Home

Club

Events

Contact

History

News

2007-08 Season

Fixtures

Results

League Table & Stats

Players & Staff

Player Statistics

Match Reports

Reserves

Sponsorship

Matchday

Club Shop

Commerical

Links

Archive

Home > 2007-08 Season > Match Reports > Blackpool Mechanics (09.10.07)

MATCH REPORT

Blackpool Mechanics 3 Bamber Bridge 4

Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy 2nd Round

at Jepson Way

Tuesday 9th October 2007

By Dave Rowland

Bamber Bridge went through to the Second Round of the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy in this well contested and thrilling cup tie in Blackpool last night. However, the South Ribble side were made to battle all the way against an enthusiastically resilient Blackpool Mechanics outfit who never gave up the chase. Three of Brig’s four goals were scored by debutants, Phil Watson, who got a brace, and Craig Banks with a single strike.

Fresh from their fine victory over Mossley on Saturday, Bamber Bridge travelled to Jepson Way, the home of North West Counties League Second Division side Blackpool Mechanics looking to extend their fine opening run to the season, which has seen the club lose just one game out of 14 league and cup fixtures. They were also keen to avoid a potential ‘banana-skin’ against lower league opponents in the First Round of this seasons Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy competition. Mechanics were not only looking to pull off a ‘Giant Killing’ act against their loftier visitors, but were hoping to get back on track following a disappointing 0-2 home defeat against Formby in the First Round of the FA Vase at the weekend.

Brig assistant boss Neil Crowe made four changes to the line-up that was so successful against Mossley at Irongate on Saturday. Tom Ince was preferred at full-back replacing Allan Fleming, whilst John Carroll was selected in preference to Stephen Brown in mid-field. Oliver Telford, who made such an impressive debut at the weekend, retained his spot in the defence, with Neil Crowe deciding to give a run out to two more of the club’s young starlets in the shape of defender Craig Banks and front-runner Phil Watson. In the event, both were to make a major impact on the night’s proceedings.

Bamber Bridge opened brightly and John Carroll saw his header smash against the crossbar after just 5 minutes following a fine cross from the left by Phil Watson. However, the visitors were rocked back on their heals three minutes later when Mechanics audaciously took the lead. Brig goalkeeper Terry McCormick had saved a Wayne Gardner effort at the expense of a corner after 8 minutes and when the resultant flag-kick was whipped over by winger Paul Ryan, the ball was only partially cleared. David Cram neatly volleyed home the loose ball from ten yards out and from that moment on it was always going to be an interesting night.

The visitors were visibly stung, but their response was immediate. An Alex Porter cross was nearly turned in by Adam Tong, who could only stand and watch as the ball trickled agonisingly past the wrong side of an upright. Then on 18 minutes Brig got the goal that they had been striving for when debutant Craig Banks rose majestically to head home a fine Porter cross from the left. The youngster wheeled away in gleeful celebration.

Mechanics were making a game of it and despite the setback went looking for further plunder. Indeed, they almost got their noses back in front when Gardner found Ryan in space but the former Brig wingman had the ball whipped from under his feet by George Melling. On the half-hour mark McCormick saved a Cram cross-shot at full stretch but the home side were completely undone a minute later when Brig got a second goal.

Alex Porter fired in yet another telling cross from out on the left wing and John Carroll was on hand to loop his header over Mechanics stranded goalkeeper Charlie Cook to put his side into the lead.

The visitors were playing the more cultured football with Ince and Porter combining well down the left flank causing all kinds of problems for the home defence. A fine sweeping move on 37 minutes nearly brought a third goal for the visitors. A long accurate and finely angled ball by Porter found Matt Mahoney on the left-hand edge of ‘Mechs’ penalty area. The young midfielder laid the ball off to Ince, but the former Burnley man was quickly closed down by an eager defender, just as he was about to shoot for goal.

The home defence then came under a tremendous barrage of Brig attacks as the visitors won a series of five corner-kicks in quick succession just prior to the break. From one of these Adam Tong bundled the ball into the net, but the ‘goal’ was ruled out for an infringement.

As expected, the visitors opened the second-half on the offensive and increased their lead on 51 minutes when Matt Mahoney put in Phil Watson with a neat through-ball. The youngster showed great maturity and coolly pushed the ball under the advancing Cook to claim his first goal for the club.

To their credit the North West Counties League minnows refused to lie down and pulled a goal back on 66 minutes. The visitors failed to clear their lines effectively, and the ever dangerous Cram took full advantage, shooting home the loose ball despite the attention of several defenders.

Stung for a second time, the South Ribble side responded with devastating effect. Banks came desperately close with a header which was cleared from the goal-line by a defender before Brig reclaimed their two goal advantage in some style on 73 minutes. Tong broke away down the right wing following a telling pass from Matt Mahoney. Watson met the resultant cross full on to powerfully head home his second goal of the night past Cook the beleaguered ‘Mechs’ goalkeeper to mark a very impressive debut for the youngster. At this point one of the ‘Mechs’ management team was ordered from the technical area by referee Mr Kettlewell after vigorously contesting the goal.

The home side still refused to wilt and continued to press forward at every opportunity. ‘Mechs’ Skipper Mark Ashall went close when narrowly firing wide on 80 minutes as the resilient seasiders displayed ample defiance. However, the visitors almost increased their lead five minutes later when a Glenn Steel header cannoned off a goalpost following a fiercely struck Porter free-kick. Porter was then denied by Cook who came rushing out of his area to clear the danger after the flying wingman had been put in on goal by Watson.

Gallant ‘Mechs’ reduced the arrears on 89 minutes with an excellently worked goal. Cam got possession in the inside-right position and laid the ball off to strike partner Wayne Gardener who neatly fired home a low drive beyond the reach of the diving McCormick.

The game was not over just yet and Banks should have scored his second of the night when heading a Porter cross inches wide. Mechanics almost snatched a dramatic equaliser in time added on when Ryan took advantage of a slip in the visitors defence but could only shoot wide with the goal at his mercy.

Bamber Bridge: McCormick, Telford, Ince, Banks, Melling, Steel, Carroll, M Mahoney, Tong, Watson, Porter. Unused Subs: Helm, Fleming, Williams

Goals: Banks (18 mins), Carroll (31 mins), Watson (51, 74 mins)

Attendance: 60