The Bet Victor Northern Premier League – Saturday January 4th 2020

                         Radcliffe FC – 0 Bamber Bridge – 4

Bamber Bridge made the short journey to Stainton Park, home of Radcliffe FC on Saturday afternoon and returned with all three points in the bag and a performance that had the sizeable Brig contingent purring with delight. The 4 goal margin of victory would have been significantly higher but for an outstanding goalkeeping performance from Ollie Martin in the Boro goal.

The first half started with Bamber Bridge playing up the slope and right from the kick off the Brig slick passing game was in evidence. The home side were more direct and created the 1st chance of the match when Prince Haywood fired wide from 12 yards. Brig responded and a fine passing move across the pitch ended with a Richie Allen shot from a tight angle that the home keeper saved with his legs, the first of many fine saves to come from the Boro stopper.

Radcliffe carved out another shooting opportunity on the half hour but Ben Wharton’s effort flew high and wide. Again Brig came back, playing neat, one touch football that found Sheldon Green on the right hand side of the penalty area, he twisted and turned before striking a fine shot that the keeper half saved before it was hooked clear off the line by a defender. Moments later and Chris Marlow delivered a fine cross from the left that Matt Thompson met with a volley that whistled inches passed the post.

It was now all Bamber Bridge as the visitors piled on the pressure in the closing stages of the half. Sheldon Green again forced a terrific save from Ollie Martin with a low shot from 10 yards, Matt Dudley followed up with the rebound but again Martin saved before getting up again to block the 3rd effort and force it out for a corner. Superb goalkeeping. Green was not to be denied however as just minutes later another swift passing move found Richie Allen in space on the right of the area, his neat back heeled pass was smashed home off the underside bar by Sheldon Green from 15 yards to give Brig a deserved lead at the break.

The second half started as the first had ended and the domination from Jamie Milligan’s new look side continued for the entire 45 minutes. An early Brig free kick was headed off the line before Sheldon Green was again sent racing clear. His chipped attempt was calmly saved by the keeper. Brig where now in full flow and Joe Booth sent a 25 yard effort whistling just over the bar. But just 10 minutes into the half, Brig doubled their advantage. Richie Allen picking up the ball to the left of goal just outside the penalty area, he cut inside before curling a peach of a shot over the keeper and in to the top far corner of the net.

On 60 minutes Bamber Bridge produced the goal of the match and I doubt a better team goal has been scored at any level anywhere in the country today. A slick passing move involving 6 or seven players and one touch passes found Richie Allen on the left of the penalty area, he turned the full back inside out before cutting the ball back from the by line for the advancing Matt Dudley to smash the ball home off the underside of the bar, giving the keeper absolutely no chance. Truly a goal of sheer quality.

With the Brig fans still in raptures, Joe Booth added a 4th in the 65th Minute this time striking a sweet half volley from the edge of the area, again giving Martin in the Boro goal no chance at all. Immediately after the goal Bamber Bridge made two changes. Allen and Booth receiving rapturous applause from the Brig faithful as they were replaced by Rowan Roache and Michael Fowler.

The changes did not interrupt the flow of the game as the visitors from Irongate continued to dominate as they swept the ball from left to right and they created chance after chance. Only fantastic goalkeeping kept the scoreline down to four. Rowan Roache was thwarted by Martin on 70 minutes as his, 20 yard strike was saved at full stretch and pushed away for a corner. Danny Forbes was then introduced, replacing Chris Churchman who’d had a fine game. With his first touch Danny struck a fierce dipping shot from 25 yards that was finger tipped over the bar. Goose then saw header flash just over the bar from a corner before a Michael Fowler effort was headed off the line.

Danny Forbes then controlled a floated free kick in to the box on his chest before volleying just over. Still Brig piled forward and the next effort came from Michael Fowler, showing great strength to hold off two defenders before striking a terrific shot, forcing an equally fine save from the Radcliffe keeper. Next up it was Sheldon Green, latching on to a Forbes cross after a surging run. His shot was inches wide. Rowan Roache then watched in disbelief as his superbly struck volley from a Michael Fowler pass, cannoned back of the foot of the post. Roache again was denied with another terrific save by Ollie Martin who had single handedly prevented his side from taking an absolute thumping.

The referee brought proceedings to end much to the delight of the home side and the Bamber Bridge fans rose to applaud a stunning display from their team. An inspiring performance all round and the 3rd away League victory on the spin. This was as good a performance that Bamber Bridge have produced in a long long time. The passing and movement was joy to watch. The attacking flair and quality of the goals and chances created made it a special day.

Full time: Radcliffe – 0 Bamber Bridge – 4

Att: 432

Bamber Bridge: Roccia, Thompson, Marlow (Capt.), Spooner, Charnock, Wisdom, Green, Churchman, Dudley, Booth, Allen

Subs: Roache, Fowler, Sumner, Forbes, Doughty

Saturday 11th January 2020

The Bet Victor Northern Premier League 

                            Basford United – 3 Bamber Bridge – 0

Bamber Bridge where brought down to earth with a bump at Greenwich Avenue, home of Basford United, in Nottingham on Saturday afternoon. Following last weeks heroic 4-0 victory at Radcliffe, The Briggers were on the wrong end of a 3-0 defeat this time around.

Playing on the artificial 4g pitch and in very blustery conditions and without the suspended Chris Marlow, Brig had started very well and almost took the lead in the 4th minute. Danny Forbes picking up the ball 22 yards from goal before unleashing a terrific effort that forced an equally spectacular save From Basford Keeper Keiran Preston, the ball being tipped around the post at full stretch for a corner.

Brig were looking up to the task, zipping the ball around the pitch, however it was the home side that found the net in the 15th minute, only to see the linesman’s flag raised and the “goal” was chalked off. The wind was beginning to affect both sides ability to keep possession of the ball and for the next 20 minutes or so the match turned in to a very scrappy affair with neither side able to create any clear cut chances. The closest Brig came in this period of the match was an inswinging corner from the left that was headed off the line.

On 25 minutes Basford took the lead, following a mix up at the back from Brig, a back pass to Danny Roccia in goal looked to be under hit, the hurried clearance was charged down by the Basford forward who was then bundled over just outside the area as he shaped to shoot. Nathan Watson stepped up for the home side to lift the free kick over the wall and into the net via the post. Roccia in goal getting a fingertip to it but not enough to keep it out.

The goal certainly buoyed the Nottingham side and they pushed on looking for a second goal. This arrived on the breakaway just moments after a Richie Allen shot from 12 yards had been hooked off the line by a Basford defender. The ball was quickly moved out to the left wing as the home side attacked with pace. A low cross from the left was swept in to the net for around 10 yards by Ashley Worsfold. Brig suddenly found themselves with a mountain to climb in what at been a tight game up to the 1^st goal.

Half time 2-0

Brig started the 2nd half with the wind at their backs although the swirling gale force blasts didn’t really aid any kind of fluent passing football. But as the half wore on Brig began to dominate possession and push their hosts back. A Chris Churchman free kick was struck hard and low, the home keeper grabbing the ball at the 2nd attempt. Richie Allen then looked on as his clever chipped cross from the left evaded everyone and and dropped inches wide of the far post. The Lancashire side were now looking to shoot at every opportunity and Adam Sumner was next to test the ever impressive Kieran Preston in the Basford goal as is 25 yard free kick was well held by the keeper at his near post.

Preston pulled off another wonder save on 70 minutes as he was a full stretch to tip a Daniel Wisdom 30 yard wind assisted shot over the bar. The near post corner kick almost caught out the Basford defence, as it struck the post and was again cleared by the home side. Brig were throwing the “kitchen sink” at their hosts at this stage of the match and twice Joe Booth saw efforts flash just wide of the post before the Brig midfielder tried an audacious lob from just over the half way line. Preston in goal back peddled before palming the ball down and gathering it in both hands.

Michael Fowler was introduced for Bamber Bridge, replacing Joe Booth as the visitors continued to force the issue. On 80 minutes it was clear it wasn’t going to be our day. A corner from the left, was met by a Basford head, the attempted clearance went the wrong way, struck the inside of the post and bounced to safety before being hacked away. Rowan Roache was introduced in place of Matt Dudley for the closing minutes but it was the home side that sealed the points with a breakaway goal in the 88th minute. Nathan Watson finishing of a smart move with a low shot in to the corner of the net to end any hope of a Brig fightback.

Full time and a 3-0 defeat but Brig can take some solace from the fact that they had once again served up a decent display in very difficult playing conditions. In fairness to Basford they took their chances and looked a very solid outfit. After match comments for the home staff suggested they had had to be at their best to come away with points.

Bamber Bridge move on, and now two home matches against Buxton next weekend and Radcliffe the following weekend will give The Briggers the chance to push on towards mid table safety.

Full time: Basford United – 3 Bamber Bridge – 0

Bamber Bridge: Roccia, Churchman, Sumner, Spooner (Capt.), Charnock, Forbes, Green, Wisdom, Dudley, Booth, Allen

Subs: Roache, Doughty, Fowler, Waddecar, Milligan