2006-2007 SeasonMatch Reports
Bamber Bridge 4 Skelmersdale United 1
Northern Premier League 1st Division
at Irongate
Monday 1st January 2007
By Joe Marchant
The Brig revival under caretaker manager Phil Entwistle
continues to gather momentum after seeing off first footers
Skelmersdale United in a keenly fought Lancashire derby
at Irongate.
The visitors began the game two places and one point better
off than the hosts having played four games less. Whilst
Brig were drawing at Goole on Saturday, Skem's home match
against Harrogate Railway Athletic was postponed due to
a waterlogged pitch. Unlike Brig, Skem were victorious on
Boxing Day having beaten Warrington Town 3-1 at the Ashley
Travel Stadium.
The Brig side showed two enforced changes from the side
that started at Goole. Injury victims Jamie Squires and
Mike Fletcher were replaced by Tom Ince and Ryan Salmon
as Brig lined-up in a more familiar 4-4-2 formation. Alex
Porter wore the captain's armband in the absence of Squires.
Three youngsters were on the bench. Neither Stuart Horn
nor Chris Gallagher had made their first team bow in competitive
action.
An early misplaced pass let in Craig Noone but his lofted
attempt was safely collected by keeper David Newnes who
was kept busy shortly afterwards cutting out a left wing
cross from John Cass.
Following a foul on himself, Danny Mahoney had Brig's first
serious attempt in the eighth minute but his 30-yard free-kick
was just the wrong side of the far post.
Brig took the lead after 11 minutes. Ince was fouled a couple
of yards outside the box and ALEX PORTER curled a wonderful
free-kick over the wall and into the bottom right corner
of the net.
Worrying moments for Brig as Allan Fleming needed treatment
for a head knock but he was able to resume.
Brig put together a good move in the sixteenth minute when
Ince in midfield fed the ball out wide right to Salmon and
his cross was controlled by Porter for Neil Spencer to have
a shot that took a deflection for a corner.
Skem tried a short corner routine in the 21st minute that
almost paid off. Mark Byrne exchanged passes with Noone
and fired his shot wide of the near post.
Brig doubled their lead on the half hour with a superb strike.
Salmon won a throw almost level with the Skem penalty area.
James Archer's throw found ALEX PORTER on the touchline
who belted a shot straight into the top corner at the far
post giving visiting keeper Tim McCormick no chance as the
ball seared past him. Had it been scored in the Premiership
- it would be screened every five minutes and Andy Gray's
head would be spinning like a plate on top of a stick as
he raved in awe over it.
The game took a feisty turn following a Skelmersdale stamp
on Rob Myers. The villain was fortunate to remain on the
pitch. Thankfully tempers cooled shortly afterwards.
Brig were enjoying the lion's share of the play and almost
extended their lead in the 35th minute. A Porter corner
was flicked on by Spencer and Mahoney's overhead kick unluckily
went straight to McCormick.
Less than a minute later Ince put Spencer through one-on-one
against McCormick who beat out the striker's shot. The rebound
fell to Ince whose attempted lob hit Spencer and looped
harmlessly to the relieved keeper.
The first half ended with Brig still on the attack and Salmon
shot into the side netting after the ball broke kindly to
him in the area. Ince then curled a shot after Spencer created
the opening but McCormick pulled off a good save to deny
the young Brig winger.
Neither side made any changes and it was Skem who had the
better of the exchanges as the second half got underway.
They put Brig under some sustained pressure without actually
creating any clearcut opportunities. It was all hands to
the pump and the new found spirit of this Brig side shone
through. Some inspired defending and a little bit of luck
with a couple of sliced clearances kept the visitors at
bay.
On the hour mark Ince lifted a high ball over for Salmon
to run onto but McCormick came dashing out and booted it
to safety.
Matty Jones tried his luck from distance and his effort
dipped just over the bar.
McCormick's long goal-kick went straight to Noone wide right,
he cut in and Newnes collected low down by his near post.
Skelmersdale took a gamble on 67 minutes and made a triple
substitution.
Brig enjoyed a major slice of good fortune after a calamitous
free-kick went wrong and Skem broke at speed through Noone.
He released substitute Carl Osman who failed to take advantage
of the opportunity.
Salmon surged past Jones and made his way into the penalty
area, sidestepped a couple of defenders but agonisingly
sent his shot past the far post.
George Melling saved Brig with a fine interception after
Noone who was having a lively second half crossed for Ian
Price to head to Adam Birchall. Melling's intervention came
at the expense of a corner.
Skem pulled the goal back they deserved on 75 minutes. Noone's
cross was headed home by CARL OSMAN whose brother Leon found
the net for Everton against Manchester City a couple of
hours earlier.
Brig regained their two goal advantage two minutes later.
McCormick's goal-kick was firmly headed back upfield by
Fleming. Spencer's presence on the edge of the box unsettled
the Skem defence and his touch allowed RYAN SALMON a shot
past the keeper.
Horn came on to make his debut replacing the injured Archer
after 80 minutes.
Brig's fourth came after 82 minutes following a handball
by Mike Douglas some 25 yards out left of centre. ALEX PORTER
stepped up to whip the ball low into the far corner to complete
his hat-trick.
Gallagher also made his debut as he took over from Mahoney
on 88 minutes.
Despite the convincing scoreline, Skem enjoyed the better
of the second half until Brig netted the third. A good team
display where everyone contributed in some way, but the
night belonged to the hat-trick hero Alex Porter. Brig subsequently
leapfrogged Skem and rose to the dizzy heights of 15th place.
Bamber Bridge: Newnes, Myers, Archer (Horn 80mins), Fleming, Melling, Edmeads, Ince, Mahoney (Gallagher 88mins), Spencer, Salmon, Porter. Unused Sub: Campbell
Goals: Porter (11, 30, 82 mins), Salmon (77 mins)
Attendance: 173
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