BRIGG TOWN FC STILL ON THE ROAD TO WEMBLEY

Brigg Town FC drew 1-1 at Carlton Town yesterday in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup. The replay will be on Tuesday night (Sept 17) at the Hawthorns (7.45pm KO). 


MATCH REPORT BY BOB TAYLOR
Paul Ashton returned for the unavailable Will Peers for this First Qualifying Round of the F.A. Cup. Brigg attacked first down the left wing but goalkeeper Martin Kearney collected the final ball into his goal area comfortably. Then Jamie Coulson forced the ‘keeper into a good diving save, turning the ball past his upright post. Liam Dickens was cautioned in the third minute for his first tackle of the game, but immediately afterwards, Paul Grimes received a facial injury from a high kick. Brigg continued to press and a throw from the left wing was moved into the penalty area for Paul Grimes to pursue but Martin Ball pulled him back and a penalty kick was awarded. Martin Kearney dived to save well from the spot kick by Paul Grimes. Carlton began to settle and win more of the ball and a quick right wing break was blocked. Then Daniel Fletcher made a strong win down the other wing but Sammy McVicar’s final strike on the ball lacked power enabling Dan Waring to gather the ball low down. Josh Thornton won a corner kick for the Millers on the right wing but Dan Waring collected the high ball into the penalty area comfortably. Brigg responded with Liam Dickens forcing his way down the middle of the pitch and passing the ball on for Paul Grimes to send a fierce shot over the bar. The home team took the lead four minutes from half time following a soft free kick awarded outside the Brigg penalty area. MARTIN BALL was in the right position in front of goal to force the ball into the back of the net after Dan Waring had pushed the free kick on to the cross bar and it rebounded into his path.  The first half closed with a free kick at the other end of the pitch hit wide by Anthony Bowsley.
Brigg started well in the second half and scored an equalising goal two minutes into it. PAUL GRIMES was able to get a shot at goal from ten yards out after Chas Fisher’s left wing throw was knocked across the penalty area and his shot found the corner of the net. The Millers responded with another right wing attack and cross allowing Daniel Fletcher the opportunity to strike a shot past the top angle of the goal from thirty yards out. Brigg almost snatched the lead when a loose ball in the penalty area was seized by Jamie Coulson, whose final shot went just past the upright. Martin Kearney in the home goal was struggling with an earlier injury but did well to save a free kick by Liam Dickens from twenty-five yards out in a central position. Both teams searched for a winning goal and another free kick from Paul Grimes was well covered by Martin Kearney but the home team missed out on a golden opportunity to win the game when the ball was played across the penalty area from the right wing to the unmarked substitute Blair Anderson, who struck a firm low shot past the upright from fifteen yards out
The replay is at Brigg on Tuesday evening. Then, on Saturday afternoon, the team makes the long journey to Halesowen Town in the Birmingham district.
Brigg Town team at Carlton:  Waring, Fisher, Matthews, Bowsley, Hellewell, Jacklin, Ashton, Dickens, Grimes, Coulson, Snow. Substitutes: Thewliss, Wright and Barrett for Snow, Bowsley, and Dickens; Zand, Broughton and Southern not used.

Attendance:  69.