Colwyn Bay 0 Bamber Bridge 1

NPL 1st Division
3rd October 2006

By Dave Rowland



Bamber Bridge avenged the 0-1 defeat suffered at the hands of the Welshmen at Irongate in September with a single goal victory in North Wales last night. By so doing the South Ribble side maintained their excellent record at Colwyn Bay having now won four and drawn four of their previous ten visits to Llanelian Road.

A Greg Brickell strike on 23 minutes was enough to settle this evenly balanced game for the visitors although the Lancastrians had to work tremendously hard in the second half to stem a determined Colwyn Bay onslaught. The game was played at a frantic pace throughout on a showery evening which did not impede the entertainment.

Bamber Bridge arrived at Llanelian Road looking to get back on track following a poor run in which the club have taken just two points from their previous six games in the First Division. Colwyn Bay also were hoping for a return to better times having lost their last two games by 0-4 at Woodley Sports last week and 2-3 at Shepshed Dynamo on Saturday.

There was two changes to the Brig team which started the game against Brigg Town on Saturday. Greg Brickell was selected to lead the front line instead of Karl Noon who took his place on the bench and Mike Fletcher replaced the injured Danny Mahoney in midfield.

The teams came out of the blocks like their lives depended on the result with a chance at either end in the opening minutes. Brig goalkeeper David Newnes saved a snap-shot by Darren Wright almost straight from the kick-off, whilst at the other end a low drive from distance by Neil Reynolds fizzed past the goalpost with ‘Seagulls’ goalkeeper Ryan Brookfield well beaten.

The game lacked a little cohesion early on with both sides playing at breakneck speed with passes going astray on the slippery surface.

However, Steve Brown completely opened up the Colwyn Bay defence with a superb 25 yard angled through-ball from deep on the right which found Brickell on the left-hand edge of the penalty area. The Bamber Bridge striker rounded his marker and rammed a low drive into the bottom corner of the ‘Seagulls’ net, giving Brookfield no chance to save.

The visitors had their tails up and a smart move down the left flank involving full-back Jimmy King, Alex Porter and Greg Brickell carved open the Welsh rearguard before excellent defending by Kyle Jones nullified the threat.

A fine pass by Bay full-back John Boardman set up Wright after 27 minutes but the home striker sliced wide from a good position.

Bamber Bridge should have increased their lead five minutes later when Brickell’s endeavours gave Porter a guilt-edge chance but the opportunity was lost when Brookfield bravely saved at his feet.

Colwyn Bay really began to put their game together ten minutes before the interval in a determined bid to find an equaliser and Newnes was called upon to deny Wright near his right hand post as the striker moved in for the kill as the ball was swept in with pace from the wing. Chris Adamson then fired narrowly over as the home team’s inventive play created problems for the Brig defence.

On the stroke of half-time the visitors should have had a penalty when Brookfield brought down Salmon as the young Brig striker homed in on goal, but referee Mr Bonney waved away the vociferous protests.

Peter Davenport’s side came out with all guns blazing after the interval and Brig were made to defend stubbornly.

Chris Priest headed over a Martin Crowder corner on 47 minutes to open the inevitably expected onslaught and Adamson shot just past a post with Newnes beaten. Bamber Bridge however, remained unmoved by this early flush of activity and stood their ground well.

Indeed, the Lancastrians showed plenty of spirit and almost caught the Welsh side out with a quick breakaway on 59 minutes when Salmon fired just wide after latching on to a long clearance.

Chris O’Brien headed over the Brig bar from a Boardman cross as the pressure began to mount. Brig now had to dig-in. The polish they had displayed in the first 45 minutes was replaced by a more steely determined performance. In this they were well served by resolute centre-backs Jamie Squires and Kevin Brown and by Steve Brown who worked even harder as the link between defence and attack.

Newnes was now the busier of the two keepers and saved well from Kenny Burgess on 65 minutes. Bamber Bridge fought hard and sometimes desperately to stem the tide as the home team pushed relentlessly on in search of parity.

Indeed, Brig’s back line led a charmed life when at one point the ball pinged about the penalty area, but to their credit the defenders stuck grimly to their task.

The home team’s efforts became even more desperate as first Priest, and then Wright came close to scoring as the minutes ticked away. But they ran out of time and Bamber Bridge deservedly trooped off victorious at the end much to the delight of their hardy group of followers.

Bamber Bridge: Newnes, Myers (Bain 59mins), King, Squires, K Brown, Reynolds, S Brown, Fletcher, Salmon (Noon 85nins), Brickell, Porter. unused sub : Ince.


Attendance: 224

Thanks Steve - nice to know football gets played here sometimes