RAINWORTH V BRIGG TOWN FC MATCH SUMMARY, OCTOBER 28

MATCH REPORT BY BOB TAYLOR

This was almost a repeat of the performance at Padiham the previous week with Brigg well in the game and actually leading up to the last seven minutes before surrendering this advantage and then folding to concede two more goals in the last three minutes.

The home team started with plenty of confidence and within the first minute a right wing cross was kicked off the goal line. Then after a free kick from thirty five yards out flew over Jody Barford’s cross bar, Tommy Hannigan struck another shot from a right wing cross just past the post. Continuing to attack the Brigg goal, Jamie Brown turned neatly inside the penalty area but was caught off-side. Despite this early onslaught, Brigg took the lead after seven minutes when ELLIOT BROUGHTON won possession on the right wing and ran at the home defenders before striking a shot into the corner of the net from twenty yards out. Brigg had a good chance to double the score when minutes later, Danny Buttle delivered a cross along the six yard line but the ball was cleared. Jody Barford pulled off a good diving save to maintain the lead but the Wrens were level on the half hour mark when the Brigg defenders failed to clear a harmless looking ball inside the penalty area and CRAIG MITCHELL struck a sweet shot into the back of the net.  The immediate response came from Joe Lightowler, who forced home ‘keeper Liam Roberts into a good save but Brigg were back in front seven minutes later when LAURENCE McKAY converted following a left wing corner kick. Jody Barford had to get down quickly,  smothering the ball on his goal line just before the break.

The Wrens started the second half as brightly as they had done in the first. Two attempts from the right wing went close to getting them back level but Brigg then began to look dangerous on counter attacks with Elliot Broughton being closely marked. The deciding moment in the game came half way through the second half when Leigh Hutchinson ran clear on the left into the penalty area and struck a shot which hit the inside of the far upright before bouncing back across the goal area into the arms of ‘keeper Liam Roberts.  Brigg continued to weather the increasing home attacks where height advantage of the home forwards was important.  Then with seven minutes remaining, a harmless looking bouncing ball into Jody Barford’s goal area saw the Brigg keeper only able to get a fingertip to the ball and it landed in the top of the net to level the score. The initiative swung completely to the home team and with three minutes remaining, they were awarded a free kick near the half way line, pumped into the Brigg goal area and met by ALEX FORD to put the Wrens ahead. Brigg’s misery was completed in added time when everyone surged forward for a left wing corner kick awarded to them, which was cleared out of the penalty area and booted up the pitch for substitute AARON RICHARDS to run free to score an easy fourth and humiliating goal.

BRIGG TOWN:  Barford, Wright, Kingston, Bowsley, Martin, McKay, Broughton, Taylor, Lightowler, Hutchinson, Buttle. Subs: Hewson, Palmer, Southern, Jackman, Zand. - none used