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Home > 2007-08 Season > Match Reports > Rossendale United (18.03.08)

MATCH REPORT

Bamber Bridge 2 Rossendale United 4

Northern Premier League 1st Division North

at Irongate

Tuesday 18th March 2008

By Dave Rowland

Bamber Bridge went down to their second home defeat on the trot following a disappointing 2-4 reverse against a lively Rossendale United last night. The game dramatically changed direction on 25 minutes with Brig one goal to the good and looking in control of the game. New signing from Colwyn Bay, Martin Crowder, who had a short but very eventful debut, was sent off after he was adjudged to have handled on the goal-line. Following the resultant penalty kick from which the East Lancashire side scored, the visitors quickly added two more within a seven minute spell, and to all intents and purposes the game was over as a contest. Despite a spirited second-half performance, the home side found the deficit just too big a hurdle to overcome. They were later reduced to nine men when leading scorer Ryan Salmon was sent off after having words with the referee.

Brig were hoping to maintain the sort of form that has seen them taste defeat just once in the last eleven games. The South Ribble side were also eager to keep the momentum going, at what is, a crucial stage of the season. The club are handily placed in 4th spot in the First Division North table, with just under six weeks of the season remaining. Brig were determined to achieve the ‘league double’ over county rivals Rossendale United, after narrowly winning with a single Ryan Salmon strike at Dark Lane on the 12th February. ‘Rossy’ arrived at Irongate looking to get back on track following a disappointing 1-3 home defeat at the weekend against West Yorkshire side Ossett Albion.

Boss Phil Entwistle made two changes to the side that had won 3-2 at Stainton Park on Saturday and also shuffled his pack. After receiving international clearance from the Football Association of Wales, Martin Crowder made his debut coming in at full-back to replace Tom Ince who took a place on the bench. Glenn Steel returned following injury, replacing Stephen Brown who was rested. Stuart Beech was moved into a defensive midfield position and Allan Fleming moved to full-back to accommodate Steel in the centre of the back line.

On a bitterly cold but clear night, Brig opened in lively and determined fashion. An early sweeping four-man move involving Martin Crowder, Danny Mahoney, Ryan Salmon and Ryan Bowen ended when the latter was caught marginally offside. However, the home team had set their sights on an early goal and their endeavours paid off on 13 minutes when they took the lead. RYAN SALMON latched on to a long clearance from the defence and his shot took a slight deflection, which wrong footed ‘Stags’ goalkeeper Lee Bracey, before neatly tucking just inside the right hand goalpost. It was Salmons 26th strike of the season.

On 20 minutes the home side almost increased their lead when a drive by Crowder from 30 yards out rattled Bracey’s crossbar. Crowder’s part in the proceedings came to a sudden and dramatic end five minutes later when he fell victim to an incident that was to totally change the course of events. ’Stags’ full-back, Richard Watson made a powerful run at the home defence down the left before whipping in a fierce shot which was parried by Terry McCormick in the Brig goal. The ball broke free and Phil Eastwood pounced to send in a close range header which the unfortunate Crowder was adjudged to have handled on the line and as a consequence the Brig new boy was shown the red card for his trouble. EASTWOOD sent McCormick the wrong way from the spot and it was all square.

Shaken, the home side tried to reorganise, but United took full and devastating advantage, with two more strikes within the next seven minutes. On 28 minutes the Brig defence got into a tangle when clearing their lines and the ball fell to former Irongate favourite JOHN TURNER who sent in a blistering volley from 30 yards out with McCormick stranded on the edge of the box. It was a superb strike, reminiscent of his efforts whilst wearing the white shirt of Bamber Bridge in times past. Two minutes later Rossendale were in a seemingly impregnable position after adding a third goal. MARIO DANIEL made a strong run unchallenged down the inside-left channel before unleashing a fine low shot beyond the reach of McCormick’s despairing dive.

The game continued at a fierce and well contested pace with plenty of good football displayed by both sides. Following an Eastwood drive which went narrowly wide of an upright for the ‘Stags‘, Glenn Steel was unlucky at the other end with a header from a Danny Mahoney free-kick on 40 minutes which brought a brilliant save out of Bracey.

Brig were glad of the half-time whistle and a chance to reorganise. Manager Phil Entwistle made two substitutions in an effort to pull things round in the second period. The move paid off and the home side began the second-half in the same determined manner that they had shown at the start of the first 45 minutes.

However, Rossendale came close to increasing their lead on 53 minutes with a well orchestrated move. Watson got Matt Edington away down the right with an astute angled pass and the flying wingman sent in a dangerous cross which Ben Lloyd headed narrowly over the crossbar.

Brig responded with some fine play and Salmon brought the best out of Bracey with a powerful header from a Tom Ince cross from the right. The ten-men home side began to dictate the proceedings with some delightful football and should have pulled a goal back on 55 minutes when Salmon blazed over at the back post from a Porter cross. Allan Fleming then went close when he saw his header well saved by Bracey from a Porter free-kick. Brig’s efforts were well rewarded on 57 minutes when they pulled a goal back. Alex Porter drove in a swirling free-kick and the ball was bundled over the line by ADAM TONG.

The South Ribble side gallantly went in search of the equaliser but were forced to leave themselves open at the back and the visitors took full advantage with a fourth goal on 77 minutes to negate the efforts of their plucky opponents. Brig were stretched at the back as Turner found space for himself down the right flank. His pin-point cross was confidently side-footed home by the unmarked EASTWOOD for his second of the game.

Despite the two goal deficit Brig kept plugging away but escaped a couple of late scares when first, Tom Clarkson headed narrowly over following good work by Joe Booth on 80 minutes, and then when Eastwood saw his worthy effort deflected wide for a corner.

The home side’s misery was complete on 87 minutes when they were reduced to nine men after a moment of indiscipline by Salmon who was sent off after a wrong word or two with the referee.

Bamber Bridge: McCormick, Fleming, Crowder, Steel (Edmeads 44mins), Tong, Bowen (Ince 45mins), Beech, D Mahoney, Salmon, Eaton (Spencer 45mins), Porter

Goals: Salmon (13 mins), Tong (57 mins)

H-T: 1 - 3

Attendance: 191

Sponsors Man of the Match: -