FA TROPHY - PADIHAM 4 BRIGG TOWN 2

MATCH REPORT BY BOB TAYLOR

Brigg lost in  the replay game of the F.A. Trophy Competition game away at Padiham (Burnley) in a good, well fought contest, which unfortunately ended with a couple of critical decisions going against them in the last few minutes.

With a slight slop in their advantage for the first half, Brigg were first on the offensive with Elliot Broughton forcing home ‘keeper into a low save. The home team responded and took the lead after just four minutes when BRETT OMEROD was at the near post to turn Jay Hart’s right wing cross into the net. Jay Hart looked particularly dangerous in possession of the ball and tested Jody Barford with another shot on target but Brigg were unlucky when Anthony Bowsley’s long range shot hit the upright and bounced clear. However, Brigg were back on level terms after seventeen minutes when LEIGH HUTCHINSON found the back of the net after Dan Kingsley won the ball in mid-field and set up a cross from the left wing. Brett Omerod should have restored the lead five minutes later when he was played through the middle with only Jody Barford to beat but the Brigg ‘keeper spread himself well to make a telling save. After that let off, BRETT OMEROD made no mistake in the twenty seventh minute when he was in the right place again to find the corner of the net from another right wing cross from Jay Hart. Brigg again responded well but Dan Kingsley’s shot was easily saved and the home team created a couple more chances, the first being a shot from Jay Hart saved by Jody Barford and the second  being a shot across the face of the goal from Ben Allen after a defensive mistake.

The second half saw Brigg getting more possession of the ball and switching it across the pitch well and an equalising goal came in the sixty-eighth minute when ANTHONY BOWSLEY got forward to head Danny Buttle’s left wing cross into the top corner. The game was up for grabs and could have gone either way but the home team scored again two minutes from time when BRETT OMEROD completed his hat trick. Brigg appealed strongly for a foul challenge against Joe Lightowler, which won the ball but left the player injured on the pitch before the vital cross was delivered. The referee over-ruled and the goal stood. Still, Brigg pushed to get back on level terms and won a corner kick in the first minute of added time. Jody Barford advanced into the opponents’ penalty area and got a header into the goal area, which was clearly handled by the central defender but again the referee ruled in favour of the home team. The ball was knocked out of the area and substitute ROBBIE BROMLEY took aim at the empty Brigg goal from the half way line and the ball slowly trickled into the back of the net for the last action of the game.

A long trip across the Pennines in mid-week at peak traffic period with a depleted team proved to be just too much, - but the players who represented the club on the evening all did well.

BRIGG TOWN: Barford, Wright, Kingston, Bowsley, Cooper , McKay, Broughton, Palmer, Kingsley Jnr, Hutchinson, Buttle. Subs: Lightowler for Broughton (55);

Attendance:    116.