Official website of Bamber Bridge Football Club
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MATCH REPORTChorley 0 Bamber Bridge 1Northern Premier League 1st Division Northat The Chorley Nissan Victory Park StadiumMonday 24th March 2008By Dave RowlandBamber Bridge took all three points in this closely contested Easter Monday derby after a fine workmanlike performance against a Chorley side high on endeavour but lacking in guile. A goal just prior to the break proved sufficient for the visitors who kept doggedly to their game-plan throughout. The game was never a classic but was entertaining enough for the healthy Bank Holiday attendance. Brig arrived at Victory Park hoping for a change in fortune after having won just two of their last six games in the league, and were keen to reinvigorate their promotion aspirations following three consecutive home defeats against Rossendale United, league leaders Skelmersdale United and Wakefield. The South Ribble side were also looking to put the record straight against their near neighbours following the 1-2 reverse suffered at Irongate on Boxing Day. Chorley, who have recently shown a remarkable improvement in form since the arrival of new manager Tony Hesketh at the beginning of February, were looking to get back into the winning groove, following a 0-2 defeat in West Yorkshire against Ossett Albion on Good Friday. Brig boss Phil Entwistle made just two changes to the side that went down heavily to Skelmersdale United at Irongate last Friday. Glenn Steel returned to the colours after injury and replaced Allan Fleming in the centre of defence with Fleming taking a place on the substitutes bench. Matty Mahoney came back into midfield following a four-match ban with Ryan Bowen moving to full-back in place of Stuart Beech who picked up a knock against Skelmersdale three days earlier. Influential midfielder Danny Mahoney was hoping to make a start but failed a late fitness test. A light fall of snow greeted the kick-off on a bitterly cold Easter Monday afternoon at Victory Park. After a somewhat slow start to the proceedings, with both sides hesitantly probing each others defence looking for an early opening, Brig made the first worthwhile attempt on goal. Adam Tong got on the end of a Ryan Bowen cross at the back post on 5 minutes but his header went narrowly wide of the upright. Chorley responded and Stephen Burke got the ball past Brig goalkeeper Terry McCormick but his effort lacked pace and Glenn Steel stole in to clear the danger. A superb ball out of defence by ‘Magpies’ skipper Martin Clark put Danny Nolan away on 14 minutes and Nolan’s angled through-ball set up Burke, but McCormick was quickly off his line and the chance was lost. Passes started to go astray as the snow began to fall in earnest and there was little to separate the sides. However, after surviving a couple of questionable penalty appeals, Brig almost took the lead just beyond the half-hour mark. Stephen Brown worked his way down the right and found Ryan Salmon in space. Salmon’s cross was powerfully driven goal-wards by Neil Spencer from ten yards, but Chorley goalkeeper Peter Collinge made a fine reaction-save at full stretch. The visitors began to find openings in the Chorley defence with some inventive football and should have gone ahead on 36 minutes. Following some fine approach play by Mark Edmeads and Stephen Brown down the right flank, Ryan Salmon shot over the crossbar when well placed. Despite this, Brig did get on the score-sheet two minutes later after a well orchestrated move. The industrious Alex Porter worked his way down the left and sent in a low cross which was turned in by the unmarked MARK EDMEADS from close range. Chorley fought back tigerishly and went very close to equalising on 42 minutes when Steel blocked a Nolan shot on the goal-line before McCormick saved Mike Eckersley’s follow-up with his feet. Eckersley then just failed to get on the end of a Mark Drew free-kick just before the break. The expected Chorley onslaught after the interval did not materialise and with the snow now disappeared and the sun in bright raiment, Brig went on the offensive. Brig leading marksman, Ryan Salmon, came in for some special attention on 55 minutes when he was unceremoniously flattened by Keiron Fletcher who was extremely fortunate to stay on the field. Salmon took no further part in the game and after lengthy treatment was taken to hospital. The visitors were unsettled for a while after this incident and Gavin-Lee Ellison came close for the ‘Magpies’ when shooting narrowly wide on 57 minutes with McCormick beaten. Brig substitute Dave Eaton saw his shot blocked by Collinge at the other end following a long clearance by Adam Tong on the hour mark as the visitors began to take control. However, the home side went in search of parity and a Nolan header was deflected for a corner on 70 minutes following a good run and cross by Ian Taylor. Nolan then linked well with Eckersley through the middle but their intrusion was snuffed out by the resolute visiting defence ably led by Adam Tong. Chorley’s efforts lacked conviction and as their star began to wane Bamber Bridge stepped up a gear. Indeed, it took a fine intervention by Ellison with a last ditch tackle on the marauding Spencer after 75 minutes to keep the score at 1-0. Tong was desperately unlucky five minutes later when he poked a cross by Martin Crowder inches past an upright. Chorley looked increasingly more impotent as the game wore on and Matty Mahoney should have doubled Brig’s account in the dying minutes when tamely shooting into Collinge’s arms when well placed following a neat Spencer lay-off. Bamber Bridge: McCormick, Crowder, Bowen, Steel, Tong, Edmeads, M Mahoney, Brown, Salmon (Eaton 55mins), Spencer, Porter. Unused Subs: Fleming, Glover Goals: Edmeads (38mins) H-T: 1 - 0 Attendance: 457
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