Brigg Town 2 Bamber Bridge 1
NPL 1st Division
3rd February 2007
By Dave Rowland
Brigg Town completed the ‘league-double’ over Bamber Bridge in this battle of the ‘Brigs’ at the Hawthorns on Saturday. The South Ribble side were desperately unlucky not to have had a share of the spoils after a fine performance which saw them dominate for long periods of the game. They went down to a narrow 1-2 defeat after conceding two very sloppy goals just prior to the interval and despite sustained efforts to rescue the situation, they were unable to break down a resolute ‘Zebras’ defence.
Bamber Bridge made the long trip to North Lincolnshire hoping for some reward following their 0-3 reverse last weekend at home to First Division high-flyers Stocksbridge Park Steels. It was the South Ribble side’s first defeat in the league since manager Phil Entwistle took over first team duties on Boxing Day following the resignation of Andy Whittaker. Their hosts were looking for their third win on the bounce following recent wins over Alsager Town and Clitheroe. ‘The Zebras’ lay in 13th position in the First Division table, one point ahead and two places above Brig, but with four games in hand on the Irongate side.
Brig boss Phil Entwistle kept faith with his starting line-up from the Stocksbridge game with Neil Spencer, who had returned from a one match ban, named as one of the substitutes.
After a somewhat leisurely start in the fine Lincolnshire sunshine, the game sprung to life when ‘Zebras’ John Borland narrowly fired over David Newnes crossbar from distance after 10 minutes.
The visitors almost took the lead five minutes later when Paul Lloyd shot just past the goalpost following an excellent interchange of passes between Alex Porter and Ryan Salmon. Porter was involved again shortly afterwards feeding Smith, who had found some room for himself on the edge of Town’s penalty-box, but the young midfielder just failed to connect.
Brig were calling all the shots and began to push forward with authority and looked far more threatening than their hosts. Salmon fired over the crossbar when put in on goal after a lofted Tom Ince through-ball had caught the home defence completely square on 27 minutes.
Brigg Town pulled themselves together and began to make inroads on the visitors goal. Indeed, they should have got their noses in front when Asa Ingall headed past the far post following a finely executed cross on the right by John Borland.
A superb Bamber Bridge move, involving at least six players, ended when Steve Williams found Ince in space, but an excellent tackle in the nick of time, by Lee Warren, thwarted the former Burnley man.
All the visitors fine endeavours were completely undone in the 37th and 41st minutes when a couple of sloppy defensive lapses saw them go two goals down.
An innocuous looking ball, lofted high into the heart of the Brig defence by Borland, caught the visiting back-line at six’s and seven’s and
Karl Slack easily brushed aside a Steve Williams challenge before deftly flicking his shot over the advancing Newnes.
Brig hardly had time to recover before they were caught out again four minutes later. A Stuart Ainsley corner-kick from the right somehow found its way though a tightly packed six-yard box.
Slack, who was completely unmarked at the back post, applied the finishing touch with a simple touch-in for his second of the afternoon.
Despite this double set-back the visitors responded quickly and pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time.
Danny Mahoney put Ince away down the right with a superb chip over the home defence and the Brig wingman took the ball down to the bye-line before sending in a low hard cross which was converted
by Jonathon Smith almost on the goal-line for his first goal for the club.
The visitors opened the second period with determination and a Lloyd effort was tipped around the post by ‘Zebras’ goalkeeper Damien Steer on 47 minutes.
After a worthy effort by Slack had gone narrowly wide following a good Town build-up and a fine Newnes save that denied Borland, Bamber Bridge went in search of parity with a vengeance. Indeed, Brig became encamped in the Town half with the homesters reduced to sporadic raiding on the break.
As the pressure mounted Bamber Bridge were desperately unlucky on 68 minutes when Steer’s goal seemed to lead a charmed life. A rocket-shot by Mahoney from the edge of the penalty-box was cleared from the goal-line by a defender and the follow-up by Ince met with the same fate.
Alex Porter was inches off target, firing over from a Lloyd cross on 80 minutes with the home defence caught spread-eagled.
Despite the pressure Town continued to play some neat football but their efforts lacked penetration. However, they nearly breached the visitors defence on 85 minutes when a fine cross by Ingall found Ian Ward and the midfielder’s shot flashed very close to Newnes left hand post.
An almighty scramble ensued in the Brigg Town six-yard box as the minutes ticked away but the home defence managed to clear the danger and their relief was palpable as the final whistle blew.
Bamber Bridge: Newnes, Nay (Fletcher 75mins), Fleming, Melling, Williams, Smith, Ince (Spencer 75mins), Mahoney, Lloyd, Salmon, Porter. Unused sub : Myers
Attendance: 148
