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Home > Archive > 2006-07 Season > Match Reports > Woodley Sports (07.11.06)

2006-2007 Season

Match Reports

Woodley Sports 2 Bamber Bridge 1

Northern Premier League 1st Division

at Lambeth Stadium

Tuesday 7th November 2006

By Dave Rowland

Bamber Bridge suffered their 10th league defeat of the season at Lambeth Grove going down 1-2 late in the game to a workmanlike Woodley Sports on their dreadful artificial pitch. It was the South Ribble side’s fifth defeat out of their last six games in the First Division. However, they at least went some way to restoring some lost pride following a very poor performance at Belper Town on the previous Saturday.

Brig were looking to turn around a poor run of form which has seen the South Ribble side gain just three points from their last five outings in the First Division, whilst Woodley Sports were on a high following Saturdays magnificent 3-2 home win against Premier Division highfliers Whitby Town in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy.

Manager Andy Whittaker not surprisingly made four changes following the ill-fated trip to South Derbyshire at the weekend. George Melling came in for full-back James Archer who had been ruled out with a back injury. Midfielders Danny Mahoney and Steve Brown were overlooked with Paul Roberts and Tom Ince taking their places in the engine room. Neil Spencer was brought in to lead the line replacing Karl Noon who like Mahoney was named amongst the substitutes.

The game opened in lively fashion and not surprisingly the ball ping-ponged about the plastic surface like a ball baring in a pin-ball machine at an amusement arcade.

In the first minute, as Brig struggled to come to terms with the plastic monster beneath their feet, ‘Steelman’s’ winger Adam Morning fired a shot across the face of goal following an excellent cross by Gavin Salmon.

Brig responded with a couple of reasonable efforts from Greg Brickell, the second of which found the net in the 5th minute only to be ruled off-side.

However, the hosts got their noses in front after 14 minutes when the Bamber Bridge defence failed to deal adequately with a free-kick and Salmon poked the ball home through a crowded penalty area.

The Cheshire side nearly went further ahead after 20 minutes when Morning’s fine cross in from the left was completely missed at the back post by an over eager Luke Horrocks.

Brig deservedly got back on equal terms in the 27th minute. A fine build up down the left flank involving a neat interchange between Greg Brickell, Neil Spencer and Alex Porter opened up the Woodley rearguard. A home defender made a hash of clearing Porter’s cross and diminutive winger Tom Ince took full advantage firing home past the despairing dive of exposed Woodley goalkeeper Liam Higginbottom.

Porter continued to menace the Woodley defence peppering in some telling crosses which caused considerable consternation for the hosts as Brig began to call the shots. Indeed, it was becoming a fast free-flowing game with the visitors just having the edge with plenty of skill and creativity - qualities that had been in such short supply at Belper.

The visitors almost got their noses in front on 40 minutes when a delightful Ince through-ball put Spencer in on goal but after drawing Higginbottom from his line Brig’s veteran striker shot wide of goal.

At the other end Newnes was called upon to save his side diving low to cut out a reasonable effort from Salmon.

Brig went close twice in the dying moments of the first-half. First Roberts hit the crossbar with a thunderbolt from distance and then Brickell headed narrowly over from an Ince cross.

Not surprisingly the pace of the game was noticeably less frenetic after the break and Woodley began to impose their authority on proceedings. A Daniel Mario-Sergio cross was missed at the back post by Salmon with the goal at his mercy and Brig had to endure a succession of corners.

The Irongate men held firm and despite conceding most of the possession to their hosts they looked comfortable at the back. The only concern was the unmarked ‘Steelman’s’ wingman Adam Morning who was being allowed oceans of room in which to operate down Brig’s right flank.

The South Ribble side had a reasonable claim for a penalty in the 70th minute when substitute Ryan Salmon was unceremoniously bundled off the ball inside the box by two Woodley defenders, but referee Mr Hutchinson from Chester waved play on.

Former Woodley star Brickell set up Salmon again within minutes but the young striker just failed to get a touch on the ball. Porter warmed Higginbottom’s hands on 78 minutes with a fierce drive from distance as the visitors continued to give as much as they got.

The space given to the constantly unmarked and ever menacing Morning was to cost the visitors dear in the 87th minute. The ‘Steelman’s’ speedy winger once again had all the time and room to exploit the unmanned left flank and his telling cross was gleefully rammed home by former Chorley man Danny Queeley to seal all three points for the Cheshire outfit.

Bamber Bridge: Newnes, Melling, Fleming, Squires, K Brown, Fletcher, Ince (Noon 78mins), Roberts (Mahoney 57mins), Spencer (Salmon 67mins), Brickell, Porter.

Goals: Ince (29 mins)

Attendance: 85