BRIGG TOWN FC 2 KIDSGROVE ATHLETIC 1 - EVO-STIK LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH

MATCH REPORT BY BOB TAYLOR

The strong wind blowing down the pitch favoured Brigg in the first half but made it difficult to control the ball and contributed to the poor standard of play. Brigg enjoyed   more possession of the ball in the first half and began with an attack down the left wing but Danny Buttle’s cross was carried out of play. Then a free kick by Liam Dickens from outside the penalty area was headed clear.The visitors’ had to make an early substitution  after twenty minutes to  replace the injured Shane Reaney and he quickly won a right wing corner kick, which was cleared from the goal area. Brigg won another free kick just over the half way line on the right and Scott Matthews delivered a long ball into the penalty area which bounced awkwardly just  past the far upright post. Liam Dickens struck two free kicks from a central position outside the penalty area high over the cross bar and into the adjacent field. The visitors produced their best move of the first half when Matt Hadrell worked his way to the goal line and pulled the ball back for Jordan Johnson to strike a shot into the side netting but there was no score at half time after a poor and tentative first half.

Kidsgrove started better in the second half and a long goal kick from Daniel Read into the Brigg penalty area caught Matt Hadrell off-side. Then ex Scunthorpe United player Wayne Corden struck a free kick from twenty-five yards out just over the cross bar, following this up with an in-swinging right wing corner kick which was headed clear. Brigg’s best move came after Michael Jacklin won the ball outside the ‘Grove penalty area and slipped it forward for Paul Ashton to send a cross into the penalty area for Joshua Nichol to head wide.  Elliot Broughton replaced Danny Buttle after sixty-two minutes and was involved in the build- up to the opening goal twelve minutes later when he made a forward run into the ‘Grove half and worked the ball to Joshua Nichol, who then slipped it into the path of PAUL ASHTON to run free before beating Daniel Read with his shot into the bottom of the net. Ten minutes later, Brigg scored again after breaking up the pitch quickly from a goal mouth scramble after the ball had struck Jake Turner’ cross bar. JORDAN THEWLISS made a penetrating run  from his own half into the opponents’ penalty area before taking a rebound to find the back of the net. With just a minute of the game remaining, Kidsgrove central defender Nick Woods was sent off for retaliation against Jordan Thewliss but from the free kick awarded to the visitors, the ball was played from the right touch line into the penalty area where JORDAN JOHNSON found plenty of space to head it into the back of Jake Turner’s goal.  

Kidsgrove surged forward in an effort to win a point from the game but Brigg held on to secure the three points,  which lifts them up the league table.

Brigg Town:  Turner, Bowskin, Matthews, Dickens, Hellewell, Jacklin, Ashton, Peers,      Nichol, Thewliss, Buttle Subs:    Broughton (62) and Bowsley (67) for Buttle and Peers;   Zand not used.

Attendance:    101.