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Home > 2007-08 Season > Match Reports > Ossett Albion (19.04.08)

MATCH REPORT

Bamber Bridge 1 Ossett Albion 2

Northern Premier League 1st Division North

at Irongate

Saturday 19th April 2008

By Dave Rowland

Bamber Bridge’s promotion hopes suffered a severe jolt when they went down to defeat in this ‘roses clash’ against a workmanlike Ossett Albion side who stuck to their game plan with great determination at Irongate. Brig looked out of sorts throughout and their cause was not helped when leading marksman Ryan Salmon was sent-off just after the half-time break following a needlessly reckless challenge. Despite a commendable second-half challenge the Lancastrians were unable to penetrate the well marshalled Albion defence.

Brig were looking to consolidate their position in the play-off places in the First Division North as they sought their first win against the West Yorkshire side following four previous attempts that has yielded only a single point. Ossett Albion arrived at Irongate only three points adrift of fifth placed Brig and were eager to snatch a victory which would see them leapfrog over their Lancashire hosts on goal-difference. The Yorkshiremen have been boosted by a recent run which has seen them undefeated in their last ten outings in the league.

Brig boss Phil Entwistle made four changes to the line-up which drew with Curzon Ashton during the week. Matt Mahoney came in at right-back allowing Ryan Bowen to move back into a more familiar midfield roll replacing Danny Mahoney. Glenn Steel returned from injury taking up a defensive midfield position and Mark Edmeads replaced Tom Ince. Leading marksman Ryan Salmon returned following a five match ban and Alex Porter dropped to the bench.

On a bitterly cold spring afternoon Albion kicked off towards the Baxi end and enjoyed the early running. Brig goalkeeper Terry McCormick had to be alert as early as the 6th minute when he did well to come out on top of a one-on-one with Albion’s David Syers when the lively midfielder broke through on goal.

Brig were having to defend stoutly against their determined West Yorkshire guests who looked menacing as they poured forward in numbers.

The home side responded with some sharp raids of their own and Sean O’Neil came close with a back header from an Adam Tong long throw-in but Albion goalkeeper Scott Bennett collected comfortably under his crossbar. Salmon then just failed by inches to reach an O’Neil glancing header in front of goal as Brig went in search of the opener. O’Neil came desperately close when Bennett was forced to save at full stretch, tipping the strikers header around the goalpost.

Brig’s endeavours were to pay off after 28 minutes when they got their noses in front following a flurry of three corner-kicks in as many minutes. Martin Crowder took a flag-kick on the right and SEAN O’NEIL reacted first to head over the line via the goalpost from close range and although the ball was hacked away before Steve Williams buried the rebound, the goal had already been awarded.

The goal only proved to galvanize the determined Yorkshiremen and they went in search of parity with a vengeance. It was no surprise therefore, when they did eventually grab an equaliser in the 38th minute. Shane Kelsey got control of a cross down the right following some enterprising play on the left flank and quickly returned the ball across Brig’s back line. ANDREW CATTON took advantage of the spread-eagled home defence and headed home from close in.

The goal spurred Albion on and they managed to snatch a second just prior to the interval. Catton had blasted over McCormick’s crossbar from a good position in the 42nd minute but two minutes later Joe Thornton launched a free-kick into the Brig box from distance. DARREL JENKINSON got in behind the home defence and powerfully headed home what ultimately proved to be the winner.

After the break Brig survived an early goalmouth scramble before a Williams header was kicked off the goal-line by a defender at the other end following a Crowder corner and Salmon smacked the follow-up high and wide.

Bamber Bridge then suffered a further blow in the 58th minute when Ryan Salmon was sent-off for a needlessly reckless challenge on David Syers around the halfway line.

Despite this, the home team pushed forward in search of the equaliser and were further boosted by a double substitution on 63 minutes when Alex Porter and Tom Ince came on to galvanize Brig’s midfield.

Albion were increasingly reliant on breakaways but almost grabbed a third goal on 72 minutes when McCormick was forced to make a brilliant one-handed save from Jenkinson who had broken through the overstretched home defence.

Ten-men Brig valiantly took the game to the visitors in the closing stages and had them pushed back for long periods. O’Neil came close to his second goal in time added-on when Bennett did well to keep out the strikers snapshot following a well directed Tom Ince cross.

However, the West Yorkshire side comfortably held out and the home team left the field disconsolately at the termination of hostilities.

Bamber Bridge: McCormick, M Mahoney (Fleming 65mins), Crowder (Ince 63mins), Williams, Tong, Steel, Edmeads (Porter 63mins), Bowen, O'Neil, Salmon, Black

Goals: O'Neil

Attendance: 179

HT: 1 - 2