Official website of Bamber Bridge Football Club
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home > 2007-08 Season > Match Reports > Oldham Town (01.09.07) |
||
|
|
|
MATCH REPORTBamber Bridge 2 Oldham Town 0FA Cup Preliminary Roundat IrongateSaturday 1st September 2007By Dave Rowland
Having been knocked out of the FA Cup by lower league opposition at the same stage in the last two season’s Brig were keen to avoid a repeat this time around against North West Counties League Second Division minnows Oldham Town. Town came to Irongate on a high after eliminating league rivals Formby away in the Extra-Preliminary Round two weeks previously. On that occasion they had come back from 0-2 down at half-time against the First Division side, netting three goals to record an impressive victory. Brig boss Phil Entwistle kept faith with the same eleven that started the game against Skelmersdale United on Bank Holiday Monday. The home side opened brightly and took the game to the visitors and could so easily have been three goals up within the first 15 minutes. Sean O’Neil went close on 11 minutes following a fine Danny Mahoney cross and two minutes later fired inches over again after further good work by Mahoney. He could have had his hat-trick on 15 minutes when firing just past an upright after being put in on goal by Glen Steel. The visitors struggled with the pace of their Northern Premier League hosts but defended stoutly. They were dependent on breakaways and came close from one on the half-hour mark when Ryan Hewitt headed just over from a Matty Russell free-kick. Brig continued to dominate proceedings and went close twice more with efforts from Alex Porter who saw his effort blocked following a good interchange between Stephen Brown and Ryan Salmon, and then from Allan Fleming who’s flick was pushed around the goal-post by Town goalkeeper Gareth McWatt on 35 minutes. However, they nearly paid dearly for those missed opportunities when Oldham almost grabbed a surprise lead on 40 minutes. A superb run and cross by wingman Leon Melia was met by the inrushing Marcus King, but Brig goalkeeper Terry McCormick reacted quickly to finger-tip the effort around the post.
The second period followed a similar pattern to the first with Bamber Bridge in the driving seat. Indeed, they almost increased their lead five minutes after the break when centre-half Adam Tong struck the post with a blockbuster after the Town defence failed to clear a Stephen Brown corner-kick from the left. Brig came close on several more occasions with a Mahoney cross shot, a Porter half-volley and a Salmon header being the most notable. A fine run and pass by full-back Damian Dashti caused consternation in the visiting defence on 70 minutes but they somehow managed to clear the danger. Then a Glen Steel effort was blocked as Brig continued the onslaught. The North West Counties League side battled on bravely and nearly equalised on 75 minutes when a Darren Scanlon effort hit the Brig upright when he turned and shot following a pin-point cross from Melia. The home side booked their place in the First Qualifying Round on 78 minutes when substitute Guy Heywood wrapped things up, shooting home from close range after Salmon’s initial effort was blocked following a fine through-ball from Brown. Bamber Bridge: McCormick, Dashti, McMenemy, Fleming, Tong, Steel, Brown (Ince 87mins), D Mahoney, O’Neil (Heywood 68mins), Salmon, Porter. Unused subs : Williams, Cooper, M Mahoney Goals: Salmon (45 mins), Heywood (78 mins) Attendance: 115
|
||
|
||
Bamber Bridge were forced to work hard before overcoming gallant North West Counties League Second Division side Oldham Town in this hard fought all-Lancashire FA Cup tie at Irongate.
Oldham’s resistance was finally broken on the stroke of half-time when Mahoney’s cross from the right was met by Ryan Salmon. His initial shot came back off McWatt but the young striker was able to prod home the rebound.