Well, where to start? Possibly with the late arrival of the team bus at the Incredibly long named “Towbar Express Stadium at The Turnbull Ground”. Only arriving at Twenty past two wasn’t perhaps the best pre match preparation. Whether that is the reason for the awful start to the match for Brig is open to conjecture, but an awful opening spell it was.

Within 14 minutes Bamber Bridge found themselves 1 goal behind, down to 10 men, debutant keeper sent off and a striker in goal. The mountain that was left to climb was too steep and despite a valiant effort the result was never really in doubt. Particularly after an injury mid way through the second half saw Brig playing out the last 20 minutes with just 9 players on the pitch.


Whitby Town had started the match quickly and their first opportunity arrived in the 3^rd minute. A free kick from the right, headed down and a shot scooped over the bar. Brig, barely got in to the opposition half before on 12 minutes the hosts took the lead. A long ball over the top of the brig backline was chased down and calmly fired passed PNE loanee keeper Matt Hudson, Brig defenders claiming offside, but no flag was raised and the goal stood.

A minute later and Hudson made a fine save from a similar effort as the home side pushed forward dominantly. Then in the 14^th minute another long through ball saw Hudson racing from his line, he was adjudged to have handled the ball outside the area and the referee had no hesitation in showing him the red card. With no sub keeper on the bench, It was striker Paul Dawson who donned the yellow jersey and took his place between the sticks. To his credit he had a pretty decent game as the visiting defenders galvanised themselves in offering good protection to the stand in keeper.


The Lancashire side started to grow into the game and Adam Dawson came close on 25 minutes as he fired in a low shot from 15 yards, the home keeper diving down to his left to push it around the post for a corner. On 35 minutes Jamie Milligan made a tactical switch as Rhys Turner replaced Fin Sinclair-Smith. The home side continued to be the dominant force but Brig were looking dangerous on the break. A corner from the right delivered by by Mark Yeates, was controlled on the edge of the box but the attempted shot was blocked and cleared. The fans behind the goal offered advice to the Brig forward line, a loud shout of “Just Wellie it” brought some much needed cheer.

Bamber Bridge were dealt a further blow on 42 minutes when Dan Martin picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Luke Higham as Brig sought to reach the break with just the one gaol deficit. There was a big chance to equalise just moments later, Rhys Turner curling a shot inches passed the post from 20 yards with the keeper beaten. That was the last action of the half.

Brig made a third change at the start of the 2^nd half, Jake Thompson on to replace Matt Thompson. Whitby started like a steam train again and forced a couple of early corners, Brig stand in keeper Paul Dawson and his defenders repelling the danger. Rhys Turner then showed a deft touch in the penalty area , side stepping a challenge before a clipping in a shot cum cross, from the left, The home keeper was alert and dived on the ball to avert the danger. Straight from his clearance the home side doubled their lead. The home won a corner and from the cross the ball was firmly headed home to essentially put the result beyond doubt.


Try as the might, Bamber Bridge were unable to get back into the game and the home side seemed content to stick with what they had. Rhys Turner saw a shot comfortably saved before Paul Dawson brought cheers from the travelling Briggers with a fine diving save at the other end. The bad day got worse for Bamber Bridge on 75 minutes when a tackle on Rhys Turner, which resulted in a free kick but no yellow card, led to the Brig striker hobbling from the field requiring assistance, leaving the already beleaguered Briggers down to 9 men.


The game had now, as expected fizzled out, the only action left was a red card for a home striker for a late challenge on Paul Dawson. So, the match ended with 10 v 9 on the pitch and a comfortable 2-0 victory for Whitby Town. Bamber Bridge now have to concentrate on bringing an end to the current barren run that has seen us slump to the bottom of the form table with just 2 points from the last 6 games and 7 defeats in the last 11 games. Next up though, is another touch encounter as Title chasing Buxton come to Irongate next Saturday.

The visitors opened the scoring within two minutes, as Thomas Tonks placed the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards. Brig responded to the early setback well, and Jacob Holland-Wilkinson forced a good save out of Luke Pilling with a low driven shot from the right side of the penalty area.

On 19 minutes, Nathan Pond hit an effort on the half volley over the bar, before a sliced clearance from a Stafford defender almost found its way into the bottom corner of the net. Adam Dawson then produced an excellent cross that whistled across the face of goal, but no Brig attacker was able to get on the end of it.

The visitors then extended their advantage on 35 minutes. Alex-Ray Harvey went on a run towards goal and placed his effort into the bottom corner.  Stafford added a third goal just after the break. On 48 minutes, Tre Pemberton scored a rebound after James Cottam had saved from earlier goalscorer Tonks.

Holland-Wilkinson was then played through for Brig but saw his well-struck effort blocked by a defender. Then, on 54 minutes, Brig were down to 10 men when Pond was shown a second yellow card. Stafford almost extended their lead further on 68 minutes when Alexander Fletcher headed wide from close range. It was Brig who went on to get the fourth goal of the encounter, when a defensive clearance was sliced up into the air and went over the head of Pilling in the Stafford goal.

Jamie Milligan’s side pressed late on in an attempt to reduce the deficit further, but to no avail. Substitute Paul Dawson headed narrowly over the bar, before the visitors produced a series of blocks to deny Brig from a late set piece.

Brig will look to get back to winning ways next Saturday, when they host Mickleover at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium.

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An away point in The Northern Premier League is always a point well earned. However, I can’t help thinking that Bamber Bridge Manager Jamie Milligan might consider this as an opportunity missed. Ashton United aand Brig fought out a a goalless draw in horrible conditions on a very wet pitch, but the Lancashire side had the chances to take all three points.


The game was in some doubt around an hour before kick off following a morning of pouring rain. A pitch Inspection by the referee declared the pitch fit. Fair play to both sets of players for putting on a very decent match in what must have been very trying conditions.

Brig started very brightly and Nathan Pond was first to test the home keeper with an audacious chip from wide on the right. The home keeper was alert and collected the ball comfortably. Minutes later and Matt Thomson came close firing in a 20 yard shot from just outside the box, the keeper again did well to scoop the ball up and over the bar. Brig were having the better of the opening exchanges and a Churchman cross from the right was met by a Pond header which was blocked, the follow up shot deflected wide for a corner.


Ashton came close on 18 minutes, Hewelt in goal saving well from a far post header.

On 20 minutes it was Pondy again, this time firing in a 15 yard shot form the left of the area. The keeper getting down well at his near post to gather the ball. The next Bamber Bridge chance fell to Fin Sinclair-Smith, a neat one touch flick from Rhys Turner gave Fin the shooting chance but he slipped on the surface as he attempted to shoot. Moments later Fin did get in a good low effort but the shot fizzed just wide of the post.

An Ashton break then ended with a shot fired over the bar following a good move down the left wing. A corner for the home side was then cleared before a follow up shot was again fired well over the bar.


The Visitors where doing most of the attacking as the game entered the final minutes of the first half. A Fin cross was just to high for Nathan Pond, with the Brig centre back, free in the 6 yard box. An Ashton effort then flew inches wide before
the half drew to a close with the supporters of both sides very appreciative of the effort put in by both sides.

The second half started as the first had ended, with Brig putting on the early pressure as the home keeper twice cleared crosses in to the box. An early 2^nd half change saw Jake Thompson replace Fin Sinclair – Smith as Brig continued to look the more likely to open the scoring. A ball through the middle of the pitch saw Rhys Turner race clear but the home keeper did well to force the Brig striker wide to the right and then comfortably collected his chipped cross.

Brig made a second change on the hour as Jacob Holland-Wilkinson replaced Adam Dawson. The next Brig chance fell to Jake Thompson who cut in from the left but his low cross was cut out by the home keeper who by now was looking like he had no intention of conceding. The last Brig change came as Paul Dawson replaced Nathan Pond for the last 15 minutes. The best chance of the half ell to PNE loan striker Holland- Wilkinson as he raced clear through the centre of the pitch. One on one with the keeper, but it was the Ashton stopper who won the duel, spreading himself well to block the shot from the edge of the area.

Mateusz Hewelt had to be on his toes in the 75^th minute as he raced out to pounce on the ball with home striker poised to shoot. Hewelt again saving well minutes later from a curling shot from the left of the area.

Jake Thompson was next to be thwarted by the home keeper, this time seeing his low drive pushed around the post for a corner. That was the last chance of the game as the referee brought proceedings to a close.

A goalless draw and a decent point. But Brig probably should have taken all three. But the conditions really were difficult and the pitch by the end was in a pretty poor state, so all in all, a point and good performance. Next up, weather permitting is a short trip to Atherton Collieries on Tuesday evening.

Full Time: Ashton United – 0 Bamber Bridge – 0

Brig: Hewelt, Churchman, Thomson, Spooner, Wilson (Capt.), Pond, Dawson (A), Carney, Turner, Skinner, Sinclair- Smith

Subs: Martin, Dawson (P), Yeates, Thompson, Holland-Wilkinson

Att; 236