LEEK TOWN 4 BRIGG TOWN FC 1 - EVO-STIK LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH

LEEK TOWN v BRIGG TOWN MATCH REPORT BY BOB TAYLOR

The game was played on a dreadful surface, which continued to deteriorate throughout the game but the home team adapted well and had the points virtually secured by half time. Jack Bowskin made a promising debut in the Brigg Town defence, replacing the badly injured Ollie Fisher from the previous week’s game.

Leek started well and were soon on the offensive, winning dangerous free kicks down both wings in the opening minutes but these were cleared. Then on a quick break down the right wing Tim Grice set up John Johnston for the first clear chance but his shot was wide of the post. Brigg responded with Joshua Nichol finding Jordan Thewliss in a good position to fire a shot over Ben Chapman’s goal.     Rob Zand had to be sharp off his goal line to clear the ball from Jordan Johnson but the first goal came from a left wing corner in the eleventh minute from NIALL MAGUIRE who was unmarked to head in at the far top corner of the net. This early set back clearly unsettled the Brigg defence and a second goal was scored after twenty-one minutes when TIM GRICE  fired a low shot from the edge of the area into the bottom corner of the net  after a quick through ball found him unmarked. A long clearance from Rob Zand down the length of the pitch found Jordan Thewliss hitting a first time shot at goal but pushed out by ‘keeper Ben Chapman. A free kick from Leek’s Dan Shelley found Ryan Dicker striking another shot at Brigg’s goal just wide but a third goal came after thirty-eight minutes when the ball was worked inside from the left wing past two defenders for TIM GRICE  to rifle it into the net from close distance out. In the last minute of the half, Leek were awarded a harsh penalty kick for a handling offence but Rob Zand dived to save well.

The second half showed Brigg still had some fighting spirit and they won more possession of the ball in mid field but Leek missed out with a glorious chance to further increase the lead when John Johnston fired over an open goal. Elliott Broughton replaced Jason Flint after fifty-eight minutes and was soon into the action setting up JOSHUA NICHOL with a forward pass to fire into the back of the net and create a slight glimmer of hope. Unfortunately, that disappeared within five minutes when MATT BELL’S right wing corner kick into the goal area went straight into the net for a fourth goal. The match was over with Leek able to sit comfortably on their three goal advantage but before the close, Danny Buttle did find Joshua Nichol with a left wing cross headed just wide.

Brigg Town: Zand, Bowskin, Matthews, Zuerner, Hellewell, Jacklin, Flint, Ashton, Nichol, Thewliss, Buttle. Subs: Peers and  Broughton (58) for Flint. - Forrest not used.

Attendance:  211

On Saturday, Brigg will be at home to Kidsgrove Athletic at The Hawthorns.