The last League match before the National lockdown and at least a one
month break, brings us to Morpeth Town in the North East for a first
ever visit to Craik Park. A mere 159 miles for a midweek match which
ended with a 2-1 defeat for the Lancashire visitors in a contest that
could be seen as a carbon copy of several of the recent away matches.
A bright start from Bamber Bridge, chances missed only for the home
side to score with their only real two chances off the half. A second
half fight back, a late goal but once again not enough to rescue a
point.
The
long journey saw the team coach arrive at the ground just 25 minutes
before Kick off, So for the players it was pretty much off the bus,
get changed and prepare to play. The game kicked off 5 minutes later
than scheduled but it was the visitors from Lancashire who set the
early pace.
Pre match warm up
Joseph
Rodwell-Grant had the first Brig effort on goal in the 5th minute as
he received the ball with his back to goal at the edge of the penalty
area. He turned and fired in a shot which drifted wide of the post.
Moments later and the PNE loanee again came close as he broke free,
but his chipped effort again missed the target and fell wide.
A
headed chance for Morpeth cleared the bar before Rodwell-Grant again
came close, this time with a fierce drive that had the home keeper
scrambling across goal only for the ball to be deflected past the
post. However, as has been the case so often this season, the home
side took the lead with their first real attack of the match, an
initial shot cannoned back off the post before the ball landed at the
feet of the Morpeth striker who was upended as he shaped to shoot.
Ben Sayer stepped up to drill the ball home from the spot to give the
hosts the lead on 20 minutes.
Pre match drinks !!
Rodwell-Grant
who was having a fine game for Brig then saw an effort saved by the
keeper, the ball rebounded to Matt Dudley who from 6 yards out with
goal at his mercy, spooned the ball high over then bar. These are the
small margins that are costing Bamber Bridge so dearly. Another Brig
shot flew high and wide before, on their next attack in the 36th
minute Morpeth Town doubled their lead. A long free kick from the
right fell to an unmarked Chris Reid who struck a superb Half volley
back across goal and into the bottom corner of the net.
Brig
ended the half with a series of corners but the home keeper was
untroubled and the first period ended with Brig trailing 2-0 having
had the Lions share of possession and created several chances.
The
second half started as the first had ended with Bamber Bridge on the
front foot. A Matt Dudley Header 6 yards out from a Luke Higham cross
lacked power and the home keeper scooped up the ball comfortably. A
Rodwell-Grant shot was blocked and a Matt Lawlor header from a corner
was deflected wide for a corner as The Reds looked for a way back
into the game.
Main stand at Craik Park
On
the hour Mark Yeates came on to replace Matt Dudley. Isaac Sinclair
then saw a shot clip the outside of the post as Brig continued to
press. The visitors were then forced into a 2nd substitution, Matt
Lawlor leaving the pitch after treatment to be replaced by Scott
Burton. As the half wore on, the home side began to take control and
for a 15 minute spell midway through the second period the visitors
were pegged back. The hosts spurned several chances to increase their
lead with shots flying high and wide at regular intervals with Brig
unable to stem the flow.
On
80 minutes however, Bamber Bridge pulled a goal back, a corner from
the left was met on the volley by George Thomason from 8 yards and
blasted into the roof of the net. Unfortunately the expected late
surge from Brig never really materialised as the home side slowed the
game down at every opportunity and stopped Brig from mounting any
kind of pressure. A fracas on 83 minutes involving several players
saw George Thomason, Adam O'Reilly and a home player find their names
in the referees notebook.
Bar and balcony view at Crail Park
On
86 minutes Morpeth had the chance to make the points safe when they
were awarded a second penalty for a clear foul just inside the box.
The resultant spot kick was blazed high and wide. With 4 minutes
still remaining Brig just could not get hold of the ball, but one
chance did present itself on 90 minutes, a fine through ball found
Chris Marlow advancing into the area on the left hand side. Goose
chose to cut inside but turned into two defenders who between them
cleared the danger. Four minutes of added time came and went with no
further chances for Brig and the referee brought proceedings to an
end leaving Bamber Bridge once again to rue missed chances and
suffer a 6th League defeat in a row.
The
enforced Lockdown now gives Brig a month, at least to lick their
wounds and restart the season. It must be said, Bamber Bridge have
played well tonight, aa they have in recent games, and once again its
little consolation to hear the opposition fans telling us how well we
have played and were unlucky not to take something from the game..
The team were well deserving of at least a point this evening but
Brig simply didn’t take the chances when they came and the hosts
did.
Finally
a mention to our hosts. A really friendly place to visit and a nice
ground.
Full
Time: Morpeth Town - 2. Bamber Bridge - 1
Att:
300
Bamber
Bridge; Hudson, Thomson, Higham, Lawlor (Capt.), Wisdom, Wilson,
O’Reilly, Thomason, Rodwell-Grant, Sinclair, Dudley
Subs:
Yeates, Churchman, Burton, King-Harmes, Marlow