Sunday, January 12, 2014

BRIGG TOWN FC 2 HALESOWEN TOWN 2 - EVO-STIK FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH



REPORT FROM BOB TAYLOR AT THE HAWTHORNS

Brigg Town included Joshua Nichol in their starting line-up against top of the table Halesowen Town and Danny Buttle replaced the unavailable Elliot Broughton on the left wing.
The visitors looked determined from the kick off with a right wing attack resulting in a dangerous cross, which Thomas Tonks met with a first time shot over the cross bar. Brigg immediately responded with Danny Buttle able to get the ball through to Paul Grimes inside the penalty area but his shot was blocked. Then another fierce shot from Paul Grimes went over Matthew Sargeant’s cross bar. The vastly experienced Iyseden Chrisstie made a telling run to the goal line on the left but the ball was cleared. Scott Matthews delivered a long free kick from the half way line into the penalty area but the ball floated out of play at the far post. The visitors went close to opening the score when a long right wing throw was met by central defender Joseph Hull’s looping header just past the post. The opening goal came just after half an hour of play after the referee awarded a hotly disputed left wing corner kick on the left. The ball was partially cleared from the penalty area but knocked back in for BEN HASELEY to run free before guiding it into the back of the net. Within five minutes, Thomas Tonks cracked another shot against the cross bar following a cross from the right wing. Brigg survived this spell of pressure and levelled the score-line in the fortieth minute when OLIVER FISHER made a strong forward run and struck a left foot shot into the corner of the net from fifteen yards out. Then in the next minute, Halesowen regained the lead. The ball was played into the Brigg goal area and Jake Turner tried to gather it on the ground ahead of Iyseden Christie’s low challenge but BEN HASELEY got a foot to it to knock it into the empty net from six yards out. In the last minute of the first half, Thomas Tonks was cautioned for a late challenge before the visitors went in a goal ahead at the break.
At th start of the second half, George Zuerney got a foot to the ball in front of goal but had no strength in his shot to beat Matthew Sargeant. Paul Ashton gave another great performance in mid field for Brigg and sent a long range shot over the bar following a patient inter-passing build up. Play was end to end and from a right wing free kick, Ben Haseley whipped a shot across the face of Jake Turner’s goal. Brigg replied with Danny Buttle crossing the ball from the left wing for Paul Grimes to strike a scissor kick over the bar from inside the penalty area. With Brigg still chasing the game for a result, Halesowen were reduced to ten men after eighty minutes when Thomas Tonks received a second caution for another late challenge from behind.  From the free kick, Paul Grimes’ fierce shot was tipped over the bar by Matthew Sargeant.  After eighty three minutes, Brigg were back level after a beautifully weighted through ball into the penalty area by Paul Grimes allowed JOSHUA NICHOL the chance to slide it into the corner of the net from twelve yards out. For the remaining seven minutes, Brigg held the initiative and went close to winning all three points when Jordan Thewliss had a goal bound shot well saved by Matthew Sargeant  but the visitors showed why they are at the head of the league table and they defended their goal well right up to the end of the game.
Brigg Town: Turner, Fisher, Matthews, Zuerner, Hellewell, Jacklin, Ashton, Nichol, Grimes, Thewliss, Buttle. Subs: William Peers for Danny Buttle (70); Bowsley, McDonagh, Oxby and Zand not used.
Attendance:    142
Next Saturday, Brigg have another home fixture when Sheffield  will provide the opposition, but on Wednesday evening they travel to Cleethorpes Town for a County Cup game.

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