Pre-Season 2020 / 21

Saturday August 15th 2020

AFC Blackpool 1 - Bamber Bridge -5

Bamber Bridge continued their pre season campaign on Saturday afternoon at the home of “The Mechanics”, or as they are now known, AFC Blackpool. On another glorious and hot August afternoon.

With stand in Physio “Young Mike Boardman” making hiscomeback and taking his place in the Bamber Bridge Technical area, the game got underway with both sides eager to attack. AFC Blackpool had the first chance of the match as the homesides No.11 jinked his way down the right wing before whipping in a superb low cross that flashed across the 6 yard line before being cleared to safety. Moments later Danny Roccia in goal for The Briggers made a fine save after a great strike from the edge of the box.



Brig were taking a little time to settle but took the lead with their first real purposeful attack. Chris Marlow released down the left wing, sent over a deep cross that was met with a looping header on the 18 yard line by Oscar Radcliffe, the ball dipping over the keeper and finding the back of the net. The goal settled Brig who began to spray the ball around. Joe Booth saw a cross from the right wing beat the keeper but land on the roof of the net. Danny Forbes then let fly from 25 yards, following a crisp passing move, his shot clearing the bar.

It came as no surprise when Bamber Bridge doubled their advantage on 25 minutes, Rowan Roache calmly tucking the ball under the keeper after a delightful through ball from Oscar Radcliffe. Five minutes later and it was three. Matt Dudley sent clear from a Rowan Roache pass, as the keeper rushed from his goal, Dudley chipped the ball over the advancing keeper and in to the net.

AFC Blackpool were not being outplayed however, and looked dangerous on the break. The tricky No.11 on the right wing was having a fine game and causing problems for the Brig defence. On 35 minutes he cut inside from a run down the wing before firing in a low drive that flashed inches past Danny Roccia’s left hand post.


Brig made a couple of changes for the 2nd half, Richie Allen and Chris Churchman replacing Goose and Flynn. The home side had the first chance of the half, Danny Roccia again forced into a low save, diving to hos left to push the ball around the post. At the other end, a run from Richie Allen evading a couple of tackles ended with a diagonal ball to Rowan Roache who saw his shot palmed down by the home keeper. On the hour, Matt Dudley doubled his tally for the afternoon and grabbed the fourth for the visitors. As the home side looked to clear the their penalty box, the ball deflected kindly for Dudley who slammed it home from the edge of the area.

AFC Blackpool responded again and a deflected shot looped over the bar for a corner. Bamber Bridge made further changes midway through the 2nd period bringing on Hughes and DJ (that’s as much as I know !) along with Olly Burgess. Just minutes later, goal number 5 arrived for Bamber Bridge. Moments after being flagged offside, and booked for his protestations, Richie Allen this time beat the offside trap and raced clear before side stepping the keeper and rolling the ball home.

Into the closing stages and two more chances fell the way of Brig, first, Richie Allen weaved his way into the box and got in a low shot that was saved by the keeper, then Matt Dudley had the chance to claim his trick but spooned over from close range following a fine cross from Rowan Roache.

It was the homeside who had the last say of the match though, Firing home a consolation goal from a break down the left wing. A goal their efforts fully deserved.


Physio, Mike Boardman got his moment in the last minute, running on to assist the home keeper following an accidental clash.


Full time and a 5-1 Victory in another competitive fixture.

Bamber Bridge: Roccia, Wisdom, Lawlor, Flynn, Radcliffe, Marlow, Thomason, Forbes, Booth, Dudley, Roache

Subs: Allen, Churchman, Burgess, Hughes, DJ



Wed 8th August 2020

Pre Season at Skem


Skelmersdale United - 1 Bamber Bridge - 3



Bamber Bridge recorded a 3-1 Victory in their 3rd Pre-season fixture against Skelmersdale United, played behind closed doors at the JMO Sports Park.

On a very warm August evening and on a 3g pitch Brig were made to work very hard for their win in an entertaining and competitive match. Bamber Bridge took the lead in only the 3rd minute, a foul on the left hand edge of the penalty area gave Macaulay Wilson the chance to test the keeper. Macca did better than that, curling a sublime free kick over the ball and into the top corner of the net giving the keeper no chance. In the 10th minute, Brigs debut keeper, Hayden Hunt pulled off a stunning reflex save following a Skem corner, hooking the ball of the line from a point blank effort.



But it was Bamber Bridge who continued to press in the early stages and Matt Dudley almost doubled the score with a snap shot from 10 yards after a clever dummy from Danny Forbes. The Skem keeper making a fine save. Minutes later Rowan Roache found space in the area following a terrific one touch passing move but his shot somehow went wide of the target from close range. Roache then saw a 25 yard piledriver clear the bar following a solo run through the middle of the pitch.

Bamber Bridge continued to create chances but the home side were beginning to come in to the game and came close on the half hour with a whistling shot from the edge of the area that just cleared the bar. The Skelmersdale equaliser arrived in the 45th minute, Brig gave away possession allowing a through ball to be played to the home striker who ran on and calmly slotted the ball under the Brig keeper.

Bamber Bridge made 2 changes at the start of the 2nd half with Joe Booth and Eddie Brown replacing Churchy and Rowan Roache. But it was the home side who started the half better and for 15 minutes pinned the visitors back. A volleyed effort over the bar from a corner, was followed a good chance that was fired wide from close range. Another superb 25 yard volley was well saved and held by Hunt in the Brig goal.

The Lancashire side began to get back into the game, passing the ball around well on the 3g carpet. A right wing cross from Oscar Ratcliffe was eventually cleared for a corner by the home defence before Eddie Brown fired in a fierce drive following a flowing move, the keeper parrying the shot away for another corner. Brig were now back in control of the match and re-took the lead on 75 minutes. Another superb ball into the box from Oscar Ratcliffe from the right wing was stabbed home from close range by Chris Marlow.

Brig were now well on top again, but were almost caught out in the 80th minute when a Skelmersdale effort cannoned back off the crossbar. At the other end, Rowan Roache, back on the pitch due to the roll on roll substitutions, cut in from the left before striking a shot narrowly wide. Brig then made the game safe with 5 minutes remaining. Roache whipped in a low cross from the left that found Eddie Brown unmarked at the back post and he slammed the ball in to the empty net.

Brig looked to get Jack Paynter onto the pitch in the remaining minutes for his debut, but the referee blew the full time whistle as he waited to come on. Full time and a confidence boosting 3-1 victory. Some fine passing football from Brig, who move on to play AFC Blackpool at the weekend in their next pre season warm up match. Again sadly, this will be played behind closed doors.