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Home > 2007-08 Season > Match Reports > Marine (06.11.07)

MATCH REPORT

Marine 2 Bamber Bridge 3 (after extra-time)

FA Trophy 2nd Qualifying Round Replay

at Rossett Park

Tuesday 6th November 2007

By Dave Rowland

Bamber Bridge secured a place in the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy with this very impressive 3-2 extra-time triumph over a more than useful Marine side who lie in 5th spot in the Premier Division. The South Ribble outfit now have a home tie against another top tier side, Ilkeston Town, on the 24th November, in the final qualifying stage of the competition.

It was a dramatic incident-packed night of football with Brig giving a vintage performance full of character, skill and passion. It was a classical game of contrasting halves with Bamber Bridge chasing the game and playing second fiddle to their accomplished hosts in the first period after going a goal down after only two minutes, before emerging from the shadows and taking the game to Marine with a second-half display full of determination and heart.

The Irongate club were hoping to ‘finish the job off’ at Rossett Park, after coming within one minute of victory against the Merseyside outfit on Saturday. Despite a spiralling fixture congestion which threatens to derail their league ambitions, Brig were determined to make further progress in the competition. Marine, who ‘got out of jail’ in the dying moments at Irongate to earn themselves a second bite of the cherry, were also keen to achieve a spot in the Third Qualifying Round. The prize-money was also an obvious motivation for both clubs, as well as it being a genuine opportunity of making significant progress in a national FA competition.

Brig boss Phil Entwistle made two changes to the starting line-up that came so close to success at Irongate at the weekend. Defenders Allan Fleming and George Melling were preferred to Paul McMenemy and Steve Williams who both took their places on the bench. Brig’s new signing from Skelmersdale United Dave Eaton, was left on the sidelines due to being cup-tied.

Marine did not stand on ceremony and went straight into the lead after just two minutes when their leading marksman PETER CUMISKEY worked his way through a retreating defence before neatly placing his shot beyond the reach of startled Brig goalkeeper Terry McCormick.

Brig immediately responded and Ryan Salmon just failed to reach a finely struck Alex Porter free-kick. However, the goal had galvanised Marine who looked hungry and they went in search of more plunder. The ever-dangerous Cumiskey went close again on 6 minutes as the ‘Mariners’ threatened to overwhelm their guests, but McCormick blocked the effort.

The Merseysiders looked a completely different proposition on their own turf and went confidently about their business with some incisive football and made the Brig defence work overtime with some quick and intricate moves. McCormick was brought into action again on 20 minutes saving with his outstretched foot to keep out a Kevin Towey drive.

Brig dug in and fought back; patiently building some effective moves of their own which troubled the hitherto unruffled Marine defence. Indeed, Salmon was just over with a worthy effort on the half-hour mark following a pin-point Allan Fleming cross from the right flank. Marine however, were enjoying the bulk of the possession and Cumiskey once again came close on 35 minutes after a precision free-kick by Phil Brazier found him in space but McCormick was quick off his goal-line to block the effort.

Neil Spencer shot over the crossbar from distance for Bamber Bridge just before the break but the visitors left the field at half-time having played second fiddle to their classy Premier Division hosts.

Following ‘half-time tuition’ from Phil Entwistle, the Irongate side began the second period in a more determined fashion. After Cumiskey had headed an Eddie Hussin corner-kick narrowly over the bar, Brig sprung into action and grabbed an equaliser in the 53rd minute following a superb three-man move which totally unlocked the, up-till-then, solid Marine rearguard.

Glenn Steel threaded the ball through to Spencer on the right, and the Brig front-runner found his strike partner SALMON in space with a neat pass. Brig’s leading marksman slotted home in fine style with the home defence at sixes and sevens.

With their tales up Bamber Bridge moved forward confidently looking for a second goal. Salmon almost obliged but fired wide when miss-hitting his shot from close in after a neat through-ball by Tom Ince.

There was now more urgency in Brigs play but they were knocked back on their heels on 72 minutes when CUMISKEY put the ‘Mariners’ back in front with a opportunist goal: placing his shot wide of McCormick and just inside the right hand post for his 17th strike of the campaign. Substitute Karl O’Donnell almost increased Marine’s lead three minutes later when his quickly-taken free-kick was hacked off the goal-line by Adam Ting.
Brig pressed hard for the equaliser and played some of their best football of the night. However, it looked like they were facing certain defeat until a spectacular turn of events in time added-on. Indeed, it was a case of ‘lightening striking twice’. Just as Marine had done at Irongate three days previously, Brig grabbed a dramatic equaliser in the dying seconds of the match. Salmon touched on a Brown cross and substitute STEVE WILLIAMS moved in at the back post to head home much to the delight of both his colleagues and the travelling support.

Referee Mr Doug Stewart then dismissed Eddie Hussin, who had been substituted earlier, from the dugout following his over zealous protests.

Brig dominated extra-time and won the tie on 111 minutes following a sweeping move down the right. Tong picked up a long ball out of defence and laid it off to BROWN and the young Liverpudlian rifled a rising shot beyond former Brig goalkeeper Andy Banks and into the roof of the net. The South Ribble side then had McCormick to thank for pulling off an excellent save from a Shaun Tuck volley from point-blank range and then Tom Ince, who blocked another effort on the goal-line in a frenetic closing sequence, to what had been, a remarkable and pulsating cup tie.

Bamber Bridge: McCormick, Fleming (Telford 90mins), Ince, Melling, Tong, Steel, Brown, M Mahoney (McMenemy 79mins), Salmon, Spencer (Williams 79mins), Porter

Goals: Salmon (53 mins) Williams (90 mins) Brown (111 mins)

Attendance: 132