MATCH REPORT
Bamber Bridge 4 Chorley 1
Northern Premier League 1st Division North
at Irongate
Saturday 1st December 2007
By Dave Rowland
This keenly contested Lancashire derby went the way of
the home side as Bamber Bridge emerged as comfortable 4-1
winners on a very wet and bumpy Irongate pitch. Chorley
held their own with a strong performance prior to the half-time
break, but the Magpies were completely undone by a Ryan
Salmon hat-trick in the second period when their hosts stepped
up a gear.
Form team Bamber Bridge eagerly awaited the visit of near
neighbours Chorley. The South Ribble outfit were hoping
to extend a four-match winning run with three more precious
points, as they give chase to leaders Curzon Ashton and
second placed Bradford Park Avenue in the First Division
North. Strugglers Chorley arrived at Irongate with growing
confidence following recent impressive draws against Curzon
Ashton and improving Clitheroe. The Magpies were also keen
to avenge the 1-2 League Challenge Cup defeat they suffered
at Irongate at the end of September.
Showing the strength in depth enjoyed by Bamber Bridge these
days, Phil Entwistle made no less than six changes to the
successful line-up which demolished Radcliffe Borough at
Irongate during the week. Glenn Steel was moved over to
right full-back for the injured Alan Fleming whilst Paul
McMenemy returned to fill the left-back spot in preference
to Damien Dashti. George Melling came into the centre of
the defence in place of Steve Williams who took his place
on the bench. Stephen Brown returned to the right of midfield
following a one match ban, replacing John Carroll who was
named as substitute. Danny Mahoney came back into midfield
after serving a four-match ban and new signing Dave Eaton
was preferred to Neil Spencer in the front line with Spencer
named as one of the substitutes.
Chorley boss Gerry Luczka included recent signings Gavin
Ellison and Liam Coyne in his starting line-up but was without
midfielder Greg Traynor who was ruled out after suffering
a recurrence of a hamstring injury.
Brig started brightly enough but strugglers Chorley put
up a determined resistance to unsettle the normally fluent
Bamber Bridge. A Danny Mahoney free-kick was acrobatically
tipped around the post by Chorley goalkeeper Peter Collinge
on five minutes but goalmouth action was at a premium with
both defences well on top.
Collinge was on hand once again to deny Brig on 25 minutes
after centre-back Adam Tong turned and shot following a
period of Brig pressure.
The Magpies were making it hard work for their highflying
neighbours and went close on 35 minutes when former Brigger
Kenny Mayers headed narrowly over the crossbar from a Jordan
Goodveve free-kick. Chorley looked strong defensively and
competed well in midfield disrupting the flow of passes
from Brig’s hitherto efficient engine room.
However, Irongate’s leading marksman Ryan Salmon gave
the visitors defence a clear warning of what was to come
when he forced his way through on goal with a run from the
halfway line on 40 minutes, but having brushed aside the
attentions of several defenders en-route, he was blocked
in the nick of time by two eager Chorley defenders who closed
him down quickly.
Joel Pilkington went close for Chorley on the stroke of
half-time, seeing his half-volley fly narrowly over following
a well placed pass from Michael Eckersley. The visitors
went in at the break justifiably pleased with themselves
following a solid display which had effectively blunted
the home sides potency.
Nevertheless, Bamber Bridge broke the Magpies resistance
with two quick strikes just after the interval. Matty Mahoney
split the visitors defence with a fine through-ball which
put Brig skipper Alex Porter away down the left flank on
47 minutes. The wingman’s resultant cross found RYAN
SALMON in space and the young marksman clinically finished
with a low volley into corner of the net with Collinge left
stranded. Four minutes later SALMON doubled his account
after Dave Eaton played a neat lay-off along the edge of
the Chorley penalty-box and Salmon picked his spot firing
home in style unchallenged.
Kenny Mayers fired wide on 55 minutes from a Jordan Goodeve
lay-off as the Magpies vainly tried to respond but Chorley
were unable to recover from the double blow and went further
behind on 63 minutes when SALMON grabbed his hat-trick.
A sweeping move involving Glenn Steel and Dave Eaton unhinged
the Magpies rearguard and Eaton elegantly rolled the ball
in front of the inrushing Salmon who accurately placed his
shot beyond Collinge’s reach for his 20th goal of the
season.
Chorley’s Stephen Burke fired in a superb cross following
a lightening run down the left but no one was on hand to
take advantage and the opportunity was lost.
Bamber Bridge began to take the visitors apart with some
enterprising football and increased their lead on 68 minutes
when Eaton this time set up MATTY MAHONEY who composed himself
well before drilling home from ten yards with the Chorley
defence at six’s and seven’s.
To their credit the Magpies kept battling away and their
efforts were rewarded with a consolation goal in the 87th
minute when PILKINGTON fired a rising shot into the roof
of the net from distance after the home defence had failed
to adequately clear their lines.
Bamber Bridge: McCormick, Steel, McMenemy, Melling, Tong, M Mahoney, Brown (Spencer 75mins), D Mahoney (Carroll 75mins), Salmon (Williams 75mins), Eaton, Porter
Goals: Salmon (47, 51, 63mins), M Mahoney (68mins)
Attendance: 338
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