David Bridges felt like he owed his Boro team-mates the second half winner against Ebbsfleet United in the FA Trophy semi-final. The 25-year-old midfielder lost his man for Fleet s first goal when he allowed Neil Barrett to run off the back of him and

David Bridges felt like he "owed" his Boro team-mates the second half winner against Ebbsfleet United in the FA Trophy semi-final.

The 25-year-old midfielder lost his man for Fleet's first goal when he allowed Neil Barrett to run off the back of him and get the Trophy holders back into the tie.

But Bridges atoned for his error when he powered home an 81st minute header to give Boro the advantage going into the second leg and the former Cambridge admitted to a sense of relief.

"I certainly felt like I owed that goal," Bridges told The Comet. "Their goal happened really quickly. I've got to hold my hands up because I've not tracked the runner and I've watched the flight.

"By the time I had looked down he was five or six yards passed me and not even Robbo (Mark Roberts) could save me.

"But when my goal went in the net there was a slight sigh of relief personally. We were just screaming at one another to win the header and Duke (Andy Drury) has put it in a great area and I arrived on time to head it home."

While Boro remain favourites to win the tie, Bridges admitted the team felt like they had missed an opportunity to secure a Wembley date after goals from Steve Morison and Lee Boylan saw them cruising.

But the third goal didn't arrive and Fleet showed they were not ready to relinquish their grip on the Trophy just yet thanks to Barrett's header and Stacy Long's wonder-strike.

"Credit to them but the feeling in the dressing room is like we've lost," admitted Bridges. "We look at it like we got beaten 2-1 in the second half. At 2-0 we just needed to keep doing what we were doing which was impressive.

"Whether we took our foot off it or they upped it I don't know but either way we were back at 2-2.

"I think in the first five minutes of the second half we had a couple of good chances and the third goal of the match was always going to be crucial. The game would have been dead at 3-0 but at 2-1 the tie was alive."

Bridges insisted there will be no uncertainty about their approach to the second leg at Stonebridge Road - they will simply be going all out for victory.

"As disappointed as we are about the second half performance we go there with the lead. If we win both ties then we go through - it's as simple as that. We've done half the job.