caused chaos in the box, but Edmunds showed quick reactions to smother the rebound. Another Broad header drifted wide in the 34th, but Tunley never looked rattled.
The half closed with two more good chances. In the 37th, a curling delivery from the left nearly found its target but was punched clear at the last second. Then in the 42nd, Jake Curtis slipped behind the defence only to be denied by a desperate sliding challenge.
After another heroic save from Edmunds in 44th minute, the lads went into the break 1–0 ahead, having outplayed their opponents for long stretches.
Second Half
Whatever was said in Broad’s dressing room had an effect. They came out sharper, faster, and more direct. Within three minutes, a soft foul call on the edge of Tunley’s box gave them a free kick that thundered off the crossbar, drawing gasps from both sides. Just two minutes later, another Broad attack struck the frame again. Tunley survived both scares, but the momentum was undeniable.
In the 52nd, Broad finally broke through. A clever first touch from their striker spun him into space and left the defence wrong-footed. His low shot found the corner, giving Edmunds little chance.
The home crowd came alive, and Tunley suddenly looked pinned back. Broad Plain House thought they had taken the lead in the 56th when a set-piece tap-in from a header hit the net, but the flag was up for offside. It was a let-off, but one Tunley could not fully capitalise on.
From that point, the game grew increasingly physical. Tackles flew in, and the referee’s leniency tested tempers on both benches. Tunley were forced deeper and relied on long clearances to relieve pressure. A fine sliding tackle in the 68th from Tunley prevented a promising chance, but the warning signs were clear.
In the 70th, Broad struck again. A magnificent free kick from beyond 25 yards curled viciously into the top right corner, a goal of real quality that lifted the home side and their supporters. Three minutes later, Broad broke quickly on the counter and won a penalty after a tangle in the box. The spot kick was calmly put away for 3–1.
The rest of the half was a battle. The pitch had turned into mud, the ball refused to settle, and frustration grew with every whistle. Tunley defended bravely and even pushed forward late on, but Broad’s keeper remained steady. Another Broad goal was ruled offside in the 83rd, and both sides looked ready for the final whistle.
Scorer: J. Curtis (7’)
Summary
Tunley were composed, sharp and clearly the better side before the interval, so much so that gaffer Matt Curtis called it “The best half [he’d] seen from Tunley in years.” The effort and structure were there, the pressing sharp, and the movement between lines confident. The second half belonged to Broad, who adjusted well to the conditions and turned up the attack.
Ryan Edmunds was outstanding throughout (as was his crossbar, which made a couple of great saves), making a string of saves that kept the scoreline respectable. The Curtis brothers showed true quality up front, and the entire club battled ‘til the end.
The 3–1 scoreline only hints at what unfolded. For long stretches, Tunley were the sharper, hungrier side, playing with control and belief that deserved more reward. But matches like this are often decided by inches and endurance, and Broad took their chances when the moment came.
It will sting, especially after such a commanding first half, yet there was plenty to admire. The rain, the mud, and the missed chances will fade, but the signs of a side growing stronger each week remain clear.
