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Home > Archive > 2006-07 Season > Match Reports > Kidsgrove Athletic (02.12.06)

2006-2007 Season

Match Reports

Bamber Bridge 2 Kidsgrove Athletic 1

Northern Premier League 1st Division

at Irongate

Saturday 2nd December 2006

By Dave Rowland

Desperate for points to bolster their sagging fortunes in the First Division, Bamber Bridge won their seventh league game of the season, overcoming their Staffordshire hosts 2-1 in this finely contested encounter at the Irongate Ground. Two second-half strikes by Karl Noon were enough to settle matters for the Lancastrians after Kidsgrove Athletic had taken the lead in the first-half.

After eliminating Premier Division opponents in the League Challenge Cup during the week both sides were hoping to convert their successful cup form into attaining points in the league. Fourth-from-bottom Kidsgrove Athletic, who have nine games in hand on their Lancashire hosts, were looking to keep in touch with the mid-table pack after having won just one of their last six games in the First Division. Brig were hoping to avenge the single goal defeat suffered at Hollinswood Close earlier in the season.

Bamber Bridge boss Andy Whittaker welcomed the return of suspended pair, skipper Jamie Squires and Ryan Salmon to the fold although, leading marksman Alex Porter was absent owing to a three match ban imposed for his dismissal in the recent game against league leaders Buxton. Tom Ince took Porter’s place on the left wing.

Both sides showed a great deal of passion and endeavour in the opening period and Bamber Bridge were unlucky not to have gone ahead on 15 minutes when Mike Fletcher’s header struck the crossbar.

The visitors took the lead on 20 minutes when Stephen Jones fed Michael Lennon down the left of midfield. Lennon launched forward, brushing aside two tackles before pushing his shot neatly past Brig goalkeeper David Newnes.

The goal inspired Kidsgrove who began to threaten the home defence with some penetrating football but the woodwork again came to their aid on 35 minutes when Brig striker Ryan Salmon saw his well placed effort defeat goalkeeper Matthew Conkie but come back off the goalpost.

Despite this scare the Staffordshire boys were calling all the shots and Bamber Bridge were having to defend desperately and were glad to see out the rest of the first-half without conceding any further goals. Grove’s strong physical, but fair approach play troubled the Brig youngsters and the visitors were well served by pacy wingman Mark Carrington and the skilful hard working Jones.

The second-period was a complete contrast to the first 45 minutes as the South Ribble side came out with all guns blazing. Indeed, it took them only three minutes to equalise.

Brig centre-back Allen Fleming headed a Conkie clearance straight back into the danger zone following a crisp attack by the home side and Noon was first to react smacking his shot on the half-volley past the stranded Conkie after 48 minutes.

The goal gave Bamber Bridge just the lift they needed and it was now the turn of the visitors to do some desperate defending. Gone was the slick fluency displayed by Kidsgrove in the first period as Bamber Bridge got down to business playing with renewed determination. It was little surprise therefore, when the home team got their noses in front on 66 minutes.

A mix-up in the Kidsgrove defence saw Aiden Matranga almost head into his own net with the ball being only partially cleared. Noon was lurking inside the box to take advantage and he headed home from close range with the Kidsgrove defence all over the place for his second of the afternoon.

Bamber Bridge were now well in control and nearly increased their lead on three occasions late on with two fine efforts by Salmon and a well struck free-kick by Steve Brown which was palmed over by the agile Conkie.

Fletcher then saw his fine effort fly narrowly wide after 79 minutes as the Staffordshire side wilted.

After looking in trouble at half-time Bamber Bridge deservedly collected all three points after a battling second-half display.

Bamber Bridge: Newnes, Myers, Archer, Squires, Fleming, Fletcher, S Brown, Mahoney, Noon, Salmon, Ince. Unused Subs: Roberts, Edmeads, Spencer

Goals: Noon (48, 66 mins)

Attendance: 159