BRIGG TOWN FC 0 CHASETOWN ("SCHOLARS") 0 - EVO-STIK LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH

MATCH REPORT BY BOB TAYLOR AT THE HAWTHORNS - OCTOBER 11, 2014

Brigg produced a vastly improved performance to earn a point at home against Chasetown in a keenly contested game, which neither team deserved to lose. Joe Lightowler made his home debut, replacing the injured Jamie Sherlock after half an hour of play.

Brigg began with a free kick in the third minute from Anthony Bowsley played into the visitors’ penalty area but this was well defended and headed clear. Chasetown settled quickly to play some neat football with a five man passing movement allowing Daniel Edwards to get the ball across the face of the home goal line with a left wing cross but Lee Butler’s shot at the far post was blocked. Then a sharp attack down the right wing saw another shot cleared off the goal line. Continuing to press for the opening goal, Lee Butler drove the ball wide of the top angle. Brigg began to settle more and went close with a header just past the post from a left wing corner kick. Excellent close control by Daniel Kingsley allowed him to bring the ball down and past his close marker, Leon Miles, to send a stinging shot at goal which was tipped round the post by ‘keeper John Bateman. Brigg lost the influential Jamie Sherlock with an ankle injury on the half hour mark and he had to be replaced by Joe Lightowler. Immediately after this, Chasetown had a great chance to open the scoring when Nicholas Wellecomme won the ball behind the Brigg defenders but his strike at goal was saved by Jody Barford, who had narrowed his shooting angle well. Two minutes from the break, Anthony Bowsley fed the ball down the left wing for Elliot Broughton to deliver a dangerous cross into the goal area , which was headed away for a corner kick. Then Joe Lightowler struck a first time shot past the top angle of the goal to send the teams in level at half time.

Chasetown created another opening five minutes after the break with Daniel Edwards missing out with his effort. 

The best opportunity of the game fell for Nicholas Wellecomme who was allowed to get past the Brigg defenders on the right wing but Jody Barford produced another point blank save to deny him. Chasetown made a double substitution after an hour of play and a poor clearance from the Brigg penalty was followed up by  good recovery defending enabling the ball to  be knocked clear. Brigg began to look sharp on the break with good attacks down both wings but the Scholars’ defence were solid and played well to restrict shooting opportunities. In the closing minutes of the game, Brigg almost won the points when a neat flick from Joe Lightowler found Will Peers surging forward to send a low shot just past the post

BRIGG TOWN:   Barford, Wright, Kingston, Bowsley, Cooper, McKay, Peers, Taylor, Sherlock, Kingley Jnr, Broughton;  subs; McCaffrey (88) for Kinsley Jnr; Lightowler (30) for Sherlock,   Southern, Jackman and Zand not used.

Attendance:    82.

Brigg travel to Bridlington on Tuesday evening to face Scarborough in a Cup fixture and then follow this up with an important home game next Saturday afternoon against Padiham  in the Preliminary Round of the F.A. Trophy competition.