Saturday 30th  September 2023
Northern Premier League

  Ilkeston Town - 1   Bamber Bridge - 0

The first ever meeting between Ilkeston Town and Bamber Bridge (Well, to the best of my knowledge anyway) ended in a 1-0 defeat for the Lancashire Lads. The performance however, merited much more as Brig were the better team throughout and created enough opportunities to win two games! A combination of a man of the match performance from the home keeper Matt Yates, resolute defending and in truth, just missing that cutting edge at the sharp end, meant Bamber Bridge left The Old Manor Ground empty handed.


Briggers in The Little Acorn

The visiting Briggers supporters enjoyed a nice 5 minute stroll to the Little Acorn pub for some pre-match refreshment following the two and a half hour journey to Derbyshire, before returning to the Old Manor Ground, which is an excellent venue, with plenty of character. The clock Tower in the corner being its crowning glory.

Plastic pitches certainly aren't a favourite of mine, but in fairness the 4g surface was fine today and Brig adapted to it very well, zipping the ball around in the opening minutes of the match. Playing in all yellow Bamber Bridge were probing from the start and an early through ball down the centre found Harry Scarborough, clear in the box, the striker was rightly flagged  just offside, but took the ball round the keeper and slotted it home for good measure.


The Old manor Ground

Brig were on top in the opening 20 minutes and a deep free kick was fumbled by the home keeper under a challenge but the ball was hooked clear, before a great passing move down the right channel, the ball was moved inside were Scarbs struck a low hard shot that was deflected fortunately for the grateful keeper straight in to his hands. On the half hour Harry Benns, following a bit of pinball in the box crashed a shot goalwards, this time seeing another deflection take it just over the bar. From the resulting corner on the right, the ball was played back to Jack Baxter who took a touch before unleashing a thunderous strike form 25 yards that the home keeper just got a fingertip to and the ball cannoned to safety off the crossbar.

The home side came close on 35 minutes but James Pradic dived across goal to make a fine save as it arrowed towards the bottom corner.


Posh seats for Millie, The subs and the staff

With Brig looking the more likely to break the deadlock Jack Baxter then saw a shot from the left, again deflected, this time into the side netting for another corner, the defending from the Robins could not be faulted as they constantly prevented any clear attempts at goal. Churchy was next to pay testament to this as he struck a shot from the left of the area that was once again deflected into the hands of the keeper. An almighty scramble in the Ilkeston penalty area with half time approaching saw Brig get no less than 3 shots away that were all blocked before the ball was cleared upfield. Lois Holt then had a looping header collected just under the crossbar by the keeper before the referee blew for half time.

Just 3 minutes into the second half the defining moment of the match arrived, The ball finding its way back to Brig keeper James Pradic, who picked it up only for the referee to call it as a back pass. The resulting indirect free kick from inside the box was diverted wide of the post for a corner. Unfortunately For Brig, the dead ball kick to the back post found Town striker Luke Cox who headed the ball home from close range.

The Clock Tower and main Stand

Bamber Bridge responded well and Jack Baxter had a fine run down the centre of the pitch but his shot lacked power and the keeper made a comfortable save. The next Brig attack saw Harry Scarborough nudged off the ball as he looked to cross for the right wing, the challenge was fair but sent the off balance Scarbs crashing into the advertising boards. Harry was unable to continue and was replaced after treatment by Sam Billington.

The best chance for Brig to grab the equaliser came minutes later, a superb ball across the 6 yard box from the right found Wil Squires at the back post, the Brig Centre Back miscued his shot and the ball bobbled wide. Harry Benns then saw his shot from the edge of the box again well saved by Matt Yates in the Robins goal.



Brig were dominating the second half with the home side seemingly content to defend deep. Sam Billington was next to test the keeper, this time cutting in from the left and aiming for the bottom far corner, the keeper flinging himself left to make a superb save. As the clock ticked swiftly on Sam Billington was again thwarted by the keeper, this time after a fine run into the box, his near post shot pushed around the post for a corner. That was headed clear but found Danny Forbes who struck it back goalwards only to find Yates once again perfectly positioned to make the save. Brig made two further changes as they looked for the equaliser, Sam Cullen and Jordan Butterworth replacing the two Dannies' Forbes and Edwards.

With 10 minutes to go the Ilkeston Town tannoy announced their keeper as man of the match, No one from Brig disagree as immediately following the award, Lois Holt



raced on to a fine headed pass only for Yates  to dive at his feet to make another great save. Harry Benns then jinked past 3 defenders as he waved into the area before a block tackle halted his progress. Two further shots were blocked as the home side clung on to their lead.

Five minutes of added time came and went before the referee signalled full time and Brig were left to contemplate how they hadn’t taken something from the game. The travelling fans rightfully applauded the deflated Brig players as they trudged over to take the acclaim. The general consensus amongst the visiting fans is that Bamber Bridge have not played as well, and lost for a very long time.



Brig will play a lot worse and win games this season. A disappointing result but hugely encouraging performance as the team and squad looks now like it’s not very far away from being a real force again in this Division.

It’s not long to wait for the next game as Brig make the short journey to Victory Park and Chorley on Tuesday evening in the The Lancashire Challenge Trophy before next weekends FA Trophy tie at Bootle on Merseyside.


Full Time: Ilkeston Town – 1 Bamber Bridge – 0


Brig: Pradic, Churchman, Baxter, Squires, Wilson ©, Forbes, Scarborough, Potts, Holt, Edwards, Benns

Subs: Cullen, Butterworth, Billington, Sinclair, Bayode


Att: 650

Tuesday 26th  September 2023
Northern Premier League

  Atherton Collieries - 1   Bamber Bridge - 2
Bamber Bridge left the Skuna Stadium on Tuesday evening with 3 vital points following another stirring fightback, having trailed their hosts, Atherton Collieries 1-0 from as early as the 3rd minute of the match.

What was in truth, a pretty turgid match played on a surface better suited to grazing cattle, exploded into life in the final 15 minutes as Brig turned the game around with two late goals.

The evening started well, with Nick, Kev John and myself enjoying a couple of pre match pints in the Weavers Rest before strolling the short distance to the Skuna Stadium. The first half saw Brig playing downhill for the opening 45 minutes, but within just 3 of those minutes, the Irongate side found themselves with an “uphill” battle after conceding what can only be described a sloppy goal. A deep free kick on the right was launched into the penalty area, Brig Keeper James Pradic came to claim it but the ball seemed to squirm from his grasp, The Colls striker gleefully accepting the gift and firing the ball into the empty net.



Brig tried to respond, but a combination of some wayward passing and a bobbly, uneven pitch made for a difficult first half for the Briggers. A Harry Scarborough shot flashing wide and a superb Churchy outside of the foot effort that flashed just inches over the bar were as much or as close as we came in a low quality first 45 minutes. The home side offered very little threat themselves, the pitch rendering any kind of fluent passing football virtually impossible.

Now I don’t mind admitting that as a fan, I’m very much in the “knee jerk” department, win and we’re going up, lose and we’re going down. I’d have taken a draw there and then and called it quits, because at the break I simply couldn’t see where a Bamber Bridge goal was going to come from.

Brig however started the second half on the front foot, playing up the slope, Mark Cullen tested the home home keeper with a close range effort that was well smothered by the Colls man between the sticks at his near post.

James Pradic then redeemed himself as the second half wore on with two terrific saves, first diving full length to push away a piledriver of a shot from the edge of the box and then minutes later diving at the feet of the advancing Colls striker to gather the ball as the Atherton forward looked to take the ball around the Brig keeper.



The match was turned on its head with the introduction of Danny Edwards and Harry Benns who entered the fray on the hour mark to replace Danny Forbes and Mark Cullen. Edwards running with the ball style immediately started to cause problems for the home side. Jordan Butterworth replaced Jack Baxter on 70 minutes as Brig began to dominate in the attacking third. And on 75 minutes the breakthrough arrived. Danny Edwards raced in to the box and as he looked to cut across the byline was upended with a lunging challenge. The referee having no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Captain Macaulay Wilson stepped up and smashed the ball low and hard to the keepers left, the Colls stopper guessed the right way but was unable to stop the ball flying into the back of the net.

The Brig tails were up and suddenly the lads in yellow looked a different team. Moments after the equaliser, the Colls tormentor in chief, Danny Edwards, following great interplay from Louis Holt and Churchy skipped passed 3 challenges before unleashing a powerful shot that the home keeper just managed to push over the bar.

Brig were pushing for the winner as the game entered the last 5 minutes, a low cross from the left was almost headed home by Harry Scarborough as he stooped to get his head on it, the ball flicking off a defender and landing in the grateful hand of the Colls keeper.



But Bamber Bridge weren’t to be thwarted and two minutes into injury time they grabbed the winner, a forward ball down the right channel was well controlled by Harry Scarborough who cut back inside the full back before striking a low shot across the keeper in and into the far bottom corner of the net to put The Briggers 2-1 in front.

The remaining 4 minutes of stoppage time saw the hosts pile forward looking for a leveller, two late corners with the home keeper joining the attack were comfortably cleared before the referee blew for full time.

Three very welcome for points for Brig, and a very hard working if unspectacular performance. But as I mentioned earlier the pitch just wasn’t suited for any kind of passing display, I don’t think it did the home side any favours either. Much credit to Millie for making the changes that did the changed the game and a note of praise for centre forward Louis Holt who ran his socks off for 90 minutes with little reward.

We move on to another tricky looking fixture at Ilkeston Town this weekend, it will be a first for me, and as a bonus it will also be a first visit there for Kev Walker. The man has been everywhere following Bamber Bridge, but he’s never been to Ilkeston before!

Tonight's victory sees Brig sat slap bang in the middle of the NPL in 12th position on 13 points form 9 games. A steady and respectable start to the season with so many changes to to the squad over the summer. The climb to the top has begun. !!!!
Full Time: Atherton Collieries – 1 Bamber Bridge – 2

Brig: Pradic, Churchman, Thompson, Squires, Wilson ©, Forbes, Scarborough, Potts, Holt, Baxter, Cullen.

Subs: Billington, Benns, Butterworth, Edwards, Sinclair

Attendance: 226