By this stage of the match there was really only one team in it as another long range Brig effort whistled just inches over the crossbar. On 77 minutes Brig made the tie safe, with another superbly worked goal. Another corner from the right was taken short then  following an interchange of passes whipped over to find Macca at the back stick rising like a Gazelle to power home a firm downward header into the back of the net. Macca wheeled away in celebration as the brig fans being the goal roared their approval.

Bamber Bridge made their second ever trip to The Hive Stadium, home of Warrington Rylands FC on Saturday afternoon, and just as on their first visit last season, Brig completely failed to turn up, enduring a 2-0 defeat and deserving of absolutely nothing more.


Brig have received plenty of plaudits from myself for some of their displays in this very mixed, up and down season and rightly so. But on this occasion It would be misleading to suggest this display was anything other than a shocker.

Rather than a match report, this is more of a match review, or even match inquest. I could very easily have just reposted last seasons match report, as this game much like the one in September 2022, was by some distance, the worst performance of the season.


Jamie Milligan's post match interview , was honest concise and hit the nail on the head. No idea where this performance came from based on the recent great run of form the lads have shown. Nonetheless, this was pretty much a walkover for the promotion chasing Rylands. They may be a good side, but they simply didn’t have to demonstrate that in any way, shape or form to simply walk away with the gift of 3 points from an unenergetic, and flat as a pancake Bamber Bridge side.

Warrington over the last few seasons is turning into a graveyard Town for Bamber Bridge and for that reason alone I’d like to see Rylands promoted so we don’t have to visit that Bloody place again!! Having said that, if their “Stadium” meets National League North standards, I’ll eat my hat. OK, I admit it, that's just sour grapes on my part.


As for the match itself, Well it started flat, improved slightly after 20 minutes from a Bamber Bridge point of view, and then disintegrated into a complete non event from a Brig fans perspective. Goalless at the break but totally uneventful, it could only get better. How wrong we were!!

The second half, began with the hosts looking the more likely to break the deadlock and they did just that with a shocker of a goal to concede. A back pass found The Brig keeper with the ball at his feet, in time and space, he dallied and somehow allowed himself to be tackled, lost the ball, the home striker then simply walked the ball into an empty net.


With no response from The visitors, Rylands pressed on and doubled their advantage soon after with another simple and unchallenged goal. The hosts then simply played out the rest of the testimonial paced encounter to the final whistle. The home keeper walked off having taking the applause of the visiting Brig fans and congratulated for keeping his kit absolutely spotless. He hadn’t had a single thing to do over the entire 90 minutes.

The disconsolate Brig supporters as always, stayed on to applaud their team and in fairness the Brig players and staff came over to appreciate the fans. The game is gone now, and will very soon be forgotten. I apologise for reminding everyone who wanted to forget it with this rambling diatribe !


But we move on. And on Wednesday evening, Brig make the short journey to Darwen to Face Southport in the The semi final of The Lancashire Challenge Trophy. I have no doubts whatsoever that The Briggers will put in a vastly improved performance in what is now without doubt the biggest match of the season.

Firstly, what an impressive venue The Anchor ground now is. Sporting a 4g pitch, New bar (Legends), behind one goal. The stadium looks really smart and is in truth better than a few in The Northern Premier league.

A strong Brig team set off in double quick fashion taking the lead in the 5^th minute, a shot had been partially cleared but landed at the feet of Sky Sinclair, who from 15 yards and just to the right of goal, met the ball on the half volley, unleashing a rocket of a shot that took a slight deflection off a defender as it crashed into the roof of the net.


The Salmoners responded and created a half chance in the visitors penalty area but a smart tackle won the ball back for Brig, who promptly raced to the other end and doubled their lead in the 20^th minute. A fine one touch passing move down the left side of the 18 yard box ended with Mark Cullen picking out Harry Scarborough with a pin point ball across the 6 yard line, Scarbs calmly stroked the ball home to give brig the two goal advantage.

Once again the home side responded and played some decent stuff to be fair, A volleyed effort sailed over the bar, but Brig looked to have more of a cutting edge in attack and seemed more dangerous on the break. A fine through ball down the centre of the pitch found Mark Cullen who ran forward before trying to lob the advancing keeper, the Salmoners stopper doing well to claim the ball above his head.

 A close range effort at the other end saw The Brig Trialist keeper well positioned to make a comfortable save. The third Bamber Bridge goal arrived in the 40th minute, Jack Baxter took possesion 25 yards out and quite central, he set himself before striking a hard low shot, the keeper dived and got his hand to the ball but was unable to keep it out.


The hosts immediately pulled one back, a quick through ball found Darwen striker Leon Creech in space in the box, he side stepped the keeper before slotting the ball home to bring The Salmoners back in to the game. With half time approaching Sky Sinclair then tried his luck from distance again this time is low curling shot swept a yard wide of the post

The second half saw the introduction of changes for either side but just 5 minutes in and Bamber Bridge scored their 4^th. A ball down the right channel found Amadou Doumbouya who raced clear of the full back and into the box, he played a square ball across the area where the advancing Callum Leigh met it, to drill the ball in to the bottom corner of the net.


Again the home side came back and just four minutes later scored their second. Hesitant defending allowed the ball to be pulled back from the byline where it was calmly tucked home. Two minutes later and the Brig keeper again had to be alert saving well to keep the 2 goal advantage for the visitors.

Harry Scarborough came close for Brig as his deflected low shot flashed just wide of the keepers right hand post, the corner was taken short but the subsequent shot sailed high over the bar. With more changes made the game lost some intensity but the home side to their credit kept plugging away and had some good spells of possesion. Once again on 75 minutes the Brig keeper was forced into a fine save following a fine lofted ball over the Brig defence.

Brig scored the last goal of the evening as Mark Cullen grabbed his second of the night, with just minutes remaining, heading home from close range to give Brig a 5-2 victory on the night. Credit to Darwen FC who had made a good match out of it and look a handy side.

A very entertaining friendly match played in great spirit by both sides and an enjoyable match, made more so by the hospitality of the hosts. Darwen FC seem to have quite a lot to look forward to and The Brig fans who made the short journey all commented favourably on the facilities and the ground. We hope to return again. Thanks Darwen.