An early Christmas present arrived for Bamber Bridge fans in the form of a fine 3-0 away victory over Bradford Park Avenue at a wet and windy Horsfall Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Following an uneventful first 45 minutes Brig turned on the style in the second half running out comfortable and deserved winners.

The Lancashire visitors playing in all yellow had the best of the first half without really creating any clear cut chances whilst keeping their Yorkshire hosts at arms length in blustery and very wet conditions. A Bradford Park Avenue 25 yard free kick struck well over the bar and a Billy Bould low drive that the home keeper held on to was as much as the game had to offer in the opening 20 minutes. The weather was having an impact with Brig playing into the teeth of the wind.


Brig looked the more composed side and on 25 minutes Churchy found Danny Edwards on the right with a fine pass, Danny crossed to the far post where Harry Scarborough caught it on the volley but the home keeper was right behind it to make a comfortable save.

On 35 minutes Ewan Bange picked out Danny Edwards as he raced into the area down the right, the shot on goal was sliced well wide however and the chance was gone. Brig appealed for a penalty on 40 minutes as an Adam Dodd ball to Scarbs looked to have struck the arm of a defender. To be fair, it would have been harsh.

At the other end James Pradic was forced into punching clear from a Bradford free kick and as half time approached the Brig keeper made another grest save, this time diving to push a low shot around the post for a corner.

The second half began with Brig immediately on the front foot. A free kick from the right was played to the edge of the box and the lofted cross found it’s way into the back of the net but the referee had blown the whistle to order a retake, this time the free kick was headed out for a corner at the far post.
But just two minutes later Brig took the lead. A stop in play for an injury, with Brig in possession was restarted with a drop ball, The ball was played across goal from the right and found Scarbs who slotted home at the far post. Bamber Bridge were on top now and a swift attack down the left found Billy Bould who struck a hard low shot, the home keeper saving with his legs. At the other end Lamine Toure did well to clear the danger from a Park Avenue Free, kick, from his clearance, Churchy found Ewan Bange following a fine run and cross but The Brig forward couldn’t divert his header goalwards.

A good pass into the path of Billy Bould from Adam Dodd led to another low shot from the Brig striker that again was saved by the Park Avenue keeper. Bouldy didn’t have to wait much longer however to get on the score-sheet. when on 65 minutes Doddy again whipped over a cross from the right, where The Brig Number 8 met it with his head, the ball just about crossing the line as the keeper made a bit of a hash of it.

Brig were now playing with confidence and vigour and sweeping the ball around the plastic pitch. Bradford still posed an occasional threat and Captain, Macca put in a great tackle on 75 minutes as the home side threatened. Bamber Bridge made their first change on 76 minutes, Sonny Sharples on loan from Bolton Wanderers, coming on to make his debut in place of the impressive Mackenzie O’Neil and just 5 minutes later the Lancashire side made the game safe with their third goal of the second half.

Player of the match Adam Dodd sent Ewan Bange racing clear with a delicious through Ball, The Brig No.9 beat the last defender before racing towards goal and firing a powerful shot in to the bottom corner of the net.

With the points won Millie opted for two further changes as Mark Cullen and Joe Strawn came on for Ewan Bange and Billy Bould. Brig kept hold of the ball with some neat passing as the referee signalled two additional minutes which were both seen out comfortably for Bamber Bridge to record back to back victories and continue their impressive current run which now sees Jamie Milligans team closer, in terms of points to the play off pack than the relegation positions.

A noteworthy word of praise also To Bradford Park Avenue FC, and their supporters who made it a pleasure to visit the Horsfall Stadium this afternoon. Friendly and welcoming and a credit to their club.

Next up over the festive period is The Red Rose Lancashire derby with the visit of Lancaster City on Boxing Day.

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Bamber Bridge returned from the Project Solar Stadium, home of Hyde United with a well earned point on Saturday afternoon. But once again can reflect that they probably deserved all three points in a pulsating game played in atrocious conditions. A last minute penalty won the play off chasing Tigers a point, when up to that moment Brig had looked resolute and on route to pick up their second away victory of the season.


In Strong winds and lashing rain, the visitors in all yellow set about their task in good fashion, keeping the ball down on the Plastic carpet and spraying the ball across the slick surface.


New loan signing Lamine Toure from Bolton Wanderers slotted in to the centre back role alongside Macca and looked assured from the start. The home side set off at a rapid pace and as early as the first minute Brig suffered a scare as keeper James Pradic rushed from goal but was beaten to the ball, but fortunately Churchy was on hand to clear the danger. Brig settled into the game and a good ball into the box from Scarbs from the edge of the box tested the home keeper who dived forward to make a comfortable save just as Ewan Bange looked set to knock it home at the far post.

With both sides playing some tidy football in the early stages, the hosts took the lead in the 15^th minute. A goal that from our end seemed to be played out in slow motion as a ball from the right was met in the box but seemed to be deflected, wrong footing the Brig keeper and rolling into the net.


Brig responded well and with the wind at their backs pushed forward in search of the leveller. Adam Dodd whipped in a superb low cross from the left that flashed across goal evading everyone before being deflected just inches passed the far post for a corner. On 30 minutes It looked s though The equaliser had arrived, another free kick, this time from the right found Lamine Toure running in at the far post, The Bolton Wanderers loanee, making no mistake as he drilled a fine shot back across goal and into the back of the net. To the dismay of the players and supporters behind the goal, the Lino had his flag raised and the goal was disallowed for offside.


Brig were on top and a Pottsy wind assisted shot from distance forced the home keeper in to a fine save. But on 38 minutes the deserved equaliser arrived. Another Brig free kick just to the left of the “D” was taken by Churchy, who struck it hard and low, the ball flashed passed the defensive wall and the home keeper seemed to get his feet tangled up as he tried to stop the ball, only helping it into the back of the net as goal machine Churchy wheeled away in celebration.


With the half drawing to a close, Billy Bould received a high ball on the right side of the area and took it down superbly before firing his shot just wide. We felt at the time that Bouldy may have thought he was offside and could have taken more time, but the lino didn’t flag and with that the referee blew for half time and what had been another hugely encouraging 45 minutes form The Briggers.


Bamber Bridge started the second half in whirlwind fashion and took the lead within two minutes of the restart. Doddy was found wide on the left and sent over a teasing cross, Ewan Bange was on the end of it forcing the home keeper in to a fine reaction save, but Ewan was on to the rebound like a flash and slammed it home from close range much to the delight of the travelling Briggers behind the goal.

Billy Bould then struck well following a fine ball into his path from Scarbs bringing another decent save from the ever busy Tigers keeper. Minutes later and Bould was again denied by the keeper as his low drive was pushed around the post by the keeper. Brig were piling on the pressure at this stage and playing some great passing football.


Ewan Bange suffered a knock midway through the half and hobbled off to be replaced by Mark Cullen, with Billy Bould also making way for Joe Strawn. As the half progressed, the home side started to build some momentum in search of the equaliser but Brig were looking resolute at the back and dangerous on the break. Danny replaced Danny as Forbes came on to replace Edwards as Brig looked to soak up the pressure.


With the game heading into 90 mintues the home side were given the opportunity they had been looking for as they were awarded a penalty. Hard to be sure from our vantage point but the decision was hotly contested by the Brig players, but nonetheless, the spot kick was awarded and some two minutes later they got around to taking it. James Pradic was so unlucky as he dived right to make a fine save, the ball unfortunately looping up into the air and back in the direction of the taker, who headed the ball home to deny Brig the three points.


With five minutes added Brig then found themselves down to ten men, clearly still aggrieved with the spot kick decision Michael Potts scythed down a Hyde player in the centre circle. Players form both sides rushed in to the developing melee, before the referee showed Pottsy a straight red card.

Almost immediately the ref blew the final whistle and Brig had to be content with a point. It’s fair to say a point we would have gladly taken at kick off time but in the context of the game, Brig deserved to take all the points.


The players, Manager and coaching staff looked somewhat dejected at the end as they came over to applaud the travelling supporters who returned the acclaim with shouts of encouragement for what had been another very good performance.


Bamber Bridge have played six of the top eight in their last nine games, suffering defeat only at the hands of runaway leaders Radcliffe FC and Marine last Tuesday evening and even in the game at Radcliffe Brig were unlucky not to win the match. It’s been a tough run but these players have proved, not that there was any doubt, that they can compete with anyone in this League. Just Six defeats from 20 League games should really have Bamber Bridge placed much higher in the League Table. If we can just find a way of turning these draws into victories we will climb the table comfortably, and this something I’m confident Brig will do in the second half of the season. Hopefully starting Next weekend when another tough home fixture arrives in the shape of Matlock Town. And don’t forget. It’s Christmas jumper day.