NEWCASTLE TOWN 3 BRIGG TOWN FC 3 - EVO-STIK LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH

MATCH REPORT BY BOB TAYLOR

Rob Zand was recalled in goal for Brigg's away game at Newcastle (Stoke) and Josh Nichol returned to partner Jamie Barnwell-Edinboro in the attack. Brigg played well in the first half and created more chances  than their hosts without being able to convert any.  From the kick off, Paul Ashton got the ball down the left wing to Danny Buttle but his attempted cross was too deep and out of play. Then Jamie Edinboro chased a through ball into the penalty area but goalkeeper Joseph Mellor was off his line quickly to clear. The home team's first attack saw Ricky Bridge getting forward on the left wing to send a cross past the post. When the same player was penalised for a foul against Jamie Edinboro, Scott Matthews played a dangerous free kick into the goal area but this was well saved and then cleared by an off-side decision. 'Castle responded again with Neville Thompson winning a right wing corner kick, cleared with a counter attack down the left wing for Danny Buttle to deliver another cross into the penalty area. On the half hour, Will Peers got forward to send a thirty yard shot past the top angle of the goal and Paul Ashton made a strong run from mid-field before hitting a shot wide of the upright. Brigg enjoyed their best spell of the game in the last twenty minutes of the first half with further efforts from Paul Ashton and Scott Matthews going close to opening the score. Then ten minutes from the half time whistle, 'Castle's James Askey was shown a red card for off the ball aggression.
 Playing against ten men in the second half, Brigg lost control of the game and went behind after fifty-two minutes following a long throw from the right wing to the far side of the goal area where NEVILLE THOMPSON was in the right place to knock a loose ball into the back of Rob Zand's goal. Six minutes later, 'Castle added to their lead when JORDAN COLE  drove a low shot into the corner of the net after the ball was played in to him from the right wing. The match appeared to be all over after sixty-six minutes when the ten man home team grabbed a gifted third goal, NEVILLE THOMPSON netting again after Jack Bowskin was left injured on the floor. With Matthew Muldoon and Jason Flint introduced for the last twenty minutes of the game, Brigg pushed further forward and reduced the arrears with seven minutes of play remaining. Danny Buttle began to get more space and time to deliver telling crosses and JASON FLINT  headed home Brigg's first goal at the far post. Two minutes later, Elliot Broughton fed the ball to Danny Buttle to send another cross into the goal area which was turned into the home net by a defender under pressure from ELLIOT BROUGHTON. As the game moved into six minutes of added time, Brigg grabbed a dramatic equalising third goal when DANNY BUTTLE found the back of the net from close range earning a precious point from the game, which moves them up the league table.
Brigg Town:  Zand, Peers, Matthews, Bowsley, Hellewell, Bowskin, Broughton, Ashton, Barnwell-Edinboro, Nichol, Buttle. Subs:  Muldoon(68) for Bowskin. Flint (62) for Barnwell-Edinboro.
Attendance:    52.
This Saturday:  Brigg  Town are at home to Bedworth United at The Hawthorns.