Home

Club

Events

Contact

History

News

2007-08 Season

Matchday

Club Shop

Commercial

Links

Archive

2006-07 Season

League Table

Player Statistics

Match Reports

Home > Archive > 2006-07 Season > Match Reports > Stocksbridge Park Steels (21.10.06)

2006-2007 Season

Match Reports

Stocksbridge Park Steels 2 Bamber Bridge 0

Northern Premier League 1st Division

at Look Local Stadium

Saturday 21st October 2006

By Dave Rowland

Stocksbridge Park Steels proved just too good a side to handle for Bamber Bridge when the South Ribble side went down to a 0-2 defeat at Bracken Moor Lane on Saturday. Whilst not being overly outstanding, ‘Steels’ method of doing the simple things well was enough to see them overcome their Lancashire visitors who looked distinctly out of sorts on the day.

Bamber Bridge once again travelled to Yorkshire in the hope of a return to winning ways following their narrow 0-1 loss at Bradford Park Avenue on the previous Monday. Stocksbridge were hoping to continue a good run of form which had produced four wins in their previous four First Division outings. This included an incredible 9-1 away win at Bridlington Town on the 3rd of October and a fine 3-1 win at Shepshed Dynamo last Wednesday night.

Brig manager Andy Whittaker made three changes to the team which kicked off at Bradford during the week. Allan Fleming came in at right-back replacing the departing Ross Bain, whilst Karl Noon and Greg Brickell were brought in to lead the line replacing Ryan Salmon and Mike Fletcher who took their places on the substitutes bench.

After a quiet start the game suddenly sprung to life with a couple of half-chances going begging at either end. A promising run by Stefan Zoll was brought to an abrupt end when Brig central-defender Jamie Squires adroitly snuffed out the danger with a fine tackle after 10 minutes. Five minutes later a superbly struck Alex Porter cross was spilled by ‘Steels’ goalkeeper Steve Hodgson but no one was on hand to take advantage and the ball was cleared.

Porter and Jimmy King began to look menacing down the left flank for the visitors as Brig strove to make their mark but on 25 minutes the Lancastrians were rocked back on their heals when conceding a goal created with consummate simplicity.

Michael Goddard got the best of Jamie Squires out on the left side of the penalty box and the midfielder calmly placed the ball at the feet of ‘Steels’ leading marksman Zoll who effortlessly tucked his shot home from six yards.

There had been little between the sides up until this point, although the home side had always looked the more threatening when moving forward whilst Brig had lacked the guile to effectively penetrate a determined home defence. Despite this, the game remained a fairly even contest but with little goalmouth incident to excite the spectators.

Just before the interval disaster struck for Brig when they conceded a second goal and you knew then that the game was up for the visitors. A corner whipped in from the right by Dave Cockerill on 43 minutes was headed into his own net by the unfortunate Jamie Squires giving goalkeeper Newnes little chance to save.

In the last action of the first half Porter fired narrowly over Hodgson’s crossbar following good approach play by Danny Mahoney and Greg Brickell.

Bamber Bridge were first out of the blocks in the second period and almost pulled a goal back on 47 minutes when a Porter chip found Mahoney in space but the midfielder had to stretch to reach the ball and knocked his effort tantalisingly just past the post with Hodgson beaten.

Stocksbridge continued to work hard and began to take control. Zoll failed to take advantage of a slip by Squires in the 55th minute shooting high and wide when well placed.

In one of the visitors increasingly rare raids Paul Roberts fired just over from a Steven Brown corner but Brig's play had become fragmented and the Yorkshiremen were calling all the shots.

The Brig defence came under growing pressure and had three near escapes when first a Cockerill corner-kick was powerfully headed over by Darren Schofield on 63 minutes, then, after Goddard had powered his way through, he saw his precision pass driven across the face of goal by Cockerill after 70 minutes, before Zoll shot into the side netting after robbing Kevin Brown inside the penalty box five minutes later.

Newnes brought off a stunning save on 81 minutes to deny Ryan Ludlam who sent in a sizzling drive.

At the other end Alex Porter was desperately unlucky with a free-kick which came down off the underside of the crossbar and somehow Hodgson was able to scramble the ball away from his line as substitute Salmon threatened.

Brig came more into the game late on as Stocksbridge took their foot off the pedal and Salmon came close twice, firstly firing across the face of goal following a knock-on by Brickell and then when just failing to reach a long-ball sent in by Squires.

But at the end of play Stocksbridge deservedly trudged off with the three points after a comfortable display which sees them challenging near the top of the First Division table.

Bamber Bridge: Newnes, Fleming, King (Salmon 64mins), Squires, K Brown, Roberts (Fletcher 64mins), S Brown (Archer 75mins), Mahoney, Noon, Brickell, Porter

Goals: -

Attendance: 166