THREE Bridges manager Paul Faili has tipped Merstham for the Ryman League Division One South title, admitting he's never come across a better team in the division.
Merstham thrashed Bridges 6-0 last night and Faili was full of praise for the team Hayden Bird has assembled.
"They are my tip for the league title this year because they are a very, very good side," he said. "They are a cracking team and it's quite a big squad too. Even looking in their dugout last night, they have quality in there.
"I can't see there being a side better that them in this league. I certainly don't think I've come across a better team since we have been in the Ryman.
"They are powerful and they are quick and they don't give you time on the ball. Every manager wants to create a team that move the ball quickly and closes other teams down, and they've done it."
With both first team goalkeepers injured, Bridges were down to the bare bones for the trip to the Moatside, but with the score still goalless after 40 minutes it looked like the Crawley side might hold out for at least a point.
However, Tutu Henriques scored on 42 minutes and it was 2-0 to the Surrey side by half-time, Aaron Rhule adding another.
Substitute Taurean Roberts bagged a second half hat-trick before Omar Folkes compounded Bridges' misery with the sixth in added time.
"We played at our worst and they played at their best, they battered us," Faili, who is also the chairman at Bridges, admitted.
"We kept our shape until the 41st minute and then we gave them a free free-kick. We basically wrapped it up and stuck a bow on it. They knew exactly where they were putting that ball.
"Then for the next two or three minutes it was just chaos; everyone was playing their own game and they tore us apart.
"Two goals down at half-time, I said it was about characters in the second half, but no characters turned up."
