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Saturday 18th January 2025
Northern Premier League
By Alan Bateson
Stockton Town - 2 Bamber Bridge - 2 
Bamber Bridge made the long journey to Teesside on Saturday afternoon
and a first ever visit to the Map Group UK Stadium, home of inform and promotion chasing
Stockton Town. Brig returned with a well earned point from a 2-2 draw
and in my view, and that of many of my fellow travelling Briggers,
deserved all three with one of the best performances of the season.
Bamber Bridge have been struggling of late, of that, there is little doubt, and a visit to Stockton Town who sit just one place outside the play offs looked a daunting proposition. But Brig were up for the challenge right from the kick off on a bitterly cold Teesside afternoon. An early 8th minute Chris Churchman free kick from 30 yards set the tone, his low shot bypassed the Stockton defensive wall, but whistled wide of the post. But just two minutes The Lancashire visitors took the lead.
A Lewis Hey diagonal ball picked out Churchy wide on the right, The Brig right back whipped over an inch perfect cross straight on to the head of debutant Striker Will Russ. The Southport loanee making no mistake heading home for 4 yards. The goal clearly gave Brig a massive confidence boost as the ball was zipped around the artificial surface. It certainly seems no coincidence that the best away performances this season seem to have come at the venues with 4g magic carpets.
Brig were on top, and despite the ariel bombardment from The Anchors, the visitors were defending well and creating the clearer openings with some slick passing football. A fine ball from the impressive Lewis Hey looked to be heading for Jeff Adubofour, but a home defender just got there a split second before Big Jeff to clear the danger.
On the half hour a change was required in the centre of defence as Macca sustained an injury and was unable to continue. Simon Grand came on to fill the gap. Moments later Brig almost doubled their lead with another smart move down the right flank. The ball was cleared by Town for a throw in, level with the 18 yard line, which was launched towards the near post, Will Russ flicked the ball on and Lewis Hey met it with a looping header that the home keeper gathered at full stretch right under his crossbar. Just two minutes later and Brig were awarded a penalty. A ball in from the left was met by Lewis Hey who took a kick to the knee has he went for a shot. The referee pointing immediately to the spot.
Robbie Cleary stepped up, sent the keeper the wrong way but the ball struck the keepers right hand post and rebounded to safety. The home side feeling their luck might have changed created a shooting opportunity with half coming to a close but the shot from the edge of the box cleared the bar. The end of the half saw both sides produce fine efforts. A Brig ball in from the left was struck superbly on the volley by Jack Baxter, the keeper making a smart diving save on the goal-line. Seconds later and it was the turn of Harvey Bardsley in the Brig nets to show his goalkeeping talents, making a terrific save from a close range shot.
The second half began with Brig soon forced into another change. Big Jeff taking a knock and having to be replaced by Sandra de Costa. The home side powered forward and Harvey was again in action making an outstanding save from a bullet header following a corner from the right.
Bamber Bridge responded and another sweeping move saw Lewis Hey flash a great low cross from the left across the 6 yard box, Robbie Cleary was a toe’s width away from connecting at the near post. Churchy then weaved his way into the penalty area from right before unleashing a powerful drive that the home keep could only parry, the ball was hurriedly hooked clear by the home defence.
From that clearance, the home side launched their next assault on the Brig goal and grabbed the equaliser. A looping cross from the right was headed down at the far post and powered home to level the scores. Far from being despondent Bamber Bridge stormed forward again and the worst refereeing decision, in a season of poor refereeing decisions arrived on 70 minutes. Will Russ was sent through on goal with a fine pass, he side stepped the keeper, and with an empty gaping goal ahead of him was brought tumbling down by the keeper. The referee looked initially to have pointed to the spot but inexplicably, produced a yellow card and booked Will for Diving! In what world would a striker look for a penalty when he is about to tap the ball into an empty net? Shocking decision from the official.
However, Will was not to be denied as just two minutes later justice was seen to be done. Lewis Hey with a delicious cross from the left was met by Will at the far post, his downward header powering into the back of the net to deservedly restore the Brig lead. Unfortunately the lead was short-lived as just three minutes later the hosts were awarded a penalty of their own. A late Jack Baxter tackle giving the home side the opportunity from 12 yards to level the scores again. That opportunity was duly dispatched and we were back to all square at 2-2.
Again Brig didn’t sit back and stormed forward, a cross from the right found Will Russ at the back post, his downward header picked out the oncoming Jack Baxter who drilled a powerful rising shot just over the bar. It was Bamber Bridge pushing for the winner in the closing stages and Sandra Costa came so close at the end of yet another fine brig move forcing the home keeper into a great diving save.
Moments later the referee blew the full time whistle and Brig had taken a point that they would surely have gladly taken pre match. The performance however, merited all three and for me that was one of, if not the best performance of the season. The home supporters we spoke to after the game all acknowledging that Brig had looked nothing like a relegation threatened side and they themselves were more than happy with their single point.
Bamber Bridge now have a free week before we entertain Warrington Rylands at Irongate next weekend. In Will Russ, Millie looks to have found a forward who can hopefully make the same impact as Lucas Weaver did earlier in the season. On the evidence of today’s man of the match performance, Will has already made a fine start.
Bamber Bridge have been struggling of late, of that, there is little doubt, and a visit to Stockton Town who sit just one place outside the play offs looked a daunting proposition. But Brig were up for the challenge right from the kick off on a bitterly cold Teesside afternoon. An early 8th minute Chris Churchman free kick from 30 yards set the tone, his low shot bypassed the Stockton defensive wall, but whistled wide of the post. But just two minutes The Lancashire visitors took the lead.
A Lewis Hey diagonal ball picked out Churchy wide on the right, The Brig right back whipped over an inch perfect cross straight on to the head of debutant Striker Will Russ. The Southport loanee making no mistake heading home for 4 yards. The goal clearly gave Brig a massive confidence boost as the ball was zipped around the artificial surface. It certainly seems no coincidence that the best away performances this season seem to have come at the venues with 4g magic carpets.
Brig were on top, and despite the ariel bombardment from The Anchors, the visitors were defending well and creating the clearer openings with some slick passing football. A fine ball from the impressive Lewis Hey looked to be heading for Jeff Adubofour, but a home defender just got there a split second before Big Jeff to clear the danger.
On the half hour a change was required in the centre of defence as Macca sustained an injury and was unable to continue. Simon Grand came on to fill the gap. Moments later Brig almost doubled their lead with another smart move down the right flank. The ball was cleared by Town for a throw in, level with the 18 yard line, which was launched towards the near post, Will Russ flicked the ball on and Lewis Hey met it with a looping header that the home keeper gathered at full stretch right under his crossbar. Just two minutes later and Brig were awarded a penalty. A ball in from the left was met by Lewis Hey who took a kick to the knee has he went for a shot. The referee pointing immediately to the spot.
Robbie Cleary stepped up, sent the keeper the wrong way but the ball struck the keepers right hand post and rebounded to safety. The home side feeling their luck might have changed created a shooting opportunity with half coming to a close but the shot from the edge of the box cleared the bar. The end of the half saw both sides produce fine efforts. A Brig ball in from the left was struck superbly on the volley by Jack Baxter, the keeper making a smart diving save on the goal-line. Seconds later and it was the turn of Harvey Bardsley in the Brig nets to show his goalkeeping talents, making a terrific save from a close range shot.
The second half began with Brig soon forced into another change. Big Jeff taking a knock and having to be replaced by Sandra de Costa. The home side powered forward and Harvey was again in action making an outstanding save from a bullet header following a corner from the right.
Bamber Bridge responded and another sweeping move saw Lewis Hey flash a great low cross from the left across the 6 yard box, Robbie Cleary was a toe’s width away from connecting at the near post. Churchy then weaved his way into the penalty area from right before unleashing a powerful drive that the home keep could only parry, the ball was hurriedly hooked clear by the home defence.
From that clearance, the home side launched their next assault on the Brig goal and grabbed the equaliser. A looping cross from the right was headed down at the far post and powered home to level the scores. Far from being despondent Bamber Bridge stormed forward again and the worst refereeing decision, in a season of poor refereeing decisions arrived on 70 minutes. Will Russ was sent through on goal with a fine pass, he side stepped the keeper, and with an empty gaping goal ahead of him was brought tumbling down by the keeper. The referee looked initially to have pointed to the spot but inexplicably, produced a yellow card and booked Will for Diving! In what world would a striker look for a penalty when he is about to tap the ball into an empty net? Shocking decision from the official.
However, Will was not to be denied as just two minutes later justice was seen to be done. Lewis Hey with a delicious cross from the left was met by Will at the far post, his downward header powering into the back of the net to deservedly restore the Brig lead. Unfortunately the lead was short-lived as just three minutes later the hosts were awarded a penalty of their own. A late Jack Baxter tackle giving the home side the opportunity from 12 yards to level the scores again. That opportunity was duly dispatched and we were back to all square at 2-2.
Again Brig didn’t sit back and stormed forward, a cross from the right found Will Russ at the back post, his downward header picked out the oncoming Jack Baxter who drilled a powerful rising shot just over the bar. It was Bamber Bridge pushing for the winner in the closing stages and Sandra Costa came so close at the end of yet another fine brig move forcing the home keeper into a great diving save.
Moments later the referee blew the full time whistle and Brig had taken a point that they would surely have gladly taken pre match. The performance however, merited all three and for me that was one of, if not the best performance of the season. The home supporters we spoke to after the game all acknowledging that Brig had looked nothing like a relegation threatened side and they themselves were more than happy with their single point.
Bamber Bridge now have a free week before we entertain Warrington Rylands at Irongate next weekend. In Will Russ, Millie looks to have found a forward who can hopefully make the same impact as Lucas Weaver did earlier in the season. On the evidence of today’s man of the match performance, Will has already made a fine start.
Wednesday 1st January 2025
Northern Premier League
By Alan Bateson
AFC Guiseley - 3 Bamber Bridge - 1
A New Years Day away trip to high flying Guiseley was always going to
be a tough ask for Bamber Bridge and so it turned out. A resolute
first half saw Brig come from a goal behind to go in level at the
break. The Lions, however came out for the second period in much more
determined fashion and roared to a deserved 3-1 victory to cement
there place in 2nd place in the NPl.
The Yorkshire side were pressing Brig back and on 20 minutes another whipped in corner was headed on to the crossbar. The opening goal looked inevitable and it arrived on 25 minutes as a ball into the box was swept home from close range. The Bamber Bridge response was almost immediate, A Lewis Hey free kick on the right was met at the far post by Harry Scarborough (It might have been Adam Dodd !) whose stopping header back across the 6 yard box was met and smashed home by Alex Kenyon.
The second half began with The Lions looking to up their tempo and pretty much from kick off they began to dominate possession. However Brig had the first opening when, following a good passage of possesion, The ball found Callum Leigh on the edge of the box, his low shot was parried by the home keeper before he was able to drop on the ball and gather it safely. An inswinging free kick from the left was then punched clear just under the crossbar by the keeper as Simon Grand looked poised to head home.
With their tails up, The Lions immediately went back on the offensive looking to secure the points and a close range header flashed inches wide. Brig tried to respond and won a corner on the left, this was whipped in, headed dangerously back across goal and hooked to safety over the crossbar by a Guiseley defender. The referee inexplicably awarded the home side a goal-kick. From which a quick breakaway led to a superb save by Harvey Bardsley, pushing the ball out for a corner.
The hosts were to strike the crossbar again before the referee brought the game to a conclusion and Brig were in the end well beaten with the scoreline a fair reflection of the afternoon. Brig had played well in patches, particularly in the first half but the home side always looked the more dangerous and had created the better chances. Bamber Bridge must move on swiftly however, and look to take the 3 points on offer at home to Whitby Town this coming weekend before a tricky looking and potential six pointer visit to relegation threatened Prescott Cables in a re-arranged game next Tuesday evening.
The Yorkshire side were pressing Brig back and on 20 minutes another whipped in corner was headed on to the crossbar. The opening goal looked inevitable and it arrived on 25 minutes as a ball into the box was swept home from close range. The Bamber Bridge response was almost immediate, A Lewis Hey free kick on the right was met at the far post by Harry Scarborough (It might have been Adam Dodd !) whose stopping header back across the 6 yard box was met and smashed home by Alex Kenyon.
The second half began with The Lions looking to up their tempo and pretty much from kick off they began to dominate possession. However Brig had the first opening when, following a good passage of possesion, The ball found Callum Leigh on the edge of the box, his low shot was parried by the home keeper before he was able to drop on the ball and gather it safely. An inswinging free kick from the left was then punched clear just under the crossbar by the keeper as Simon Grand looked poised to head home.
With their tails up, The Lions immediately went back on the offensive looking to secure the points and a close range header flashed inches wide. Brig tried to respond and won a corner on the left, this was whipped in, headed dangerously back across goal and hooked to safety over the crossbar by a Guiseley defender. The referee inexplicably awarded the home side a goal-kick. From which a quick breakaway led to a superb save by Harvey Bardsley, pushing the ball out for a corner.
The hosts were to strike the crossbar again before the referee brought the game to a conclusion and Brig were in the end well beaten with the scoreline a fair reflection of the afternoon. Brig had played well in patches, particularly in the first half but the home side always looked the more dangerous and had created the better chances. Bamber Bridge must move on swiftly however, and look to take the 3 points on offer at home to Whitby Town this coming weekend before a tricky looking and potential six pointer visit to relegation threatened Prescott Cables in a re-arranged game next Tuesday evening.
