July 2024

Wednesday July 17th 2024

Pre-Season Friendly

The Gerry Lawson Memorial Trophy

Bamber Bridge - 0 Preston North End - 3

A warm summer evening at The SFC Stadium, Football, beer, Bamber Bridge and Preston North End. All the ingredients for an enjoyable evening, and so it turned out. North End coming away with (much needed) win, if there is such a thing in Pre Season, Brig putting in a great effort and making a contest of it for the 1,238 supporters in attendance.

Adam Proudly showing off his "Unique" Brig shirt

PNE, having played and been beaten by Southport the previous evening, opted to start with the eleven that had finished the match at Haig Avenue and change to the 11 that stated that match on or around the hour mark. Bamber Bridge started with a mixture of new signings, experienced Semi Pro’s and a few trialists. Olly Molloy was named on the bench for Brig having recovered from an injury.

The first half saw North End in their new “Electric Blue” away kit (This really has split opinion between North Enders), Brig were in their new Adidas Kit, which wins hands down anyway!! The opening exchanges had Preston, as expected doing most of the pressing, The Trialist Brig keeper (who played for us towards the end of last season) was kept very busy and made a superb flying save on 15 minutes, acrobatically pushing a shot from Kacper Pasiek over the bar.

The SFC Stadium filling up nicely, pre match

Brig were defending well with North End were sweeping the ball around the pitch looking for the opening, that arrived on 24 minutes, as a low cross from the left found Layton Stewart who pounced on the loose ball and drilled it into the ground, the ball bouncing up into the back of the net from 10 yards. That was the first goal for The ex Liverpool striker in a PNE shirt and he looked suitably pleased about it.

North End were dominating in an attacking sense and Pasiek again tested the Brig keep with a rasping shot which was well saved with a strong hand keeping the ball out. Brig weren’t’ really troubling Freddy Woodman in the North End goal and PNE continued to dominate. Stewart almost grabbed his second on 35 minutes but his strike struck the woodwork. The Brig keeper was again alert with half time approaching, twice diving to pounce on the ball to keep the score at 0-1.

Game underway

The second half started with the flow of the game, as before and just 10 minutes in, North End doubled their lead. Ryan Ledson the goalscorer. A free kick was headed down and well saved by the Brig keeper, the ball falling though into the path of the PNE midfielder who thumped it home from close range.

As expected, on the hour, both sides made multiple changes with North End replacing nine players. Goalkeeper James Pradic, who put in some sterling work on loan for Brig last season came on to face his former teammates, Along with new signings, Icelandic International, Stefan Thordarson and Sam Greenwood, signed in the summer from Leeds Utd. It was Greenwood who almost made it three on 66 minutes as he struck the post.

At the other end Brig were still battling well and carved out out a good opportunity when a left wing cross was met with a fine header, but Pradic was well placed to save comfortably. But just two minutes later North End made it three with a superb strike from Theo Mawene who, following a "Cruyff turn" to create space, cut inside from from just outside the box, before smashing the ball home off the inside of the post. Brig responded again and Lewis Hey saw his goal-bound shot saved by James Pradic as the game neared it's conclusion.

The 50k members enjoying the match from The Sponsors Lounge

Full time came and North End take The Gerry Lawson Memorial Trophy with a comfortable win but Bamber Bridge put in a hard working and resolute performance and Manager Jamie Milligan will be pleased with effort and determination his side displayed. The fans in attendance seemed to have enjoyed the annual fixture and it was good to see such a good turn out, in a game that means so much more to Brig from a financial point of view. Thanks to all The North End fans who came out to support the fixture.

The Brig Cat and Henrys Cat !!

The next pre season game comes around sharpish for The Briggers as we welcome EFL League 2 outfit Salford City to The SFC Stadium on Friday evening. See you there.

Full Time: Bamber Bridge – 0 Preston North End – 3
Attendance 1,238

Saturday July 13th 2024

Pre-Season Friendly

Charnock Richard - 1 Bamber Bridge - 4

Game three of Pre-Season and Bamber Bridge made the short journey down the A49 to Mossie Park, Home of North West Counties Premier Division side Charnock Richard. Well it still doesn’t really feel like Summer but this afternoon we had a bit of sunshine, a scattering of drizzle and then a cool breeze. And Brig coolly breezed through the game to run out 4-1 winners.

On the very lush looking surface It was a decent game and Charnock Richard, particularly in the first half made a good contest out of it. The home side took the lead on 15 minutes as Aaron Griffith took advantage of some uncertainty from The Brig Trialist keeper, with a spectacular overhead kick after the goalkeeper had punched the ball partially clear from a cross into the box.

The opening goal had followed good attempts from both sides, firstly a firm goal-bound shot from Charnock Richard brought a good save from the Brig stopper and moments later the home keeper did likewise, keeping out a low drive from Bailey Thompson.

The Bamber Bridge leveller arrived on 24 minutes following good work down the right, the ball was played inside to one of the four “Trialist Brothers” playing for Brig, who saw his shot from the edge of the box, deflected, wrong footing the keeper, who still got a hand to the ball but was unable to stop it flashing into the centre of the net.

Charnock came roaring back and The Trialist in goal for Brig certainly redeemed himself with two fine saves, firstly diving low to make a terrific one on one save as The Charnock Forward broke clear into the box, secondly, reacting very quickly to again, dive and smother the ball from another promising Charnock Attack. Brig had the last chance of the entertaining first half when Bailey Thomson latched on to a fine headed ball from A Trialist, but his shot was gathered comfortably by The Villagers goalie.

Bamber Bridge made sweeping changes at the start of the second period with as many as eight substitutes and it took just five minutes for the visitors to take the lead with a great goal. A superb ball down the left channel found Brig striker Max Cane, who raced in to the box before side stepping the keeper and calmly slotting the ball home.

Two became three for Brig just two minutes later but this time it was a gift. The Greens keeper completely misjudged his pass to a defender and played it straight to the feet of Billy Bould who made no mistake as he lashed the ball straight back passed the stricken keeper in to the back of the net.

Brig were turning the screw at this point and added a fourth on 64 minutes. More fine play, this time down the right led to a low angled cross come shot, Danny Forbes got the slightest of touches on the ball leaving the home keeper flat footed as the ball flew into the far corner. I’m not sure how much of a change of direction Danny’s touch made to the ball, but I heard it and Danny certainly claimed it.

The match as a contest pretty much fizzled out from this point with Brig going for some “Roll on, Roll off” substitutions and comfortably played the game out with the whole match-day squad getting some vital minutes into their legs.

An enjoyable pressure free afternoons football for the 173 spectators in attendance with a good following of Brig fans. Thanks to Charnock Richard for their fine hospitality. It really is a good set up they have on Charter Lane and the ground seems to getting better each time we visit. Good luck to The Villagers in the upcoming North West Counties campaign.

As for Brig, well, that’s three friendlies done and the intensity is likely to go up a notch or two with the next couple of games, Firstly the big one coming up next, as we entertain Preston North End at the SFC Stadium this Wednesday evening with a 7pm kick off. Then on Friday evening it’s EFL opposition again as we host Salford City.

Thanks to Seth Boardman once again who has provided me with much of the detail, as I was too busy nattering !!

Full Time: Charnock Richard – 1 Bamber Bridge - 4

Saturday July 6th 2024

Pre-Season Friendly

Bamber Bridge – 0 Fleetwood Town – 2

In the middle of a summer that, lets be honest doesn't actually seem to have arrived yet, we find ourselves in the first week of July and the pre -season match schedule is upon us. Bamber Bridge got us underway, as they entertained League Two, Fleetwood Town at the SFC Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Brig starting eleven included three Trialists, with just Bailey Thompson and Max Cane of the close season signings making their starting debuts. The Brig bench included new signings Finn Wallbank, Nathan Caine, Ben Rydel and Sidi Sanogo Fofana, along with two further trialists.

The match got under way with Brig, resplendent in their new Adidas strip attacking the Woodyard End. A blustery swirling wind wasn’t going to particularly help the flow of the game but in fact it turned out to be good contest with some very encouraging signs form the rebuilt Bamber Brig squad.

Fleetwood in yellow started brightly and created a couple of early chances without testing the Trialist Brig keeper. Brig had an early shot blocked as it looked goal-bound but the visitors were in control in the early moments. On 13 minutes Brig fashioned a decent chance as a long ball picked out Bailey Thompson whose shot was struck narrowly wide.
Brig looked to be encouraged by the chance and started to get more in the contest, A good cross from the right had the Cods Back defence back-pedalling but good defending saw the ball cleared from danger.

At the other end the Brig keeper was called into action making a fine save after The Fleetwood No.19 had done well to run in behind the Brig defence. Again Brig responded and Max Caine watched on as his shot flew inches wide of the post following a cross form Chris Churchman. The game was now swinging from end to end with Brig giving as good as they were getting. With Half time approaching the Brig keeper was forced in to another fine save with a strong hand stopping the ball from crossing the line. Half time and goalless but plenty of chances created by both sides.

Fleetwood made eleven half time changes and took just two minutes of the second period to take the lead. A cross from a free kick was whipped in and what from the far end looked like a looping header dropped over the Brig keeper to nestle in the back of the net. Buoyed by their lead Fleetwood began to turn the screw and should have doubled their advantage when a fine ball into the box found the Cods striker with time and space but he screwed his shot wide of the post.

On the hour it was the turn of Bamber Bridge to make changes with no less than seven players being introduced. The flow of the first half wasn’t really being replicated in the second half but Brig were still holding their own against their Football League opponents.
Good defending from Fleetwood with a fine defencive block in the box prevented Brig from levelling the score on 70 minutes.

As the closing stages drew near, the visitors looked the more likely, as first a shooting opportunity was wasted as the shot was struck wide, before a powerful header was superbly dealt with by Brig and cleared off the line. Sidi Sonogo Fofana saw a shot blocked for Brig and on 80 minutes A Brig trialist raced into the area looked to side step the keeper but lost his footing on the new grass, the resulting shot shanked well wide of the post. But it was the visitors creating the bulk of the chances as the final minutes approached.

Another Fleetwood shot flashed wide of the post before the Fylde Coast visitors doubled their advantage in the last minute, a chipped effort over the advancing Brig Trialist keeper giving Town a two goal cushion.

Seconds later and the referee blew the full time whistle. A good run out for a very new and unfamiliar Brig squad who all acquitted themselves well, and with seven more pre season friendlies before the NPL gets underway, this was a promising start. Oh, and it’s good to be back.

Full Time:

Bamber Bridge – 0 Fleetwood Town – 2

Bamber Bridge: 1. Trialist, 2. Chris Churchman, 3. Trialist, 4. Jack Baxter, 5. Simon Grand,
6. Trialist, 7 Danny Edwards, 8. Michael Potts, 9, Bailey Thompson, 10, Max Cane,
11, Jeff Adubofour

Subs: Mark Cullen, Nathan Caine, Sidi Sanogo Fofana, Danny Forbes, Ben Rydel, Trialist, Finn Wallbank, Trialist.

Attendance: Not sure, looked about 400ish.

Match report by Alan Bateson with much assistance from Seth Boardman.