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Home > Archive > 2006-07 Season > Match Reports > Harrogate Railway Athletic (19.08.06)

2006-2007 Season

Match Reports

Harrogate Railway Athletic 1 Bamber Bridge 1

Northern Premier League 1st Division

at Irongate

Saturday 19th August 2006

By Dave Rowland

Bamber Bridge will have returned from the North Yorkshire town of Harrogate greatly disappointed after drawing 1-1 with their newly promoted rivals on the first day of term. The old maxim: ‘If you don’t score goals, then you don’t win games’ was certainly the case in point for the visitors at a neat and tidy, if rain drenched Station View. The Lancastrians could and most certainly should have knocked up a cricket score against modest opponents.

Brig started strongly and could so easily have been three or four goals up within the opening 15 minutes. The former Northern Counties East League side look likely to struggle at the higher level this season.

Damien Henderson ‘The Railwaymen’s’ sturdy centre-half denied Greg Brickell a clear run on goal as early as the 2nd minute with a timely intercepted header as the homesters seemed taken aback by pace of the visiting forwards.

Alex Porter shot just wide after 10 minutes with a rasping drive which flew tantalisingly close to the far upright as Wilford in the home goal looked on helplessly.

A slip by Harrogate captain Liam Gray let in Dave Woodruff on 14 minutes but the Brig newcomer finished poorly.

However, the visitors pressure nearly told a minute later when they almost went in front after a snap-shot by Brickell cannoned off Wilford’s left hand post with the goalkeeper a mere spectator. Jamie Sheppard should really have converted the rebound, but somehow managed to screw his effort over the empty goal.

Surprise, surprise! the home team took the lead in the 21st minute of play with their first meaningful effort of the afternoon.

After looking as if they would wilt under mounting Bamber Bridge pressure, Harrogate full-back Philip Turner sent in a long sweeping ball from just beyond the half-way line and caught the visiting defence on the hop. The inrushing Graham Marchant reacted quickly and sent in a looping header that was out of the reach of Brig debutant goalkeeper David Newnes. The home team handsomely celebrated their unexpected lead and their first ever goal in the Northern Premier League.

Brig captain Ross Bain was cautioned for a clumsy challenge on Harrogate wingman Scott Ryan on 30 minutes and a Steve Jones shot from the resultant free-kick brought out the best in Newnes who made a fine diving save. The Yorkshiremen’s tails were up but not for long.

Once again Brig began to lay siege to the homesters goal in search of parity and went very close on two occasions, with a Jamie Sheppard effort just clearing the crossbar and an Alex Porter drive which went wide. The ‘Railwaymen’ responded and Ryan was unlucky to see his free-kick clip the Brig crossbar on 38 minutes and then Newnes saved at the feet of Marchant.

Bamber Bridge deservedly equalised just before the break when Jamie Sheppard cut inside and from just outside the penalty area chipped the ball over goalkeeper Wilford’s despairing dive and into the net for one of the most exquisitely executed goals you are ever likely to see.

The second period was to follow much the same pattern as the first with Brig dominating proceedings and the ‘Railwaymen’ dependant on sporadic raids.

A free-kick, awarded to Brig straight after the break, for a trip by Jones on Sheppard was hit into the side netting by Porter and a Sheppard corner was headed narrowly over the top by Brickell. And so things went on as Brig were presented with a third clear opportunity in as many minutes. This time it was Sheppard who spurned the chance, shooting harmlessly wide a free-kick from the edge of the box following a foul on Jimmy King.

In the 60th minute Noon was put through with a neat threaded pass by Sheppard, but the end result was frustratingly the same.

Brig continued to spurn chances and were nearly made to pay dearly on 75 minutes when Newnes headed the ball clear on the edge of his area to deny Grey.

Two minutes later Brig central defender Jamie Squires brought the best out of Wilford when the keeper had to dive smartly down to his left to prevent his header finding the net.

In the last two minutes Brig missed a further three golden opportunities from Noon, Porter and Reynolds with the goalkeeper making an exceptional save to keep out the Neil Reynolds effort.

The Brig players left the field at the conclusion of affairs knowing that two points had been squandered.

Bamber Bridge: Newnes, Clitheroe (Fleming 73 mins), King, Bain, Squires, Woodruff (Fletcher 82 mins), Sheppard, Mahoney (Reynolds 82 mins), Noon, Brickell, Porter

Goals: Sheppard (40 mins)

Attendance: 118