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Home > Archive > 2006-07 Season > Match Reports > Rossendale United (20.01.07)

2006-2007 Season

Match Reports

Rossendale United 0 Bamber Bridge 1

Northern Premier League 1st Division

at Dark Lane

Saturday 20th January 2007

By Dave Rowland

A second-half goal of consummate quality by Ryan Salmon, his 14th strike of the season and his 4th in the last five games, was enough to see Bamber Bridge overcome promotion hopefuls Rossendale United in this wind swept Lancashire derby at Dark Lane on Saturday. What made this latest triumph all the more impressive was the fact that Brig achieved their success with two debutants in the side. It was also the South Ribble sides third league double of the season and their fourth success on foreign soil. This was an eye-catching display full of skill and passion and the visitors dominated proceedings from start to finish. Rossendale were forced to play out the second period with ten men when Phil Edghill was sent off just before half-time. Gale force winds which lashed the Rossendale Valley all afternoon failed to impair, what turned out to be, an excellent game of football.

Bamber Bridge were hoping to extend their good run in the league which has seen the South Ribble club win four and draw one of their last seven games in the First Division. They were also keen to get back on track following their elimination from the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy during the week against their Premier Division neighbours Burscough. Rossendale United were looking for the points in their quest for a place in the play-offs and to return to winning ways following their narrow 0-1 defeat at high flying Eastwood Town last weekend. This reverse brought to an end an excellent run which had seen the Stags lose only one of their previous eight outings in the First Division.

Brig boss Phil Entwistle made six changes to the line-up which faced Burscough at Irongate on the previous Tuesday evening. New signings full-back Jamie Nay from Clitheroe replaced Robin Myers and former Magpie Steve Williams was named in the centre of defence in preference to youngster Chris Gallagher. Allan Fleming returned following a bout of food poisoning replacing Stuart Horn at left-back and loan players Paul Lloyd and Jon Smith, from Morecambe, were preferred in mid-field to Tom Ince and Mike Fletcher. Ryan Salmon, who also missed the Burscough game due to sickness, replaced Jimmy King in the front line.

The game kicked off in dreadful conditions with high winds unmercifully whipping across the Dark Lane enclosure. Any thought that the fierce elements would ruin the game were soon dispelled when both sides got down to playing some attractive football.

Brig were soon into their stride with two early efforts. Neil Spencer shot wide of the target after Lloyd had found him in space in the opening minutes and then Lloyd himself came close after the Rossy defence had failed to deal with a Mahoney corner-kick on the left.

The home side responded immediately and Phil Eastwood poked a shot narrowly wide from close range following a Mark Drew corner. United full-back James Heywood attempted a speculative shot from fully 30 yards out and the wind caught the ball and carried it menacingly towards Newnes left hand post, but the Brig goalkeeper managed to scramble across his goal and touch the ball around for a corner.

Brig came inches away from an opener on 25 minutes when Danny Mahoney robbed Phil Edghill in midfield and set up Alex Porter. Brigs leading marksman saw his effort graze the Rossendale crossbar.

Drew was equally unlucky with a carbon copy effort for Rossy at the other end and the wind came to the visitors assistance a few minutes later when a cross zipped past both Euan Percell and Robbie Smith as both lined up in anticipation of a goal.

Brig were making some forceful runs at the home defence as the visitors began to take control. The South Ribble men looked more comfortable on the ball and the defence was well on top of their game with both Williams and Melling commanding down the centre.

Just before the interval the Stags were reduced to ten men when referee Mr Dowd dismissed Phil Edghill for a foul on Mahoney. He received a straight red card for the offence but had also been booked earlier in the game. Despite this incident, the game was fought throughout in the right spirit.

Rossy opened the brighter after the break with a flurry of raids but these failed to penetrate a resolute defence.

Brigs man-of-the-match Paul Lloyd shot over from distance when United got themselves in a bit of a tangle and the visitors began to turn the screw against the ten men.

Lloyd was unlucky to have a goal ruled out for off-side on 58 minutes following fine work by Porter and Mahoney but you felt it was only a matter of time. After further efforts by Lloyd and Salmon had gone close the visitors deservedly got their noses in front in the 72nd minute.

A combination of one-to-one passes between new pair Williams and Nay led to the former Chorley man sending in a fine sweeping cross from wide out on the right. Salmon ran across the defence to send in a fiercely powerful header from just inside the penalty box and the ball curled beyond the reach of goalkeeper Danny Caldwell and smacked high into the back of the net. It was a truly remarkable goal of real quality and one that will be long remembered by the travelling contingent. Brig were now on fire and were unlucky not to increase their lead with further efforts from Salmon and Spencer.

Stags skipper Bill Robertson handled the ball inside the box on 84 minutes but Caldwell saved the resultant spot-kick from Porter. However, Brig continued to pepper the home goal and Lloyd was desperately unlucky to see his shot thunder down off the crossbar and out to safety. Caldwell came out quickly to rob Salmon after Lloyd had split open the home rearguard as time began to run out for the beleaguered ten men.

Bamber Bridge: Newnes, Nay, Fleming, Melling, Williams, Smith, Lloyd, Mahoney, Spencer, Salmon, Porter. Unused subs: Myers, Ince, Fletcher

Goals: Salmon (72 mins)

Attendance: 168