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Northern Premier League
Tuesday 10th November 2026
Redcar Athletic - 4 Bamber Bridge - 0 
Funny old game Football isn’t it? It excites you, winds you up,
disappoints you, can leave you on a massive high, or some times like
as flat as a punctured tyre.
The last two games have sort of hovered in the lower end of that scale. Last weekend we faced NPL “giants” Bury at Irongate, a match that at the start of the season, I’m pretty sure most of us would have had as likely to be the toughest of the season. A phoenix club on the rise with a huge ground, gates and resources.
A great attendance approaching 1,500 and a game that at full time we were all more than disappointed to have lost, but certainly more than pleased with the effort desire and application shown by the Brig players. A game that quite likely we wouldn’t have lost had we been able to play it out with a full compliment of players on the pitch. That we couldn’t and didn’t, was down to the sending off of Olly Molloy in the first half for a challenge that even the Bury officials agreed was, well, not just harsh, but pretty ridiculous.
A decision that the FA have since overturned and the red card has been rescinded. Fair play to them for that and the correct decision, but with the only goal of the game coming literally moments after the sending off and with Brig having been dominant up to the sending off, it kind of feels as though it's all a bit too late.
OK, that game had gone, so on to Tuesday evening. It’s November its bloody freezing, so we must be off up to the North East. A weekday day trip to the North East of England seems pretty mandatory for Brig over recent seasons. So off we set on the 6 hour round trip to Redcar Athletic.
As I mentioned earlier, at the start off the season, I’m guessing most NPL supporters would have had Bury down as title contenders and Redcar Athletic being happy enough to enjoy a season of consolidation. I dare say Bury will still be there challenging next Spring, but there seems to be no thoughts of merely surviving in the town on the coast, close to Middlesborough. They have been flying so far this season and we arrived at the very impressively neat and tidy Hallou Sports Stadium with them sat in 2nd position and looking to go top with a win.
The pitch looked superb, in fact we were unsure until closer inspection whether it was actually 3g or grass. But grass it certainly is. The facilities are really good and the “Fanzone” bar is located inside a huge marquee. “That’s going to be cold” we though before entering. No chance, Industrial strength hot air blowers made it feel tropical inside.
On to the match, and the win “The Steelmen” needed, they duly got with a 4-0 thumping for Bamber Bridge. On the night I’m putting that down as one of the best team performances I’ve watched at this level for some time. Brig certainly didn’t lack effort or commitment. We were just swept aside by a team that on the night looked and played like Champions elect.
Brig keeper Charlie Brier made several great saves during the first half, the first of which came in the 4th minute, unfortunately the rebound was swept home to give Athletic an early lead. Brig did respond well and for a few minutes looked like we might get back into the game, but ass the half wore on, the home side wore us down. Charlie was kept busy as his goal was peppered with shots until on the half hour, the Teesiders doubled their lead following a free kick. Half time arrived with Brig really up against it.
Back on the bus and a 3 hour journey back to Lancashire, arriving back at Brig at 1:30am. What else would we do on a Tuesday evening ??
No match this weekend but a Lancashire Challenge Trophy tie next Tuesday evening and another away trip. A much more local trip this time however as we make the short Journey to face Longridge Town.
The last two games have sort of hovered in the lower end of that scale. Last weekend we faced NPL “giants” Bury at Irongate, a match that at the start of the season, I’m pretty sure most of us would have had as likely to be the toughest of the season. A phoenix club on the rise with a huge ground, gates and resources.
A great attendance approaching 1,500 and a game that at full time we were all more than disappointed to have lost, but certainly more than pleased with the effort desire and application shown by the Brig players. A game that quite likely we wouldn’t have lost had we been able to play it out with a full compliment of players on the pitch. That we couldn’t and didn’t, was down to the sending off of Olly Molloy in the first half for a challenge that even the Bury officials agreed was, well, not just harsh, but pretty ridiculous.
A decision that the FA have since overturned and the red card has been rescinded. Fair play to them for that and the correct decision, but with the only goal of the game coming literally moments after the sending off and with Brig having been dominant up to the sending off, it kind of feels as though it's all a bit too late.
OK, that game had gone, so on to Tuesday evening. It’s November its bloody freezing, so we must be off up to the North East. A weekday day trip to the North East of England seems pretty mandatory for Brig over recent seasons. So off we set on the 6 hour round trip to Redcar Athletic.
As I mentioned earlier, at the start off the season, I’m guessing most NPL supporters would have had Bury down as title contenders and Redcar Athletic being happy enough to enjoy a season of consolidation. I dare say Bury will still be there challenging next Spring, but there seems to be no thoughts of merely surviving in the town on the coast, close to Middlesborough. They have been flying so far this season and we arrived at the very impressively neat and tidy Hallou Sports Stadium with them sat in 2nd position and looking to go top with a win.
The pitch looked superb, in fact we were unsure until closer inspection whether it was actually 3g or grass. But grass it certainly is. The facilities are really good and the “Fanzone” bar is located inside a huge marquee. “That’s going to be cold” we though before entering. No chance, Industrial strength hot air blowers made it feel tropical inside.
On to the match, and the win “The Steelmen” needed, they duly got with a 4-0 thumping for Bamber Bridge. On the night I’m putting that down as one of the best team performances I’ve watched at this level for some time. Brig certainly didn’t lack effort or commitment. We were just swept aside by a team that on the night looked and played like Champions elect.
Brig keeper Charlie Brier made several great saves during the first half, the first of which came in the 4th minute, unfortunately the rebound was swept home to give Athletic an early lead. Brig did respond well and for a few minutes looked like we might get back into the game, but ass the half wore on, the home side wore us down. Charlie was kept busy as his goal was peppered with shots until on the half hour, the Teesiders doubled their lead following a free kick. Half time arrived with Brig really up against it.
In fairness the
second half followed the same pattern and just after the hour any
flicker of hope of a comeback was extinguished as Redcar made it
three. Three became four ten minutes later as Brig by this point were
well beaten, but with no complaints whatsoever from the travelling
Briggers. Credit were it’s due, they were just a far better side
than us on the night. Brig never gave up and late substitute Lewis
Trickett did himself no harm whatsoever with a very promising cameo
performance.
Back on the bus and a 3 hour journey back to Lancashire, arriving back at Brig at 1:30am. What else would we do on a Tuesday evening ??
No match this weekend but a Lancashire Challenge Trophy tie next Tuesday evening and another away trip. A much more local trip this time however as we make the short Journey to face Longridge Town.
