Some games live long into the memory, this match at the Greenwich Avenue Stadium, home of Basford United, wasn’t one of them. However, a more satisfying 3 points we probably haven’t gained all season. In a game of very few chances, Bamber Bridge ground out a 1-0 victory to record our first ever victory at Basford.


The game kicked off in glorious Spring weather on the 3g artificial pitch in Nottinghamshire. The home side had the first shot of the game in the opening couple of minutes, but the long range effort was well wide of the post. Brig's best opportunity in a cagey opening spell came from a Nathan Pond back post header from a deep free kick, the ball was just too high and Pondy’s looping header dropped a yard wide of the post.

Brig were playing some neat and tidy football but chances were at a premium. Isaac Sinclair produced some good work on the right wing before cutting into the area, is low crossed was deflected away for a corner.


On 15 minutes Matt Hudson, who had a fine game in goal for Brig made a smart save above his head following a decent move from the home side, a shot coming in from just inside the penalty area, and just moments later Brig were awarded a penalty. The home keeper Kieran Preston attempted to punch the ball clear from a cross the ball fell kindly to Aaron Skinner (I think), whose goal bound shot was adjudged to have been handled. Possibly harsh, but the ball did strike the defenders arm.

Paul Dawson stepped up and planted the ball into the bottom corner for what turned out to be the winning goal. The home side responded well and Matt Thomson picked up a yellow card for pulling back one of the home sides strikers. On 24 minutes Basford United came close to an equaliser but the 25 yard effort clipped the top of the crossbar and sailed over. Matt Hudson then had to be alert, diving to save a low shot as the hosts pushed for the equaliser.

Brig made a change on 34 minutes Matt Thomson being replaced by Chris Churchman for what looked a tactical switch with Matt already having been booked. Aaron Skinner then found the net for Brig, but the referee had already blown for a foul on the keeper before the ball was dispatched into the empty net.


A great piece of wing play from debutant Joe Strawn in the 40th minute saw the Blackpool man create space on the left before delivering a superb cross to the back post, which was met by Isaac Sinclair but the home keeper got down well to make a comfortable save from the Brig strikers downward header.

Another scare just before half time for Brig has the home side struck the woodwork again, this time another low shot from distance struck the post and cannoned away to safety.

The 2^nd half started much like the first, and the opening 10 minutes were very scrappy with neither side really keeping possession. But on 55 minutes just as Brig looked to be settling into the half Basford were awarded a penalty. Nathan Pond was adjudged to have fouled the home striker has he ran into the box.


Matt Hudson made himself big as he waited on the goal line, He clearly did enough to put off the United striker, as his spot kick struck the top of the crossbar and went over for a goal kick, much to the relief of the Brig fans at the other end of the ground.

On 64 minutes the second change for Brig saw Jake Daniels, the second of our Blackpool loanees, come on to make his Bamber Bridge, debut, replacing Kevin Spinelli. Paul Dawson then struck an “interesting” free kick from the edge of the box that deceived everyone, including his teammates, a low daisy cutter shot, or was it a cross? Flew diagonally across the penalty area and well wide of the far post. Both sets of players stood and watched it sail wide.

On 70 minutes and with the clock slowly ticking away, Jake Daniels was involved in Brigs best move of the 2^nd half, as the striker played a neat one two on the left side of the penalty area before firing in a powerful low shot that was deflected wide for a corner.

Brig made their final change on 75 minutes with goalscorer Paul Dawson making way for Jake Thompson. Bamber Bridge were looking comfortable as the game entered it’s final minutes, until Jake Daniels picked up a yellow card for kicking the ball away, and then minutes later was penalised for a foul which resulted in a second yellow. The young loanee looking disconsolate as he trudged off the pitch. His team mates held out for the remaining moments of the 5 minutes of added time as Brig slowed the game down. Matt Hudson picking up a yellow for slowing it down a bit too much.


The full time whistle was greeted with a great roar from the Briggers behind the goal, and the players came across to take the applause. Not the best of games by any stretch of the imagination but a workmanlike victory that keeps Brig on the tails of the play off pack. With 6 games to go, it’s still all to play for in what has been a fantastic season already for Bamber Bridge.

Bamber Bridge were beaten 4-2 in an really entertaining match at the the 1^st Cloud Arena (Mariners Park) against title chasing South Shields on Saturday afternoon. A bright sunny spring day, Jazzy shirts on display from the Brig faithful, This, favourite of all Bamber Bridge away days provided us again with a special away day.

Jamie Milligan was disappointed post match with the manner of the defeat in so much as the goals conceded where all pretty much avoidable and followed Brig giving away possession. But the overall display was as good as we’ve seen for some time, and showed the green roots of revival after a disappointing spell of results.


A crowd of 2,173 were inside the vastly improving ground as the game got under way. A sparkling atmosphere and the home side as expected looked to push Brig back with a fast start. Bamber Bridge however, looked comfortable in the early stages and created a couple of decent opportunities themselves. Fin Sinclair-Smith found himself with time and space wide on the left, he turned inside and floated a curved ball towards the far post that drifted just a foot over the bar. An earlier cross form the right had been headed off the line by a Shields defender.

On 14 minutes however The ground erupted as Shields took the lead, A loose pass was intercepted in midfield, by Mitch Rose, who strode forward before smashing a great shot in to the back of Matt Hudson’s net. Brig responded well and a Pondy back post header from a free-kick flashed across the 6 yard box before being hooked clear off the line. At the other end Matt Hudson then made a fine save, diving left to stop a low shot from a quick South Shields breakaway.

On 25 minutes the home side doubled their advantage, again Brig were guilty of giving up possession and a diagonal ball in to the box was chested down the Shields striker McGovern who then slid the ball passed the advancing Matt Hudson.


At 2-0 The Brig fans had fears of a hammering, but the lads dug deep and recovered their composure. A Fin effort from the left side of the penalty area was slightly scuffed by the Brig man allowing the home keeper to make a comfortable save. Paul Dawson then struck a 25 yard free kick through the wall but the home stopper was again well positioned to make the save.

The half time whistle arrived with the hosts leading 2-0, Three efforts on target for South Shields and two of them found the net. At the other end the home keeper hadn’t really been tested.

Half time in the famous South Shields Marquee and it was Jazzy Shirt competition time. South Shield fans, and Bamber Bridge friends, Simon and his young daughters, affectionately nicknamed “The KitKat Girls” had the unenviable task of picking a winner from the atrocious display of loud, Hawaiian style shirts donned by the travelling Briggers. The girls chose Daniela's bright yellow abomination of a shirt as the clear winner !!! With special mention to John and Adam Lickley for their
outlandish efforts!!!. All good fun and Daniela was delighted as she set off on a lap of honour !


The 2^nd half got underway with the Brig fans stood with the Loud and Happy South Shields fans, joining in with the superb atmosphere created by the League’s best supported club. An early Brig free kick wa deflected for a corner, from which Matt Thomson met the headed clearance but his shot cleared the bar.


Two further Brig shots were blocked as the visitors looked to push the home side back, Fin saw his effort from 18 yards blocked, the rebound falling to Matt Thomson who struck well only to see the outstretched leg of a defender divert the ball to safety.


Bamber Bridge were getting on top and a sweeping move from left to right ended as a cross whipped in from the right was headed over the bar by a back-pedalling Shields defender to give Brig a corner. Brig made their 1st change on the hour, as Mark Yeates came on for Isaac Sinclair and Yeatsy came so close just moments later, seeing his 20 yard shot deflected wide again for yet another corner.

However, as as been the case quite often in recent weeks, With Brig doing the pressing, the home side broke away and with their first effort on target of the 2^nd half put the game to bed at 3-0. A breakaway goal in the true sense as The Shields player burst through the Brig back line before curling a terrific effort into the far corner.

The home fans in full voice behind us, serenaded the Briggers with a pretty decent version of “Take me home Station Rd”, They even allowed Lucy Spencer to take the drum sticks to hammer out the beat.

The home side buoyed by the 3^rd goal swept forward, but Brig showed great character and continued to pass the ball around. The Brig reward for their endevours arrived on 70 minutes, Fin- Sinclair Smith was upended in the penalty area, and Paul Dawson stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way from the spot. In fairness, the home fans cheered the goal with us !!


Aaron Skinner and Craig Carney were then introduced to the fray with Chris Churchman and Adam Dawson making way. Brig continued push the home side back and at this point really looked like they might get back into the game., But once again following a good spell of Brig pressure, the home side broke away and made it 4-1. Sam Hodgson found time and space to hammer home passed Matt Hudson. Again Brig responded , and pulled back a second goal with time running out. Great work from Fin on the left wing, his cross was headed clear and as the ball reached the edge of the box, Kevin Spinelli (I think) was tripped as he shaped to shoot. Mark Yeates stepped forward and slammed a beauty of a free kick in to the keepers bottom left corner.

The home side safely saw out the remaining minutes to take the 3 points. For Bamber Bridge? Strange match, in that we have played much worse and won. The team never gave up, showed great, character, desire and enthusiasm and possibly deserved something from the game. The stark reality though is that we can’t concede goals of the type or at the rate that we do and compete at the top end of the League. For Shields, it was essentially 5 shots on target and 4 goals.

The Brig players however can take take consolation from a good display which was much appreciated by the travelling fans, and in fairness the home fans as well. Captain, Macauley Wilson as always, brought the players across to show their appreciation to the Bamber Bridge fans. Overall, an absolutely belting day on the road with Bamber Bridge. The friendliness of the North Eastern fans always makes this the “look out for”, away day of the season. South Shields may well step up to National League North next season. Their ground, facilities and level of support certainly deserves that.

For Brig, we aim to end the season as high in the table as we can. It’s been a roller-coaster so far, but to even compete with clubs on the scale of South Shields is an achievement.

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Bamber Bridge returned to winning ways on Saturday afternoon with a fully deserved victory at home to Grantham Town. Following a difficult run of results it was good to see the confidence back and the players celebrating the victory with the fans at the end of the match.

Prior to the game there was an impecibly obseved minute’s silence for Brig fan, volunteer and everyones' friend Brian Carrigan who sadly passed away on Friday. RIP Brian.

Brig made a bright start to the match as the y looked to get the ball down and pass it around, having been forced to play the aerial route at Atherton on Tuesday evening due to playing on a swamp. The visiting Gingerbreads, well back by a good vocal support also seemed up to the task, one defeat in their previous 6 matches has given the South Lincolnshire side renewed hopes of avoiding relegation.

It was Bamber Bridge who carved out the first opening of the game, Fin Sinclair-Smith with a shot from the edge of the box, The Grantham keeper saved well, the ball rebounded to Fin, but his follow up shot went just wide of the post.

With Brig looking the more likely to break the deadlock, it was the visitors that took the lead in the 27^th minute. A corner swung in from the left wasn’t dealt with, and following a goalmouth scramble the ball was adjudged to have crossed the goaline before being hooked clear. There was some debate from the Brig 50k club fans on the Sponsors Lounge balcony as to whether the ball did actually cross the line. I thought it did. Others were not so sure. Nonetheless, the goal was given and Brig found themselves trailing again.

Far from letting their heads drop The Irongate lads stepped up a gear and went in search of an equaliser. Nathan Pond came close with a powerful header from a Fin corner, the effort just clearing the bar. At the other end, another left wing corner from Grantham caused havoc once again in the Brig penalty area before the ball was eventually cleared. Matt Hudson in goal claiming he was pushed off the ball, but the referee was having none of it.

On 36 minutes, the long awaited Brig goal final arrived. Brig won the ball back on the half way line and Fin Sinclair-Smith was sent clear down the middle of the pitch, the advancing keeper forced the Brig striker wide left but he showed terrific composure to slide the ball under the Gingerbreads stopper, and the ball rolled gleefully into the empty net to the scene of great celebration on the Sponsors Lounge balcony.


Moments later and a Paul Dawson header from a Chris Churchman cross just missed the target as Brig ended the half on top.

Bamber Bridge started the second half as they had ended the first, the swagger was coming back as the players looked to be enjoying the match. Dan Martin having a superb game in the centre of midfield saw an early strike deflected just wide for a corner. The visitors were by no means out the game though, and backed by their supporters at the Woodyard end came close with rising shot following good play down the right, the ball whistling inches over Matt Hudson's bar.

Paul Dawson was the architect of the next Brig chance, turning inside the defender before clipping a ball towards the top corner, the ball dipping narrowly wide. On 56 minutes It was Paul Dawson again and this time he found the back of then net with a fine finish. Jake Thompson with some superb wing play down the right, beat his man before sliding the ball across the 18 yard line to Dawson, The Brig striker side stepped inside before crashing a 15 yard shot in to the back of the net to give Brig a deserved lead.

Bamber Bridge were clearly lifted by the goal and and started to spray the ball around the pitch in the manner of earlier in the season. A superb move on the hour saw Fin, sent away down the right, his pin point cross found Isaac Sinclair, who looked a certain scorer, but the keeper came to The Gingerbreads rescue with a fine diving save.


Brig were well on top at this stage and Fin again was unlucky as his low shot from a Jake Thompson pull back was deflected just wide of the post with the keeper stranded.

Brig made their first change on 70 minutes, Jake Thompson who’d had an excellent game was replaced by Adam Dawson. Mark Yeates then coming on to replace the tireless Fin Sinclair Smith in the 75 minute. With the experienced heads of Nathan Pond and Mark Yeates, on the park, Brig looked to take the pace out of the game and control the possession of the ball. With the minutes passing by slowly, it was Brig who almost made the points safe in the 85^th minute. Adam Dawson controlling a Sinclair cross in the box before firing in a low powerful drive that was well saved by the keeper, the rebound falling to Kevin Spinelli, who fired it back in first time only to watch in disbelief as the keeper made another top save to push the ball out for a corner.

Bamber Bridge made their final change in the 89th minute, Sponsors Man of the match Dan Martin went off to a great ovation to be replaced by Aaron Skinner. The referee added 5 minutes of stoppage time which to be fair Brig controlled without any scares before the full time whistle brought much relief and a welcome 3 points to the Lancashire side.

Overall, a very enjoyable afternoon and a really good performance from Brig against a team fighting for their Northern Premier League lives. It doesn’t get any easier though, as Brig’s next opponents are title chasing South Shields next Saturday in the North East. We will travel with renewed optimization looking to put on a similar display. Bamber Bridge are back !!

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Bamber Bridge’s disappointing run of form continued on Tuesday night with a 2-0 reverse at Skuna Stadium, home of Atherton Collieries FC. In the ten matches since beating Lancaster City on Boxing Day, Brig have gone on a run that has included seven defeats, two goalless draws and a solitary victory. Scoring just 6 goals, and three of those came in the one victory at Radcliffe.

So, on to Last nights game. Brig made five changes following the home defeat against Buxton, Matt Hudson and Nathan Pond, back after completing suspensions. In also came Jake Thompson and Chris Churchman, with Accrington Stanley loanee Kevin Spinelli making his first start.

Bamber Bridge had the first opportunity of the match with Jake Thompson firing a shot wide from the edge of the area in the 2^nd minute. Form there however, with Brig playing down the slope in the opening half, it all went downhill!

Matt Hudson’s unlucky start to his loan spell continued as Brig conceded what can only be described as an “unfortunate” goal in the 7^th minute. A hopeful forward punt in to the box, looked to be heading straight in to the hands of the Brig keeper. From our vantage point it looked as though Matt Hudson stepped backwards and collided with the post, the ball spilling over the the goaline in the process. The Brig players were visibly stunned by the goal and in truth, never recovered.

On a very sticky and uneven pitch, passing football never really looked an option, so both sides looked to play the long ball game which resulted in a really poor spectacle in all honesty.


Try as the might Brig couldn’t get near the Colls goal, with the giant centre back pairing heading ever ball clear. The nearest Brig came was an Isaac Sinclair effort from a right wing cross, the ball being deflected for a corner. Craig Carney then saw a 25 yard looping shot dip over the bar.

Up to half time the game became a real scrappy affair with neither side enjoying any prolonged possession and passes going astray left, right and centre. With the game looking like going into the half time break at 1-0, Atherton doubled their advantage. An initial shot was blocked, leading to a corner. From that far post corner the ball was headed backwards were The Colls striker met the ball with a low shot that seemed to find its way through a forest of legs before rolling into the corner of the net.

The half time whistle followed and the Brig players hurried off the pitch, to return 10 minutes later, a good 5 minutes before the home side. Aaron Skinner had entered the fray in place of Macualey Wilson. The second half however showed no improvement from the first half, with neither side able to create any meaningful chances or even shots at goal.

As mentioned earlier, any attempt to play football on the ground was rendered virtually impossible by the state of the pitch. Nonetheless, the quality of passing from Brig in particular was simply not good enough and time and time again the intended pass found its way into touch.

The best chance of the second half, indeed the match for Brig came from a left wing corner, that flashed all the way across the goal line just requiring a touch, but no one got the touch and the ball drifted out at the far post for a goal kick.

The home side were clearly satisfied with their two goal lead and never looked like adding to their tally. Paul Dawson and Nathan Pond picked up yellow cards as the Brig frustration began to deepen. Matt Hudson then made a good save to deny Colls a third as the game drifted towards it’s inevitable conclusion.


The final whistle came and the home side celebrated their success. For Brig, well the rotten run continues. There can be no accusation of lack of effort from any of the Bamber Bridge squad. They are putting in the effort, there is no doubt about that but football as we all know can be like this at times. What it will take to turn this run around I’m not sure. But it will turn round and regardless of this recent run. Brig are still sat comfortably in 9^th position in the League with an quirky record of having scored 49, conceded 49 and we have 49 points. As I mentioned at the start. “It’s only football” and we have the luxury of being able to attend freely and under no threat.

It’s a home match on Saturday as Grantham Town visit The Sir Tom Finney Stadium. Win, lose, or draw, We’ll be there.