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Home > Archive > 2006-07 Season > Match Reports > Cammell Laird (26.09.06)

2006-2007 Season

Match Reports

Cammell Laird 2 Bamber Bridge 2

Northern Premier League 1st Division

at Kirklands

Tuesday 26th September 2006

By Dave Rowland

Bamber Bridge were denied what would have been a morale boosting victory at Cammell Laird last night when the home team fortuitously grabbed an equaliser with almost the last kick of the game. After an entertaining and evenly balanced first-half, the Irongate side played with passion and pace on their first ever visit to the Kirklands and deserved more than a mere share of the spoils.

The two sides had fought out an entertaining 1-1 draw at Irongate on the 22nd August in Brig‘s first home game of the season. In the return fixture at the Kirklands, Bamber Bridge were looking to halt a run of results which had seen the South Ribble side gain just a single point from their previous four outings in the First Division. The high-flying Birkenhead outfit were likewise hoping for a return to winning ways following their first league defeat of the season on Saturday when they went down 1-3 at Bradford Park Avenue.

Brig manager Andy Whittaker was forced to make two changes from the side that started the game at Buxton. Striker Neil Spencer came in to partner Karl Noon in attack replacing Greg Brickell who was unavailable and Jimmy King, just back from holiday, stepped in at full-back after Robin Myers was declared unfit following an injury sustained at Buxton.

After a lively opening the home team were first to show when Ronnie Morgan robbed Danny Mahoney and then saw his shot palmed around the post by Brig goalkeeper David Newnes.

The visitors however, were not in the mood to play second fiddle to the North West Counties League champions and Alex Porter just failed to connect with a Steve Brown centre at the back post following a sweeping move down the right.

Brig escaped a scare on five minutes when Eddie Jebb put John Couch in on goal but Newnes was quick to react and snuffed out the midfielder's effort in the nick of time.

King and Porter were causing the home team problems down the left flank with some telling runs and Reynolds was the first to take advantage of their creativity with fine a shot from distance which ‘Lairds’ keeper Peter Crookes skilfully dealt with.

The Birkenhead side almost took the lead on 24 minutes when Ross Bain kicked the ball off the line from a close range effort from Jebb after Jamie Maguire’s cross had eluded Newnes.

At the other end Mahoney saw his well drilled free-kick from fully 25 yards out snatched from under the crossbar by Crookes as the game swung from end to end.

As half-time approached Tony McMullen headed over the Big crossbar after a centre by Jebb but the visitors left the pitch at the interval looking much the happier side.

Bamber Bridge came out in a determined mood after the break and Spencer set up Noon on 47 minutes with a delicate flick-on but Noon fired high and wide when a little steadiness might have brought a better reward.

Newnes then made a tremendous diving save to deny Jebb, finger-tipping the wingman’s drive just around the goalpost.

On 50 minutes the Lancastrians had a penalty appeal turned away by referee Mr Heywood after Crookes appeared to bring down Spencer as the Brig striker homed in on goal. Spencer was given a yellow card for his protestations.

The visitors were playing with conviction and Porter watched as his swirling cross was cleared from near the post by ‘Lairds’ veteran defender Derek Ward.

Kevin Brown was giving yet another resolute performance in the middle of the Brig back line but a rare slip let in former Bamber Bridge man Chris Nezyanya, but Newnes was alert and nullified the danger.

The home side got their noses in front on 67 minutes when the Brig rearguard failed to deal with an in-swinging corner. Cammell Laird full-back Anthoney Lynch curled his flag-kick in towards the near post and John Collins was first to react and headed home with ease.

The visitors responded in a grand manner and deservedly levelled matters within four minutes.

Spencer fed Mahoney, who had found himself some space out on the right, and the midfielder drove the ball towards goal with a low powerful shot. As the ball passed through the defence Porter moved in quickly and smashed home past the startled Crookes.

The home team were stung into action and won a succession of corners which the visiting defence had difficulty in dealing with. From one taken by Lynch, Kevin Brown was made to clear from the line in a goalmouth scramble.

However, Brig got the lead that their positive endeavours had deserved in the 71st minute.

Cammell Laird Goalkeeper Crookes made a hash of a goal-kick and Steve Brown took advantage working his way through a spread-eagle defence and shooting low and hard from the right edge of the penalty box. Crookes got a touch, tipping the effort away at full stretch, but Porter was lurking on the left and tucked the ball home for his second goal of the night before the prostrated keeper could recover.

It looked all over bar the shouting but the game was to have a sting in its tail when Laird substitute Ian Cooke caught hold of a partially cleared cross in the 90th minute and his speculative lob evaded Newnes and dropped under the bar much to the home side’s surprise and delight.

Bamber Bridge: Newnes, Fleming, King, Bain, K Brown, Reynolds, S Brown, Mahoney, Noon, Spencer, Porter. Unused Subs: Ince, Fletcher, Squires

Goals: Porter (71, 83 mins)

Attendance: 123