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Home > Archive > 2006-07 Season > Match Reports > Alsager Town (05.09.06)

2006-2007 Season

Match Reports

Bamber Bridge 2 Alsager Town 2

Northern Premier League 1st Division

at Irongate

Tuesday 5th September 2006

By Dave Rowland

A vastly improved performance by Bamber Bridge last night saw them doggedly grind out a respectable draw against Unibond newcomers Alsager Town despite being reduced to ten men for the last 20 minutes of the game.

Alsager Town are one of four promoted clubs that Bamber Bridge have played in their opening five First Division fixtures this term. The men from Cheshire came to Irongate on a high having won three of their first four games this season and were sitting comfortably in third place in the table. On Saturday they had disposed of North West Counties League Second Division side Cheadle Town by a handsome 6-0 in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup. Cheadle had knocked Brig out of the competition at the same stage twelve months previously.

The home side were eager to get back on track following the Bank Holiday defeat at Skelmersdale United and were keen to redeem themselves after their humiliating elimination from the FA Cup last Saturday at Northern League minnows Spennymoor Town.

Manager Andy Whittaker made four changes including the introduction of two new faces signed recently from Barrow, defenders Kevin Brown and James Archer. Archer replaced flu victim Jimmy King at left-back and Brown took over from the injured Jamie Squires. Mike Fletcher was preferred to Dave Woodruff in midfield with Allan Fleming moving over from full-back to replace Ross Bain in central defence.

Brig opened the game looking like they were still suffering from a hangover after the debacle at Spennymoor on the previous Saturday as the slick visitors began with a flurry of activity which flattered to deceive, their early forays lacking penetration.

The first real moment of danger for the home side came on 8 minutes when Alsager wingman Andy Parkinson tested Brig goalkeeper David Newnes with a blockbuster from 20 yards out but Newnes made a brilliant diving save.

Bamber Bridge had made a hesitant start to the game and were further unsettled on 13 minutes when the visitors took the lead. Alsager’s early endeavours were rewarded when former Chorley midfielder Stuart Tulloch put Chris Budrys through to the right of goal. The big centre-forward easily brushed past a weak challenge by Fleming and beat Newnes at the near post to put his side in front.

The Cheshire side continued to play open attractive football and well rehearsed long throw-ins by Glyn Blackhurst caused all sorts of problems for the home defence. They came very close to adding to their score on 25 minutes when a Joe Gibiliru snap shot flew narrowly past Newnes left hand post with the Brig keeper beaten.

Despite the promise being shown by the visitors Brig remained resilient and were well served at the back by newcomers Kevin Brown and Archer and with the copious work-rate displayed by Alex Porter and Neil Reynolds in midfield. Indeed, their efforts nearly paid off in the 35th minute when a Brickell shot was blocked by Alsager captain Steve Elks after a Kevin Brown cross was flicked on by Ryan Salmon.

However, the visitors remained on top and a free-kick by Parkinson brought the best out in Newnes who was at full stretch to keep the effort out.

Brig finished the first half with a flurry with Brickell and Porter causing all sorts of problems for the Alsager defence.

Bamber Bridge came out on the offensive after the break and Salmon shot wide with a half-chance after a head-on by Steve Brown found him in space.

The home team now began to dictate the pace and the visitor’s first-half rhythm appeared to have alluded them. It was now the turn of Town goalkeeper Phil McGing to earn his corn and this he did to deny, first Brickell, and then Porter with full length saves. Bamber Bridge were not to be kept at bay for long and scored two goals within as many minutes.

Porter won the ball in midfield and sent in a long raking pass which caught out the Alsager defence. Tom Ince, who had just come on for Brickell, nipped in at the far post and somehow scrambled the ball past McGing for his third goal of the season in the 68th minute.

Within two minutes Brig deservedly got there noses in front when Substitute Karl Noon fed Salmon who cut in-between two defenders and unleashed an unstoppable shot from 25 yards which zipped in past McGing’s despairing right hand and the upright.

Just when things looked rosy for the homesters Fletcher was sent-off after receiving a second yellow card for kicking an opponent in the 74th minute.

The screws were now turned in favour of the visitors and they took full advantage. Fleming came to the rescue for Brig just in time to deny Budrys who was through on goal and within a couple of minutes they had drawn level.

Substitute Steve Grocott found Paul Macari lurking on the edge of the penalty area and the striker thundered a fine shot in off the underside of the crossbar for the best goal of the night on 78 minutes.

Despite this set-back Bamber Bridge immediately went in search of the winner with the type of creative determination that had been so sadly lacking in Saturdays FA Cup tie in County Durham.

Inevitably, this left gaps at the back and Tom Ince proved to be the hero of the night when he ran back to help out in defence and hacked the ball off the goal-line after a last minute Budrys flick looked certain to be on its way into the net.

Bamber Bridge: Newnes, Myers, Archer, Fleming, K Brown, Fletcher, S Brown (Noon 59mins), Reynolds, Salmon, Brickell (Ince 66mins), Porter. Unused Sub: Woodruff

Goals: Ince (68 mins), Salmon (70 mins)

Attendance: 111