It’s Saturday, so we must be on an away trip, and another long coach journey was beckoning. This time to Nottinghamshire and to Greenwich Avenue, home of Basford Utd. The 7^th coach trip of the season so far and 9^th away trip overall. Including this match, Brig have already racked up a staggering 1,656 miles in round trip journeys!

Some you win, and some you lose, or so we are told. Well on Saturday afternoon in Nottinghamshire Bamber Bridge lost for the first game in six, but can walk away with heads held high from a performance that arguably, in fact definitely, deserved at least a point if not all three. Trailing 2-0 just minutes into the second half, Brig rallied superbly and played some terrific attacking football to level the score at 2-2 before being denied a very late stone wall penalty. Salt was rubbed into that wound when literally a minute later the home side grabbed the winner by means of an unfortunate own goal.


Brig in truth made a slow start with the hosts finding the net in 3^rd minute. Fortunately the Lino had his flag raised and the goal was ruled out. Moments later James Pradic in the Brig goal misplaced a pass, that fell straight at the feet of the Basford Utd forward. The resulting shot flashing wide of the post.

Brig came close on 15 minutes when Adam Dodd played the ball out to Lucas Weaver, returning to Irongate on an extended loan from Altrincham. Lucas picked up the ball and “Weaved” his way in to the box before striking a low cross across the 6 yard line that was hooked clear. Moments later and it was Lucas again, who received the ball n the edge of the box, swivelled and turned before striking a shot towards the far post, the home keeper saving well at the second attempt.

With Brig looking lively and playing well, it was the The Lions who opened the scoring on 25 minutes. A great ball down the left behind the Brig backline was squared across goal for a simple tap in at the far post.


An unusual occurrence on 35 minutes when during a stoppage in play, Adam Dodd dropped to the floor with apparently nobody near him. Any fears for Doddy’s wellbeing were soon dispelled when it became apparent a water bottle thrown on from the Brig bench had somehow struck him just under his eye. He has one heck of a shiner now to show for it!

The Lancashire visitors were playing well, but without really forcing the home keeper into action. Shots were blocked and interceptions made as Brig looked to get back on level terms. A cross from the left touchline was met by Danny Edwards, who with the outside of of his boot flicked a volleyed effort just over the bar. A Brig free kick on 42 minute wide on the left was taken by Pottsy, who opted to strike a shot towards the far post, but the ball sailed over the bar.

With half time approaching and Brig were almost caught out as a long ball over the top led to the home striker racing towards James Pradic who stood his ground and made an excellent save to keep the score at 1-0.


The second half began with Brig on the front foot. A swift move down the left and a cross to the far post led to corner, which was taken short, squared to the edge of the box were Jack Baxter fired in a rising shot jut over the bar. But straight from the goal-kick it was Basford who doubled their advantage. A rapid break, a ball to the far post and a towering header made it 2-0.

A change at this point saw Lewis Hey replace Danny Edwards as Brig started to build some momentum and pin the Nottinghamshire side back, and with his first touch of the ball it was the Brig sub who struck a low shot that the keeper did well to gather at his near post, seconds later Jack Baxter fired in another shot from distance, the keeper pushing it over the bar, before Bamber Bridge pulled a deserved goal back on 70 minutes. Lucas Weaver picking up the ball on the right of the area before hammering a shot high to the keepers left. The United stopper getting a hand to the ball but unable to keep it out of the net.

Brig sensed a momentum change and surged forward looking for the equaliser. Three more Brig changes were made with Churchy and Will Squires replacing Macca and Fin Wallbank, followed by Billy Hasler Cregg replacing Doddy, who by now was sporting a cracking shiner. On 83 minutes the leveller arrived, again Lucas Weaver was supplied on the right hand side of the area, he worked space before drilling a low shot across goal and passed the keeper, A defender tried to hook it off the line but only succeeded in firing the ball into the roof of the net. 2-2, Brig on top and at this stage there looked likely to only be one winner. But as we all know so well, Football has a nasty habit of biting you on the backside.


Approaching 90 minutes and with Brig throwing the kitchen sink at their opponents, that chance to win it came and went in an instant, with the referee missing what was from our vantage point behind the goal, a stone wall penalty. A cross from the left was headed down at the back post by Grandy in to the path of Alex Kenyon, who despite being held back with both hands of the defender, still managed to strike as he was falling backwards, the ball clearing the bar. I suppose it’s one of those instances were a player’s honesty in trying to carry on, has ultimately cost him, that or the referee simply didn’t see the foul.

And to rub the salt right into that wound, literally straight from the goal-kick The Lions roared down the pitch and snatched the winner. Again a ball behind the Brig back line caused problems followed by a low cross from the left that was swept into his own net by Will Squires has he attempted to clear the danger. Rotten luck and absolutely undeserved. With that the final whistle came and signalled a first defeat in six for Brig, but the performance was good and deserving of at least a point. One which we thought we had secured with the late equaliser.

No time to dwell on the defeat however, as Brig can look to get straight back to winning ways on Tuesday evening when the visitors to Irongate will be Teesside outfit Stockton Town.

On a closing note, thanks must go to the Basford United supporters who came to the aid of The Brig “Save our Club” bucket collection, taken around the ground by Bamber Bridge fan and committee member Melissa Garswood. A total of £140 was raised. A worthy effort indeed.

Into October and a trip in to West Yorkshire saw Bamber Bridge march on into the First Round (proper) of The Izuzu FA Trophy with a superb 1-0 victory over inform Guiseley AFC at the Nethermoor Park Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Arguably the best performance of the season from The Briggers who extend their unbeaten run to 5 matches, 4 of them victories.


A glorious Sunny Autumn day in West Yorkshire and Brig playing in all yellow were on the front foot right from the kick off in what turned out to be a hugely entertaining encounter. An early chance for the home-side however, was thwarted with a superb tackle from Macaulay Wilson, before Brig responded with some superb attacking football down both flanks. On 9 minutes a terrific Hassler-Cregg run down the left led to a Brig corner. The ball then finding it’s way to Macca who saw his goal-bound effort deflected behind for another corner.



The Lions roared back and James Pradic was alert to make a fine save. The home-side then struck the bar before Jack Baxter came close to opening the scoring for The Lancashire side, his initial low shot was saved by the home keeper before moments later he unleashed a 20 yard piledriver that was superbly tipped over the bar by the home keeper.

It was Jack Baxter again in the 22^nd minute who whipped in an inswing corner from the right, the keeper having to backpedal to flick the ball over the bar as it looked to be heading in to the net at the far post. Billy Hasler- Cregg was the next Brigger to try his luck following another flowing move, his rising shot from the edge of the box just clearing the crossbar. The half ended with Adam Dodd firing in a shot following a Brig corner. The home keeper saving comfortably. Half time and a hugely encouraging opening 45 minutes from Brig.


The second half began as the first had ended with Brig on the attack. Pottsy made a superb challenge to win the ball back on the edge of the Guiseley area, he ran on into the box before playing the ball square to Simon Grand who saw his low shot well saved by The Lions keeper.

A change in personnel came on the hour as Lewis Hey entered proceedings to replace the hard working Hasler-Cregg who’d had a fine game. Brig were in control of the game and took a deserved lead on 70 minutes. A long looping ball was delivered towards the back post from the left wing. Simon Grand rose like a salmon to power a header back across goal and into the far corner of the net, much to the delight of the band of Briggers behind the goal.


Buoyed by the goal Brig went in search of a second. Pottsy again with some more determined work won the ball back high up the field before laying it into the path of Jack Baxter, who unleashed another tremendous effort. Again the home keeper made a brilliant save to arch back and push the ball over the bar.

The hosts were not out of the contest by any stretch and James Pradic was called upon with 8 minutes remaining, making a great save as the home striker found himself racing towards goal. The Brig keeper spreading himself well to block the effort.


Jarma Mohamed replaced Danny Edwards with 5 minutes of normal time remaining before Olly Molloy entered the fray, replacing Liam Brockbank. The referee signalled 4 added minutes which Brig controlled relatively untroubled to claim their place in the next round of The FA Trophy.

A thoroughly professional display from Bamber Bridge and a fully deserved victory over a Guiseley side who had won 8 of their last 10 games and knocked National League North Leaders, Scunthorpe United out of the FA Cup in their last home game. Hopefully a favourable draw in the First Round Proper can bring in some much needed revenue for Brig. And on that note, a huge thanks to the Guiseley supporters who responded to the “Save Our Brig” bucket collection, held by Mel, Lee and Paul, raising a healthy and very welcome £112 towards the Brig fundraising appeal.