Pre Season 2021 / 22
Saturday 3rd July 2021
Barnoldswick Town - 1 Bamber Bridge - 1
Bamber
Bridge started their 2021 /22 pre season with a friendly game at The
Greenberfield Lane Stadium, home of Barnoldswick Town, or Barlick as
the locals refer to them.
Heavy
morning rain gave the superb looking pitch a welcome watering and the
game started with the skies brightening. Brig had their two recent
signings making their debuts, Cameron Gourley playing at the back
with striker Jamie Thomas playing at the top end of the pitch.
The
home side started very brightly, this was their 2nd
pre-season game, having beaten Rimington FC 6-0 earlier this week.
Brig took a few minutes to settle into the game and the first attack
of note from the visitors saw a shot from Jamie Thomas fly well over
the bar. This was clearly just a “sighter” as just moments later
from roughly the same position 20 yards from goal, the Brig debutant
hit a screamer into the bottom corner to give Brig the lead.
Bamber
Bridge were now passing the ball around well, and almost doubled the
lead 5 minutes later when a shot from the edge of the box from Mark
Yeats flashed just wide of the post. The home side were also playing
some nice football and looked dangerous particularly from set pieces,
and from a corner on 29 minutes they equalised with a fine header by
Ben Ashton.
Barlick
came close to taking the lead on 35 minutes from another corner, this
time the header just clearing the bar. Brig responded and saw both a
shot and a headed chance cleared from danger by the Barlick
rearguard.
Half
time 1-1
The
second half and Brig made several changes. With roll on roll off subs
being permitted, it was all change during the second period with
players coming off but returning to the field of play later in the
half. The flow of the game was impacted by the changes and neither
side created any clear cut chances in the opening exchanges of the
half. Brig gradually got on top and large parts of the half were
played around the Barnoldswick penalty area without really opening
the hosts up.
Brig
were awarded a penalty on 75 minutes, for a challenge just inside the
penalty area. Jamie Thomas stepped up but the keeper dived to make a
fine save. The home side surged forward following the save and
moments later it was Brig stopper Danny Roccia who was forced into a
diving save to keep out a shot from 15 yards. Callum Spooner then
made a superb sliding block to prevent what looked like being a
certain goal.
The
game ended all square at 1-1. An entertaining and good work out for
Bamber Bridge against a decent looking Barnoldswick Town Side. Next
up for Brig is the much anticipated home friendly against Preston
North End at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium next Saturday, 10th
July.
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