NORTON UNITED 7 BRIGG TOWN FC 4

MATCH REPORT BY BOB TAYLOR

Brigg had a three goal cushion lead after an hour’s play but then conceded six goals in the last quarter of the game to be well beaten again.

Joe Lumsden was introduced for his first game leading the attack and did well. With a strong wind in their favour for the first half, Brigg enjoyed plenty of possession but the home team looked more threatening with their attacks. Rob Zand missed a pass back that went just past his post and a shot from Chris Baker skimmed the crossbar. Then after fifteen minutes of play, Joe Lightowler was injured with a fractured cheek bone after a challenge for the ball against the home ‘keeper, adding to a lengthening injury list. Norton took the lead ten minutes later when PAUL TAYLOR got forward to convert after a free kick was not properly cleared from the penalty area. Brigg bounced back immediately and equalised from a penalty kick awarded for a foul against Timmy Taylor. ANTHONY BOWSLEY   fired the spot kick into the roof of the net. Three minutes later. TIMOTHY TAYLOR   struck a powerful shot into the back of the net from eighteen yards out after a brisk right wing move to give Brigg a slender half time lead.

Against the wind for the second half, Brigg added two more goals in the first fifteen minutes. The first of these came from another penalty kick by ANTHONY BOWSLEY after home keeper Chris Fletcher deliberately brought down Joe Lumsden but was only punished with a caution. Then ELLIOT BROUGHTON scored the fourth goal after an hour’s play. The home team were given an immediate way back with a harsh penalty award against Steve Cooper, THOMAS WINKLE driving the spot kick past Rob Zand. Four minutes later, PAUL TAYLOR reduced the deficit to a single goal when he headed home from a long throw into the penalty area. The impetus had switched completely in the home team’s favour and they drew level after seventy eight minutes when MICHAEL LENNON found the net from a left wing corner kick. Worse followed within a minute when substitute LEE CROPPER   followed up a shot which Rob Zand failed to hold. Two more goals came in the last five minutes from MICHAEL LENNON and JON BEAUMONT to leave Brigg completely stunned.

Brigg Town: Zand, Wright, Martin, Bowsley, Cooper, Palmer, Southern, Taylor,                           Lumsden, Lightowler, Broughton. Substitute:  Nathan Plumtree (15) for Joe Lightowler.

Attendance: 123.