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Home > Archive > 2006-07 Season > Match Reports > Chorley (26.12.06)

2006-2007 Season

Match Reports

Bamber Bridge 0 Chorley 3

Northern Premier League 1st Division

at Irongate

Tuesday 26th December 2006

By Dave Rowland

They came, they saw and they conquered! Chorley won the traditional Boxing Day derby against neighbours Bamber Bridge at Irongate with a scintillating second half display which belied their lowly standing in the First Division table. It was their first triumph on foreign soil since the 23rd September when the Magpies came back from West Yorkshire with all three points following a 2-0 success at Ossett Albion. From the 9th minute of the game when John Kennedy put the visitors in front, you just new it was going to be Chorley’s day and after a fairly even first 45 minutes there was no stopping the rampant Magpies as they went to work on their out-of-sorts hosts.

Bamber Bridge were looking to get back on track following Saturday’s disappointing 0-3 reverse at Warrington Town, whilst Chorley were hoping to pick up some precious points after moving off the bottom of the First Division when drawing 1-1 against Belper Town at Victory Park at the weekend.

Chorley manager Gerry Luczka made just one change to his starting line-up from the 1-1 draw at Victory Park against Belper Town with assistant-manager and former Brig favourite Kenny Mayers replacing on-lone striker Rod Thornley in the front line.

Andy Whittaker made three changes to the side that went down to defeat so disappointingly at Warrington Town on Saturday. Jeff Underwood returned at right-back after suspension replacing Allan Fleming who in turn replaced George Melling in the centre of defence, Melling being named as one of the substitutes. Mike Fletcher returned after a one match ban replacing Mark Edmeads who was also relegated to the bench. Midfielder Tom Ince came in for Steve Brown who was away on holiday.

To add spice to the occasion the game kicked off with seven former Brig players in the Chorley 14 man squad and with four former Magpies on the Bamber Bridge team sheet. Needless to say, the opening period was frenetic with both sides totally committed to the cause.

Brig started brightly enough and came close as early as the 5th minute when Chorley goalkeeper Danny Hurst was called upon to deal with a Danny Mahoney header from a finely delivered Alex Porter free-kick.

However, the visitors took an early lead when after 9 minutes John Kennedy latched on to a long cross-field through ball by Adam Roscoe before drawing Brig goalkeeper David Newnes from his line and clinically finishing with a crisp shot under the advancing keepers despairing dive.

Brig were visibly stunned but kept plugging away manfully and were desperately unlucky on 20 minutes when a finely struck Mahoney free-kick bounced off the top of the Chorley crossbar.

The game was being played with plenty of endeavour but was lacking in cohesion with passes going astray and there was little separating the sides but Chorley almost increased their lead on the half-hour mark when a Kennedy header just cleared Newnes crossbar after a promising move had opened up Brig’s rearguard.

The visitors came out with increased determination after the break and almost got a second when a Kennedy free-kick caused all sorts of problems for the home defence before Jamie Sheppard saw his shot cleared close to the goal-line by Fleming. However, Chorley were not to be denied and after the Brig defence failed to deal adequately with a Sean Wright corner-kick Adam Roscoe was on hand to bundle the ball over the line from six yards on 49 minutes.

Sensing victory, the Magpies stepped up a gear, much to the discomfort of their out-of-sorts hosts and duly added a third after 61 minutes when an excellent Dave Woodruff through-ball found substitute Chris Brookes in oceans of space. Brookes confidently struck home in fine style giving Newnes little chance to save.

There was a swagger about Chorley as their confidence grew but they were almost caught napping on 75 minutes when Porter went very close with a superbly hit free-kick which flew narrowly wide.

Brig fought hard to get back into the game and Hurst made two good saves at full stretch to keep out goal bound efforts, first from Neil Spencer and then from James Archer.

However, the visitors were now on a roll and Jordon Goodeve should have made it four for Chorley on 80 minutes firing wide when well placed.

Newnes won a one-on-one with Brookes, bravely charging down the strikers half-volley and then made the save of the game to keep out a Goodeve effort as Chorley finished the game on a high.

Bamber Bridge: Newnes, Underwood, Archer, Squires, Fleming, Fletcher, Porter, Mahoney, Noon (Edmeads 53mins), Salmon (Spencer 53mins), Ince. Unused Sub: Melling

Goals: -

Attendance: 363