GREAT VICTORY FOR BRIGG TOWN IN FA TROPHY AGAINST BAMBER BRIDGE

Brigg Town  2    Bamber Bridge  1 

REPORT BY BOB TAYLOR

Brigg fielded an unchanged team from the one which gained a hard earned point in mid week at Sheffield, for their Preliminary Round game in this season’s FATrophy  against Bamber Bridge.

They got off to a flying start with a goal after forty eight seconds. The ball was played forward into the visitors’ penalty area and a poor attempted clearance fell for DANNY BUTTLE, who controlled it before finding the back of the net.

Bamber responded with a long throw into the penalty area from the right wing but Rob Zand was positive in collecting the ball safely. Brigg threatened down the left wing with Danny Buttle delivering another telling ball across the face of the goal and Jordan Thewliss won a corner kick on the right but this was cleared. 

Finding plenty of space on the left wing, Jordan Thewliss  struck another shot at goal just over the bar. Bamber slowly got into the game and won a left wing corner from a long free kick into the penalty area from which Phil Doughty headed past the upright post when well placed. Danny Buttle was substituted with an injury after seventeen minutes of play, being replaced by Elliot Broughton, who was soon in action with a run down the left wing and a good cross into the goal area which was headed clear.  

Bamber’s main threat came from Lennie Reid on the left wing and also from his long throws into the Brigg penalty area. 

The equalising goal came after twenty-seven minutes from a left wing attack and Lennie Reid delivered a great cross for MARK BUCHAN to use the pace of the ball to send a looping header into the roof of the net. Five minutes later Lennie Reid got another shot on target but this was well saved at close range by Rob Zand.  

Lennie Reid continued to cause a few problems, winning a corner kick but this was well defended. The ball was played quickly up the pitch down the left wing where Elliot Broughton controlled it before working his way towards goal, being brought down by Greg Johnstone in the area for a penalty kick. 

Ryan Paczkowski took the spot kick but blasted the ball over the cross bar for the last action of the first half.

Bamber started the second half on the offensive winning an immediate right wing corner kick which was kicked off the Brigg goal line but then played straight back in before being cleared into touch. Continuing to press, Bamber won another corner kick on the left after Ollie Fisher was forced to head clear. 

In the early stages of the second half, the visitors looked the more likely to gain the initiative and almost took the lead after Rob Zand mis-judged a high ball but it was scrambled clear again.  Rob Zand produced another good save from a fierce close range shot and the Brigg back four played particularly well with Michael Jacklin and Scott Hellewell commanding at the heart of the defence. 

Brigg regained the lead after seventy-five minutes from a set piece right wing corner kick delivered to the far post by Scott Matthews for SCOTT HELLEWELL to meet with a header into the top corner of the net back across the goal. Clearly encouraged by this success, Brigg took control of the remaining fifteen minutes and created good chances to increase the lead but goalkeeper Lee Dovey made two good diving saves to deny Ryan Paczkowski and substitute Phil Jackman after neat build up play.

BRIGG TOWN:   Zand, Fisher, Matthews, Bowsley, Hellewell, Jacklin, Zuerner, Dickens,             Paczkowski, Thewliss, Buttle;  Subs:     Jackman (70), Ashton (87) and Broughton (17) for Zuerner, Thewliss, and Buttle;  Grimes and Iggleden not used

Attendance:   71.

Brigg now face Frickley Athletic away in two weeks’ time in the First Qualifying round but first have to travel for their league fixture against Market Drayton Town this coming Saturday.