Bamber Bridge made the relatively short journey to The Neuven Stadium on Saturday afternoon to face runaway League leaders Radcliffe FC. Brig came away empty handed following a 3-2 defeat but can hold their heads high after putting in arguably their best performance of the season. Football can be a cruel game at times, and so it turned out.

Sweeping the ball around the pitch Brig played some superb football, twice came from behind but ultimately fell foul to two penalty kicks for the home side that simply adds weight to the argument that if you are at the top, you generally get the breaks.

On a bitterly cold but glorious sunny afternoon Brig (Presumably) won the toss and opted to play up the slope in the first half. With Loan Centre Forward Ewan Bange watching from the stands against his “Parent” Club, Brig started really brightly, passing the ball well and keeping possession. Radcliffe were quick to press and rapid on the break. On 8 minutes following one such breakaway. The hosts were awarded a penalty. No real arguments that it was a pen but it came in unfortunate circumstances as Captain Macauley Wilson slid in on the damp service in an attempt to block the ball but his arm caught the ball while he was “on the deck”. Josh Hancock stepped up and slammed the home to give “The Boro” the lead.

Brig stormed straight back and Just two minutes later were awarded a free kick 22 yards from goal. Macca strode up and whipped a superb free kick over the wall, passed the hands of former Brig keeper Mateusz Hewelt, and on to the inside of his right hand post, the ball bounced out behind the stricken Hewelt in to the path of Danny Edwards who stroked it home to level the scores.

Brig were playing well and carving the League Leaders defence open with some terrific and incisive passing moves. Two well worked corners caused problems for the hosts, the first being headed behind at the far post following a short “one-two” move, the second from the other side, again taken short and three smart passes later found Adam Dodd, in a shooting position. Unfortunately Doddy’s shot flew high over the bar. Seconds late and Chris Churchman spotted Hewelt off his line and went for an audacious chip from 30 yards, the ball dipping just over the bar.

The Irongate side were playing with confidence and on 25 minutes another great passing move saw a low cross whipped in from the left, Danny Edwards looked set to sweep it home from 6 yards but the ball somehow crept under his boot and the chance was gone. Two minutes later and a peach of a ball from centre midfield to the right wing found Harry Scarborough who ran on to the edge of the box before firing a hard shot that the home keeper did well to parry before grabbing at the second attempt.

On the half hour Brig were forced into a change, Churchy looked to have pulled a muscle and was replaced by Sky Sinclair. The Visitors continued to pass the ball around superbly and Danny Edwards raced in to the box from the right and was so close to finding Mark Cullen as he looked to set up the Brig striker for a tap in, A great defending tackle taking the ball away and out of danger.

Radcliffe are a class outfit however, and when they broke away, they did it with pace and precision. A quick raid down the right saw the ball switched inside, fierce shot looked goal bound until it struck one their own players and looped up in the air for Brig keeper James Pradic to make a comfortable catch.

With the half drawing to a close, Danny Forbes playing possibly the best football of his Brig career this season, sent a terrific curving pass down the right side of the pitch on to the advancing Mark Cullen who weaved to the edge of the area before, laying the ball off to Danny Edwards whose shot from a tight angle flashed wide of the post.

The second half began with Bamber Bridge in all Yellow, playing down the slope. The second period took a few minutes to settle down but once again Brig began playing some delightful passing football. Harry Scarborough was sent away through the centre of the pitch but good defending saw him crowded out before he got a shot away. Another slick move down the left led to a low cross across the box, initially cleared but then chipped back towards the far post, Mark Cullen met it on the volley but the connection wasn’t as sweet as he would have hoped and Hewelt made a comfortable save. And from his upfield clearance, the hosts took the lead for a second time.

An exchange of passes on the left hand side of the Brig penalty area led to the ball being played into the path of Luca Navarro (Once of Bamber Bridge) who buried the ball in the bottom corner of the net. Bamber Bridge, as in the first half responded almost immediately. A fine ball down the right channel found Mark Cullen who looked up before chipping in a fabulous cross towards Danny Forbes who “rose like a Thomson’s Gazelle on the plains of the Masai Mara” as he powered a thunderous header passed the diving Mateusz Hewelt to level the scores once again. (Thanks Rob for the brilliant quote !”)
Brig surged forward again and twice forced low saves out of Hewelt as The Yellows looked to get their noses in front for the first time in the match. Danny Edwards was replaced by Tunde following an earlier knock, but Brig continued unabated and a Lewis Thompson surging run down the left ended as his dangerous low cross across the 6 yard line was well blocked by a defender, the ball looping up kindly for the keeper to grab.

The match was swinging from end to end and Adam Dodd had to clear off the line After James Pradic had come out to intercept the ball but missed it, the shot on target was goal bound until Doddy, cleared the danger.

Unfortunately for Adam Dodd, it was his lunging tackle in the 78^th minute that led to the second Boro spot kick. Hancock stepped up for the home side and slammed it right down the middle as the Brig keeper dived to his right.

Once again Brig found themselves chasing the game. But undeterred The team in Yellow pushed on. A free kick was awared 25 yards out on the left of goal. Macca stepped up but this time is shot was struck high over the bar. Minutes later and Tunde forced Hewelt in another fine save, palming away a shot that looked destined for the top corner.

As the final whistle neared, a final Brig substitution on 85 minutes saw Billy Bould replace Danny Forbes. Seconds later a ball down the centre of the pitch was flicked on by Mark Cullen into the Path of Scarbs, but he didn’t connect well with his shot and it trundled into the arms of the ever busy Hewelt in the Boro goal. The last of the action saw a right wing cross towards the head of Scarbs again, The Brig forward connected well with the header but was unable to direct it goalwards.


Full time and Bamber Bridge can count themselves extremely unlucky not to be returning home with at least a point from a stirring performance that showed grit, determination and some outstanding passages of play. The League leaders move on but they must surely not have had a more difficult game this season on their relentless march to promotion.

It doesn’t get much easier for Brig as next up, this Tuesday evening is a home match against 4th placed Worksop Town at the SFC Stadium followed by another home match against third placed Macclesfield Town next weekend.

Bamber Bridge’s long trip in to North Yorkshire on Saturday afternoon to Face Whitby Town ended in defeat with the hosts running out 2-0 victors at The Towbar Express Stadium.


The match had been in doubt due to the incessant rain of recent weeks but the game got the go ahead and despite the pitch cutting up somewhat in the heavy rain of the second half, it looked from a spectators point of view, to play OK. Far from starting at a frenetic pace the game just never got going in the opening stages, both sides making numerous errors in possession and neither goalkeeper coming under any threat.


Danny Forbes found himself on the end of a long through ball as he chested it down in the box, his volleyed effort flying high and wide, The Linesman’s flag was raised for offside in any case. A free-kick for Whitby which was comfortably claimed by James Pradic in the Brig goal was as near as either side came in the opening 20 minutes.

Bamber Bridge were trying to knock the ball around, and had decent spells of possession but the final ball was missing and Whitby Town comfortably kept the Lancashire side at arms length.


The game changed in the 25^th minute when The Yorkshire side were awarded a penalty, a debatable foul was originally adjudged by the referee to be outside the box as the ref awarded Whitby Town a free kick, a buzz from the Assistant referees flag indicated to the official that the ”infringement” was inside the box, the referee changed his mind and awarded the penalty much to the displeasure of the Brig players and coaching staff. Up stepped Jacob Gratton, who buried the spot kick to give the Seasiders the lead.

The home side almost doubled their lead 5 minutes later when a cross from the right was headed just over the bar. Brig tried to respond but were still struggling to make any impact in the final third. Danny Edwards was unfortunate as he was initially clipped on the edge of the box but retained his footing to weave passed two defenders into a potential shooting position. To his dismay the referee had blown his whistle to pull the game back for the original tackle, awarding Brig the free kick. Jack Baxter struck the ball to the side of the defensive wall but the keeper had his angles right and saved with ease.


With the half drawing to a close Bamber Bridge forced two corners in quick succession, but both were cleared and the half ended with the hosts leading 1-0 in what was, other than the penalty incident an uneventful 45 minutes.


Bamber Bridge looked sharper right from the start of the second half and looked to be playing with a higher intensity. Danny Edwards fired over from the edge of the area as he cut in from the left. Brig were now pushing the home side back and controlling the game, but still, clear cut chances were at a premium. On the hour Millie opted for a change as he replaced Tunde Bayode with Mark Cullen. With Brig now forcing the issue, a foul 25 yards from goal led to a Chris Churcham free kick that the home keeper did well to save, diving right to parry the ball, Mark Cullen just being unable to reach the rebound before it was hooked clear.


As the rain came pelting down, Brig were on top but The Seasiders were well marshalled at the back and posed a threat themselves on the occasions that they broke away. A good Brig move down the right, led to a low cross towards the near post, The keeper stepping across and gathering the ball without being put under any real pressure. The general play from The Briggers was good, but unfortunately the equaliser looked unlikely despite prolonged periods of pressure.

A Brig corner from the right was headed straight back to the taker who delivered a second cross which was headed out but returned with a curling ball to the far post. The Whitby Town keeper rising well to take the ball. It had taken some time but the home keeper was now having to work hard to keep Brig out.


A breakaway from Town then brought a good save from James Pradic, parrying a powerful shot before grabbing it at the second attempt. Sam Billington and Mackenzie O’Neil were introduced for Brig and moments later O’Neil beat the left back and raced into the box on the right, his low cross was perhaps hurried and a defender at the near post hoofed it clear.


And as is often the case, when a team is chasing the equaliser, another breakaway led to the 2^nd Whitby Town goal, this time a ball over the top found Jerome Greaves racing clear towards goal, as Pradic advanced the ball was calmly chipped over the keepers head, dropping just under the bar to double the lead.


The referee siganlled 4 added minutes but in truth the game was up. A Chris Churchman shot from distance, collected by the keeper was the last action of the day and Bamber Bridge were left to ponder how their second half domination hadn’t found the deserved equaliser. In truth, There was a sharpness missing all afternoon for Brig and the result leaves Brig in 17^th place, just two places outside the relegation zone but with a safety buffer of 6 points and games in hand on the sides below.


That buffer may well be tested in the coming weeks as Bamber Bridge embark on what looks a formidable run of fixtures. A home game against FC United this Tuesday evening is then followed with consecutive games against four of the top five in the Division.

Bamber Bridge secured a point at Hunts Cross on Saturday afternoon and will rightly feel they did enough to claim all three. That said it was a terrific match, a great advert for the Northern Premier League and a much improved performance from Brig against an Ashton United side riding high in 3^rd position in the League. The match also marked a personal achievement for Club Captain, Macauley Wilson, making his 150^th appearance for Bamber Bridge.


Bamber Bridge started with a steely determination to put last weekends FA Trophy defeat behind them, and attacked with pace straight from the kick off. That fast start was rewarded on 5 minutes when following a great move down the right Michael Potts crossed from the edge of the area, the ball was headed out but only as far as Jack Baxter who fired it back in first time, the ball whistling into the bottom corner of the net.


Just one minute later and a Brig Free kick for a foul on Lewis Thompson, 5 yards outside and to the left of the penalty area was struck superbly by Sam Billington. The ball cleared the defensive wall and crashed back into play off the crossbar. Bamber Bridge were really on top and pressing the Robins back. Another sweeping move down the right with a low cross into the box found Lewis Thompson who struck it first time but the ball sailed over the bar. From the goal-kick and completely against the run of play Ashton Utd equalised. A long punt upfield, a fine pass into the box and the Robins No.7 swept the ball home from close range.


A free kick to the hosts minutes later was well tipped over the bar by Brig keeper Aiden Hunt, making his Bamber Bridge debut following James Pradics’ unexpected return to PNE. The goal had lifted Ashton and a shot from ex Brigger Joe Robins flashed just wide of the upright.


Brig responded and on twenty minutes, won another free kick this time to the right of the penalty area. Jack Baxter took it and the keeper was forced to palm it over the bar for a corner. That was taken short and played square to Chris Churchman who, from the edge of the box smashed a curling 20 yard shot in in the back of the net, the keeper diving left, getting a hand to it but unable to keep it out. A fantastic first ever League goal in a Brig shirt for Churchy and Brig were deservedly back in front.


Bamber Bridge were playing some of their best football of the season and looking to move the ball swiftly on a very wet and spongy pitch. A fine run down the right from Harry Scarborough who whipped in a low cross, Mackenzie O’Neil looked set to pounce but a last ditch tackle took the ball off his toe. And it was Scarbs again on 35 minutes who will probably feel he maybe should have added a third for Brig. As superb through ball sent the Brig striker racing towards goal, he side stepped the keeper but couldn’t get the ball out of his feet on the sticky surface, he twisted and turned as the home defence closed him down, the ball eventually being grabbed by the keeper and the chance was gone.


With half time approaching Brig broke out of defence and swarmed over the half way line with a 3 against 3 situation, unfortunately an attempted square pass was overhit and the ball rolled out for a throw in, at which point the referee signalled half time. Brig leading 2-1 and certainly the best 45 minutes played on the road so far this season.


As expected the hosts came out traps quickly at the beginning of the second half and Brig had to withstand some concerted pressure. The Lancashire Lads weathered the storm and started knocking the ball around again. A move down the left saw the ball played square to Lewis Thompson who fired in a low shot that was deflected wide of the post. Moments later and Harry Benns was found on the edge of the box, he side stepped the defender before firing in a hard low shot, the home keeper doing well to save and keep hold of the ball.


On 55 minutes Brig struck the woodwork for a second time. Harry Scarborough curling a superb shot from the edge of the penalty area that beat the keeper all ends up as he stood and watched the ball crash back off the bar. The curl Scarbs got on the ball was incredible and he was so unlucky not to extend the Brig lead.


Bamber Bridge were back on top and in full stride as Harry Benns won a corner from a smart move down the left channel, the corner was headed out but only as far as Jack Baxter who cut inside and unleashed a powerful drive, that the keeper could only parry, the rebound being fired over the crossbar.


On 65 minutes Brig made two changes, Mackenzie O’Neil and Sam Billington making way for Louis Holt and Danny Edwards. Unfortunately before either player could settle into the game, in fact, almost immediately, The Robins drew level for a second time. A quick attack down the left, the ball delivered into the box and the Ashton No.7 Byrne, controlled the ball before firing a shot across the Brig keeper and into the bottom corner for his and The Robins second gaol.


The game was now in the balance with the home side sensing the chance of grabbing an unlikely winner. Brig rallied though and Michael Potts saw a shot curl over the bar after neat footwork got him into a shooting position at the left edge of the penalty area. Scarbs then won a free kick close to the corner flag, Potts played it into the feet of the advancing Chris Churchman who struck hard and low, the ball unfortunately hitting Harry Scarborough and rolling out for a goal-kick.


The game was swinging from end to end with both sides looking for the winner, and with 6 minutes time added on the home side came close from a left sided corner, a snap shot looked to be heading for the back of the net but was superbly cleared off the goal-line. In the last minute of stoppage time and Brig on the attack a challenge on Harry Benns left the Brig forward clearly in some distress on the ground. There was absolutely no malice in the challenge and it was clearly accidental but Harry needed to be stretchered off the pitch with what we believe to be ankle ligament damage. We all wish him a swift recovery.

The referee called full time virtually straight from the bounce ball restart and the points were shared. An excellent and entertaining match and a good point for Bamber Bridge from a really good team performance. After a run of seven away games from the last eight, Brig can now look forward to a rare Saturday home match next weekend as we entertain Basford United at The SFC stadium.