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Home > Archive > 2006-07 Season > Match Reports > Shepshed Dynamo (24.03.07)

2006-2007 Season

Match Reports

Bamber Bridge 3 Shepshed Dynamo 0

Northern Premier League 1st Division

at Irongate

Saturday 24th March 2007

By Dave Rowland

Bamber Bridge continued their recent good run of form with this comfortable 3-0 win over Leicestershire side Shepshed Dynamo at Irongate. All the goals came in a scintillating second half, which saw the home team dominate proceedings with some exciting attacking play. Ryan Salmon was once again on target for the fourth consecutive game and has now joined Alex Porter in having bagged 20 goals for the club this season.

The South Ribble side were hopeful of extending their recent good run in the league which has seen them win five of their previous six games. Also, they were keen to continue their improved defensive record after having kept a clean-sheet in each of their last three outings. Brig were eagerly looking for the three points to help establish them in the top half of the First Division table. Their Leicestershire guests were looking to get back to winning ways following two home games recently that had produced just a single point.

With loan player Adam Tong recalled by Burscough manager Liam Watson for the Linnets promotion run-in, Phil Entwistle was forced to make a change to his victorious line-up against Warrington Town during the week. Danny Mahoney, who successfully got through a late fitness test just prior to the game, was drafted in to play in an unusual roll in the centre of defence.

Brig made a promising start with Tom Ince and Alex Porter causing all sorts of problems down the left for the visitors defence. Indeed, little was seen of the Leicestershire side as Bamber Bridge took control in the opening exchanges. In-form Ryan Salmon was again prominent at the front for the homesters and the Dynamo’s defence had their work cut out to combat the young strikers menacing runs.

Richard Saunders and Royce Turville tried in vain to get in behind Brigs back line but their industry was cancelled out by the hard working George Melling who effectively cut out any aerial threat whilst full-backs Robin Myers and Stuart Beech dealt with prospective problems down the flanks.

Porter and Salmon continued to probe for any frailties which could be exposed in the visitors defence and the impression was that the Dynamo’s defence was living on borrowed time. Steve Brown gave a glimpse of what was to come with a raking shot following an Ince lay-off after 40 minutes which brought the best out in Dynamo’s goalkeeper Dale Belford. This was followed a minute later by a Salmon half-volley which whistled just wide of Belford’s left hand post.

As half-time approached Sam Craven shot high and wide for the visitors in what was their first meaningful effort of the game.

There had been little to cheer for the crowd in the first 45 minutes and chances had been at a premium, but Bamber Bridge had looked the more dangerous, with the visitors only registering their first shot on goal after 42 minutes.

It didn’t take Brig long to unlock the visitors hitherto resolute defence at the opening of the second-half. Indeed, just one minute after the resumption, Tom Ince picked up a Mark Edmeads cross but his shot was blocked on the goal-line. Ryan Salmon followed up to smash home his 20th Bamber Bridge goal of the season from short range.

Shepshed began to look increasingly uncomfortable at the back and Salmon dispossessed Robbie Banks some twenty yards out but a timely Mick Betts tackle in the nick of time denied the young striker his second goal of the afternoon.

The goal however, had galvanise the South Ribble side and they encamped in the Shepshed half for long periods before deservedly increasing their lead on 67 minutes when Steve Brown planted a header firmly into the net following a fine run and cross on the left by Ince.

There was a real fizz about Brig’s play at this point as they ripped into their stuttering opponents with vigour.

Shepshed continued to struggle with the pace of the marauding Brig strikers and it was no surprise when the home team wrapped up the points ten minutes from time, although in somewhat fortunate circumstances.

Bamber Bridge leading marksman Alex Porter took a free-kick some 25 yards from goal and the ball struck a defender before looping over Dynamo goalkeeper Dale Belford and into the net. It was Porter’s 22nd goal of the campaign.

Despite being well beaten on the day, the visitors showed some spirit and almost got a consolation goal in the last minute. Brig goalkeeper David Newnes came out of his goal to bravely save at the feet of Royce Turville as the striker moved in for the kill.

The teams have it all to do again next Saturday at the Dovecote.

Bamber Bridge: Newnes, Beech, Myers, Melling, Mahoney, Fletcher, S Brown, Edmeads, Porter, Salmon (Barlow 81mins), Ince. Unused subs: Spencer and Turner

Goals: Salmon (46 mins), Brown (67 mins), Porter (80 mins)

Attendance: 169