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Home > 2007-08 Season > Match Reports > FC United of Manchester (01.03.08)

MATCH REPORT

FC United of Manchester 2 Bamber Bridge 2

Northern Premier League 1st Division North

at Gigg Lane

Saturday 1st March 2008

By Dave Rowland

Bamber Bridge and their hosts United of Manchester shared the spoils once again in yet another intense and exiting struggle in front of United‘s largest attendance of the season. However, contention reigned supreme. Whilst this closely contested game lived up to its billing, the South Ribble side can legitimately point to an extremely dubious refereeing decision in the first-half, which if justice had have been served, would have seen them awarded a penalty-kick and their hosts reduced to ten men. Further controversy surrounded the match official at the end of the game, when he allowed an inordinate amount of time added-on in which United scored their second equaliser.

Brig arrived at Gigg Lane, the home of Football League side Bury, intent on extending their unbeaten run to nine games in the league against promotion rivals United of Manchester. ’The Rebels’ were keen to protect an equally impressive run in the league that also sees them undefeated in their last eight First Division North fixtures. Their confidence was further boosted by a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Clitheroe on Wednesday night.

Brig boss Phil Entwistle made three changes to the side that had faced ’The Rebels’ at Irongate seven days earlier; opting for a more experienced line-up. Allan Fleming, out for some considerable time due to back problems, returned to the defence, replacing Matt Mahoney, who took his place on the bench. Alan Glover was brought back into the side at left-back; releasing Ryan Bowen into a more familiar midfield roll, with Mark Edmeads stepping down to the subs bench. Neil Spencer was drafted in to lead the line in place of leading goal-scorer Ryan Salmon who was unavailable.

On a bright and sunny afternoon Brig entered the Gigg Lane cauldron with audacious panache and took the game to their hosts with a vengeance. Indeed, the Irongate side were first to show and almost took a first minute lead. David Eaton made some room for himself down the left flank before finding Alex Porter in the inside-left position. Porter slung the ball towards the United goal, but Stephen Brown headed narrowly wide of the target at the back post.

Both sides settled down quickly and began to play some neat and purposeful football to the delight of the 3,348 strong crowd. An eager looking Brig swept forward undaunted by the crescendo of noise emanating from the passionate home following

A Neil Spencer shot was deflected wide in the 18th minute following a long throw-in by Glenn Steel which caught the home defenders flatfooted.

Two minutes later the visitors were, without doubt, robbed of a certain goal. Ryan Bowen latched onto an accurately placed through-ball by Danny Mahoney and pushed the ball past United goalkeeper Aaron Grundy just inside the penalty box. Grundy unceremoniously floored the former Skelmersdale United man, but to everyone’s amazement, the referee gave nothing and cautioned Bowen.

‘The Rebels’ almost took advantage of their good fortune with a goal on the half-hour mark when a Chris Baguley free-kick from the edge of the box was headed over the crossbar by Steel for a corner-kick.

Urged on by their huge support, United surged forward and Brig centre-back Adam Tong cleared a Jerome Wright volley off the goal-line following a Josh Howard corner-kick from the left.

At the other end, Grundy got down to deflect a Tong snap-shot wide of goal following a well directed Porter free-kick as the game swung breathlessly from one side to the other. Indeed, both sides came close to breaking the deadlock just prior to the interval. A Rob Nugent drive was stopped by Brig keeper McCormick before United’s Grundy cut out a dangerous cross from the right by Brown. Spencer was unlucky for the visitors on the stroke of half-time when his well struck effort was deflected wide by a defender.

Brig kicked off with confidence after the break and within five minutes of the restart they had broken the deadlock. Mahoney found Eaton in space down the left and skipper ALEX PORTER crisply converted the resultant cross from close in with ‘The Rebels’ defence at sixes and sevens.

The home side responded immediately with a fine equaliser two minutes later. The visitors defence was caught square following a long diagonal ball out of midfield and Jerome Wright took full advantage to place an inch perfect cross from the left flank into the path of SIMON CARDEN who scored with a simple tap-in.

Dave Eaton then fired over the crossbar for Brig from a good position, as did Howard at the other end for ‘The Rebels’ as the game began to hot up.

Bamber Bridge began to enjoy a period of sustained pressure with some inventive play. This manifested itself in penetrative movement down either wing with the ever-menacing Brown prominent on the right and workaholic Porter constantly threatening on the left. Eaton and Spencer were more often than not the links to some enterprising forward play. Steel and the ever dependable Tong patrolled the back line like vigilant guardsmen as United’s potency began to wane. ‘The Rebels’ had lost much of their edge at the front since the withdrawal of Rory Paterson prior to the break.

United substitute Nick Robinson created an opening for Wright in the 70th minute but the full-back fired across the face of goal to emphasise the point.

Brig kept on tirelessly plugging away and scored, what they thought was the winner, in the 89th minute. Substitute Tom Ince got the better of a United defender before setting ALEX PORTER away on goal. Porter drew Grundy from his line before confidently planting his shot into the net.

The referee indicated that there was to be a minimum of two minutes added time. Six minutes later the home side equalised much to the delight and relief of their immense following. A speculative shot from CHRIS BAGULEY from about twenty-five yards out skidded past McCormick on the soft turf and the points were shared.

Bamber Bridge: McCormick, Fleming, Glover (M Mahoney 79mins), Steel, Tong, Bowen, Brown, D Mahoney (Edmeads 69mins), Spencer (Ince 73mins), Eaton, Porter.

Goals: Porter (50, 89mins)

H-T: 0 - 0

Attendance: 3348