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Home > 2007-08 Season > Match Reports > FC United of Manchester (23.02.08)

MATCH REPORT

Bamber Bridge 0 FC United of Manchester 0

Northern Premier League 1st Division North

at Irongate

Saturday 23rd February 2008

By Dave Rowland

After a good deal of huffing and puffing and plenty of honest endeavour all round, both sides emerged with a point from this hotly disputed promotion tussle. United couldn’t break down a resolute Brig defence in a first-half which they had totally dominated, whilst after the interval, the home side made most of the running, despite being reduced to ten men just before the hour mark.

Second placed Brig were looking to maintain their push for promotion following an impressive revival in their fortunes since Christmas, having won five and drawn two of the seven games played. United arrived at Irongate playing catch-up, being eight points behind Bamber Bridge, but with three games in hand. ‘The Rebels’ were also keen to put the record straight following their 0-3 defeat at Irongate in mid-November.

Brig manager Phil Entwistle made no changes and kept faith with the side that had overcome Bradford Park Avenue the week previously.

United came out of the blocks early and almost caught the home defence napping in the first minute when a Simon Carden header was blocked on the goal-line by Brig centre-half Adam Tong following a pin-point cross from the right by Jamie Baguley.

Brig responded with Stephen Brown and Dave Eaton causing problems for the visitors with a fine combination of passes down the right flank.

However, ‘The Rebels’ almost got their noses in front on 10 minutes when Ryan Bowen kicked a Carden effort off the goal-line after a superb cross by Jerome Wright.

Whilst United remained firmly on the offensive, the home side looked menacing on the break and Brig’s leading marksman Ryan Salmon had to be closed down quickly as he pounced threateningly onto an astute Danny Mahoney through-ball.

However, Bamber Bridge lacked conviction going forward and had to rely on a resolute rearguard as the visitors stormed the breaches time after time in search of an opening. Rory Patterson was very unlucky after 25 minutes when Brig goalkeeper Terry McCormick somehow got a hand to the United striker’s free-kick and diverted the shot onto the crossbar.

At the other end, Salmon saw his header finger-tipped away by United goalkeeper Aaron Grundy, on the half-hour mark, following a finely taken Alex Porter free-kick. Then ‘The Rebels’ were lucky to escape when Grundy saved right on the line following a mighty scramble inside the United six-yard box.

The Mancunians surged forward at every given opportunity but for all their sweat and industrious endeavours, they were unable to find a way through the resilient Brig defence. Mark Edmeads was at his tenacious best in midfield for Brig and once again Glenn Steel and Adam Tong were a tower of strength in the middle of defence.

Brown broke away down the right for Brig on 38 minutes and his well directed cross caused problems for the United defence, but they were able to clear the danger as Salmon moved in for the kill.

Both sides came close just prior to half-time when Patterson fired just wide of an upright with McCormick beaten for the visitors, and Tong came close with a free-kick on 44 minutes for Bamber Bridge.

Bamber Bridge stepped up a gear after the break and began to enjoy periods of sustained pressure. However, they were reduced to ten men on 59 minutes when Matt Mahoney was dismissed following a reckless challenge on Jerome Wright which sparked an unseemly brawl on the touch-line with several players involved.

‘The Rebels’ took advantage as Brig struggled with the resultant reshuffle and came close twice when first, McCormick saved a Carden drive at full stretch following a Nicky Platt corner from the left, and then Patterson fired just the wrong side of the post after another dangerous United sortie.

Despite being reduced to ten men Brig came out to play their best spell of football and came close to pinching the points in the closing minutes. A Stephen Brown corner-kick from the left caused all sorts of trauma in the United defence and with the seconds ticking away Grundy pulled off a great save when finger-tipping away a Porter cross at the back post as Dave Eaton moved in for the kill.

Bamber Bridge: McCormick, M Mahoney, Bowen, Steel, Tong, Edmeads, Brown, D Mahoney (Ince 45mins), Salmon, Eaton, Porter. Unused Subs: Spencer, Glover

Goals: -

H-T: 0 - 0

Attendance: 1236

Sponsors (-) Man of the Match: -