Official website of Bamber Bridge Football Club
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Home > 2007-08 Season > Match Reports > Bradford Park Avenue (16.02.08) |
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MATCH REPORTBamber Bridge 2 Bradford Park Avenue 1Northern Premier League 1st Division Northat IrongateSaturday 16th February 2008By Dave Rowland
Brig went into this crucial First Division North home game against fellow promotion seeking rivals Bradford Park Avenue, hoping to avenge the 2-3 defeat that they suffered at the Horsfall Stadium back in November. The South Ribble side were also keen to maintain their recent run of good form which has produced a six game unbeaten sequence of results and has catapulted the team firmly back amongst the leading pack in the league table. Their Yorkshire guests, who were just one place behind and three points adrift of Brig in fourth spot, were also keen to protect an impressive record. This season Bradford’s performances and results have been consistently good and they have lost only once in their last 14 outings in the league. Brig boss Phil Entwistle made just two changes to the starting line-up that had done so well at Rossendale United during the week. Latest capture, Ryan Bowen, came in at left-back to replace Alan Glover who had picked up a slight knock at Rossendale on Tuesday and Stephen Brown was brought back into the right of midfield replacing Tom Ince, who was named as one of the substitutes. In a lively opening period with both sides fully committed to the cause, Bradford goalkeeper Jon Worsnop made a good save to keep out a Danny Mahoney header at the near post following an Alex Porter in-swinging corner-kick from the right. Then corners by Alex Porter from the right and Stephen Brown from the left were repulsed as Brig went on the offensive. The visitors were slick and menacing going forward with midfielder Chris Gahgan in particular proving a handful.
Brig almost grabbed a second goal within minutes when Adam Tong just failed to reach another well placed Porter free-kick. Bradford countered and Tong made a timely last-ditch tackle on Paul Gedman as the former Burscough striker bore down on goal after good work down the left flank by Chris Williams. The game was an excellent spectacle for the larger than average Irongate crowd and there was nothing to choose between the sides at the interval. Bradford came out determined to snatch a quick equaliser after the break but Worsnop was forced to make a diving save at the other end to keep out a Porter volley as Brig retaliated. Then David Eaton shot just wide on 53 minutes following a strong run through the visiting defence by Brown followed by a neat lay-off by Salmon. Worsnop once again came to his sides aid with a great diving save from a Porter snap-shot after a long throw-in by Tong completely had caught out the visiting defence.
Brig threatened with a flurry of raids. An Alex Porter drive was tipped over the crossbar by Worsnop after a good run by Brown and an excellent lay-off by Mark Edmeads. Then a Tong ‘goal’ was ruled out following a push on a defender after a Brown corner-kick on the right. The ‘Big felleh’ (Tong) was not to be denied for long however and gave the South Ribble side a commanding lead on 64 minutes. A needless trip off the ball on Edmeads by Bradford skipper Steven Connors gave Brig a free-kick some 30 yards from goal. ADAM TONG’s dead-ball kick flew into the net following a deflection. It was a similar goal to the two he had scored at the Horsfall against the same opponents back in November. However, the visitors pulled a goal back immediately when CHRIS GAHGAN found some space and advanced on the retreating home defence before unleashing a thundering shot past McCormick from the edge of the penalty box. Both Edmeads and Salmon came close as Brig kept plugging away before Dave Eaton missed a golden opportunity to wrapp things up for the home side when blasting over from just six yards out after Brown had flicked the ball past Worsnop.
Despite a very exciting finish when both sides could have added to their scores, Bamber Bridge ultimately endured. McCormick impressively tipped over an effort by Moseley in the late stages but the day really belonged to the resilient Lancastrians who deservedly took the three points. McCormick, M Mahoney, Bowen, Steel, Tong, Edmeads, Brown (Fleming 89mins), D Mahoney, Salmon, Eaton (Spencer 85mins), Porter. Unused sub : Ince Bamber Bridge: McCormick, M Mahoney, Glover, Steel, Tong, Edmeads, Ince, D Mahoney, Salmon, Eaton, Porter. Unused Subs: Brown, Spencer, Dashti Goals: Salmon (21 mins), Tong (64 mins) H-T: 1 - 0 Attendance: 296 Sponsors (Bamber Bridge Scooter Club) Man of the Match: Alex Porter
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Bamber Bridge eventually came out on top of this crucial ‘Roses’ clash with a fine 2-1 win at sun-soaked Irongate to move into poll position in the First Division North table. Brig had gone two goals in front in this evenly matched encounter, but were made to fight hard for the spoils after their hardworking West Yorkshire guests pulled a goal back midway through the second-half. This thrilling game was a fine advert for the First Division, with quality blood and thunder football unashamedly demonstrated by both sides.
However, the home side broke the deadlock on 21 minutes with a fine goal when RYAN SALMON turned and shot on the half-volley after Worsnop had spilled a well executed free-kick from Porter whilst under pressure. It was the young Brig striker’s 25th goal of the season.
The home side were not having things all their own way and Brig goalkeeper Terry McCormick saved at full stretch, spreading himself to keep out a point-blank Mike Moseley effort on 57 minutes.
Bradford Park Avenue piled forward seeking a late equaliser but all their well intentioned efforts were competently dealt with by the impeccable defending of Glenn Steel and Adam Tong, who patrolled Brig’s rearguard with unbending vigour. Man-of-the-match, Steel, was particularly diligent in the back line for the homesters. Bradford had by no means been easy opponents to subdue.