MATCH REPORT
Bamber Bridge 2 Rushden & Diamonds 3
FA Trophy 1st Round
at Irongate
Saturday 15th December 2007
By Dave Rowland
This First Round FA Trophy tie against Conference Premier
outfit Rushden & Diamonds eventually proved just too
big a hurdle for gallant Northern Premier League First Division
North side Bamber Bridge at the Irongate ground. Although
the Lancashire side deservedly went in at the interval a
goal to the good, two second-half strikes by Diamonds substitute
Lee Tomlin was enough to ease the visitors through to the
next stage of the competition.
Brig were looking to achieve an FA Trophy upset against
former Football League side Rushden & Diamonds after
having already eliminated Premier Division sides Ilkeston
Town and Marine from the competition. The South Ribble outfit
were hoping to repeat the success gained in the 1994-95
season when they overcame Conference side Halifax Town in
the First Round. On that occasion on the 21st January 1995,
a single strike by Kenny Mayers was enough to knock out
the Yorkshiremen in front of a 1,052 Irongate crowd.
Their Northamptonshire guests enjoyed a fine 4-1 win at
Droylsden in the Conference last weekend, ending a run of
four straight defeats as a result. Diamonds, who currently
lie in 17th place in the Conference Premier table, knocked
League Two side Macclesfield Town out of the FA Cup on the
10th of November with a comprehensive 3-1 win, before going
down at League One side Bristol Rovers recently in the Second
Round. They arrived at Irongate eager to avoid a ‘giant
killing‘.
Brig boss Phil Entwistle made seven changes to the line-up
that lost narrowly at Victoria Park in the Lancashire FA
Challenge Trophy against Burscough on the 4th of December.
Glen Steel was preferred at right-back in place of Damian
Dashti. Adam Tong returned to a more familiar roll in the
centre of defence at the expense of Steve Williams. Matt
Mahoney was restored to midfield replacing Mike Fletcher
whilst Steve Brown moved back over to the right replacing
John Carroll. Leading marksman Ryan Salmon returned to lead
the line following a one match ban and Sean O’Neil
came in as Salmons strike partner replacing Neil Spencer
following a short sojourn at Leigh RMI. Skipper Alex Porter
was brought back into the line-up after being rested.
After a quiet opening, in which there was little to choose
between the teams, the game exploded into life, when, on
26 minutes Diamonds conceded a needless penalty. Brig midfielder
Danny Mahoney was brought down just inside the right-hand
corner of the box by Chris Woodhouse when there appeared
little danger. Brig skipper ALEX PORTER drove home the resultant
spot-kick giving visiting goalkeeper Paul Bastock little
chance to save.
The home side worked hard and began to grow in confidence
with some tidy football. Indeed, despite at times having
to defend stoutly, Brig looked more comfortable on the ball
than their loftier guests. However, the Conference boys
went close twice within as many minutes when Michael Rankine
headed narrowly over from a Curtis Osano cross and repeated
the act two minutes later, this time following a cross from
John Challinor.
Brig kept looking for openings and almost got a second when
Bostock was forced to pluck a Tong header from under his
crossbar following a testing Brown cross from the right.
The game remained reasonably well balanced with Brig more
than holding their own against the Conference side. The
home side however, began to concede a number of free-kicks
in their own half and it was from one of these that the
visitors were able to get back on equal terms in the 42nd
minute. PHIL GULLIVER glanced home a header from a well
delivered Andy Burgess free-kick taken from a central position.
The goal brought an immediate response from the home side
with a quality strike right on the stroke of half-time.
Danny Mahoney worked his way through midfield before threading
the ball through to ALEX PORTER on the edge of the Diamonds
penalty area. The Brig wingman quickly brought the ball
under control before superbly rifling home into the roof
of the net for his second of the afternoon. It was arguably,
the best goal of the match.
Diamonds did not stand on ceremony and restored parity,
even before some people had time to take their seats following
the half-time break. Bamber Bridge were caught completely
cold when on 46 minutes Simeon Jackson sent over the perfect
cross and substitute LEE TOMLIN fired home from just inside
the box, beyond the reach of Brig goalkeeper Terry McCormick.
The visitors began to make their presence felt and Tomlin
came close again on 53 minutes when firing across the face
of goal. He wasn’t to be denied for long however, and
struck home, what proved to be, the winner, just beyond
the hour mark. A finely placed free-kick by Burgess split
the Brig defence and TOMLIN nipped in unmarked at the back
post and clinically tucked the ball home.
Bamber Bridge were undaunted and went in search of the equaliser
but despite Ryan Salmon going close with a diving header
on 80 minutes from a Porter cross, they were unable to make
the breakthrough.
The underdogs from South Ribble had played their full part
in an enthralling cup tie against top notch opposition,
but it just wasn’t to be their day. Perhaps more disappointing
on the day, was the appallingly low turn out at the gate
for a match of such stature.
Bamber Bridge: McCormick, Steel, McMenemy, Melling (Williams 79mins), Tong, M Mahoney, Brown, D Mahoney, Salmon, O'Neil (Spencer 69mins), Porter. Unused Subs: Fletcher, Carroll and Dashti
Goals: Porter (26mins, 45mins pen)
Attendance: 330
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