Official website of Bamber Bridge Football Club
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Home > 2007-08 Season > Match Reports > Clitheroe (26.04.08) |
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MATCH REPORTClitheroe 2 Bamber Bridge 2Northern Premier League 1st Division Northat ShawbridgeSaturday 26th April 2008By Dave RowlandDespite a nervy performance Bamber Bridge just did enough to gain the point they needed for a top five finish. The Irongate side fought back bravely after being behind twice in this hard fought Lancashire derby. A determined Clitheroe went in at the break a goal to the good following a battling display which unsettled the visitors. However, Brig stepped up a gear in the second-half and despite going behind for a second time, they showed great spirit to snatch a draw ten minutes from time, and will now play United of Manchester at Bury next Wednesday night in the Semi-Final of the First Division North play-offs. After crushing promotion rivals Ossett Albion 5-0 at Queens Terrace two days previously, Brig arrived at Shawbridge requiring just a single point to secure a place in the play-offs. The South Ribble side were also keen to remain unbeaten against their county rivals; having won one and drawn one of their last two meetings this season. Clitheroe, ably lead by former Irongate favourites Neil Reynolds and Peter Smith, were looking to consolidate their position in mid-table after a good run recently which has seen the Ribble Valley outfit avoid the end of season relegation scramble in the First Division North. Irongate boss Phil Entwistle made just one change to the successful starting line-up that had done so well at Dimple Wells on Thursday evening. Ryan-Zico Black came into the side, replacing Neil Zarac who was unavailable. Clitheroe opened brightly and took the game to the visitors. A Scott Redhead corner caused the Brig defence a few anxious moments as the ‘Blues’ hovered menacingly about the Brig penalty area. Bamber Bridge responded with a sudden break and Steve Williams headed just over the crossbar from a Martin Crowder free-kick on 6 minutes. The home side pushed their lofty opponents back on their heels as they audaciously went in search of the opener and were rewarded with a goal on ten minutes, albeit somewhat fortunately. ANTHONY JACKSON fired a fierce drive across the face of goal following a Russ Clarke free-kick on the left and the ball cannoned off the legs of Brig central defender Adam Tong and flew into the net. Clitheroe continued to find gaps in the Brig defence as they put together a number of well orchestrated moves and the visitors looked anything but comfortable. However, Black came close for Brig on 12 minutes with a rasping volley from the edge of the penalty-box, which was brilliantly tipped around the goalpost by ‘Blues’ goalkeeper James Mann. Clitheroe should have increased their lead on 17 minutes when a Carl Lomax fee-kick from 20 yards out struck the base of the goalpost with Brig goalkeeper Terry McCormick well beaten. The game swung one way and then the other before Brig’s Ryan Bowen put Stephen Brown away down the right flank on 25 minutes. Brown crashed in a low drive from an angle but Mann got down and saved well at the near post. Brig enjoyed a purple-patch with a flurry of dangerous raids as they went in search of parity but the home defence held firm. Brig’s leading marksman Ryan Salmon was inches away from an Alex Porter cross just before the break as the visitors began to get into their rhythm. Clitheroe had a guilt-edged opportunity immediately after the interval when Lomax broke through the Brig defence, but McCormick was quickly off his line to smother the danger. Clitheroe looked more comfortable on the ball as they went looking for the all-important second goal and former Brigger, Dave Hankin, came close with a header on 53 minutes following a great cross from the left by the industrious Scott Redhead. Despite this, Brig grabbed an equaliser two minutes later when skipper ALEX PORTER curled a free-kick just inside the post from 20 yards out. Three minutes later Clitheroe were back in front when a well struck Hankin free-kick from the left hand edge of the box came back off McCormick and central defender JONATHON SMITH followed up to finish off from close range. To their credit, the visitors picked themselves up and began to penetrate the Clitheroe rearguard with some inventive, if somewhat frenetic play. Indeed, they came close to an equaliser twice within as many minutes when first, substitute Sean O’Neil headed narrowly over from a Crowder cross on 62 minutes, and then Crowder himself blasted a drive inches over the crossbar from 25 yards out. Bamber Bridge began to dictate play and Mann palmed a Porter cross off the head of Mark Edmeads in the nick of time as the young midfielder came rushing in. The pressure paid off with ten minutes remaining with the all important equaliser. O’Neil won possession down the inside-left position and fired in a well executed pass across the edge of the Clitheroe penalty area. Ryan Salmon selflessly stepped over the ball to leave full-back MARTIN CROWDER in the clear at the back post, and the former Colwyn Bay man confidently drove home his first goal for the club. In a typically hard fought Lancashire derby both sides went in search of the winner. However, it was Clitheroe that came closest to winning the game in the last few minutes. McCormick narrowed the angle to keep out veteran Peter Smith at the left hand goalpost and Jonathon Smith should have done better with the rebound, but sliced his effort over the crossbar. Brig had McCormick to thank on two further occasions in the dying minutes when he denied Lomax in one-on-one confrontations and the game eventually ended all-square. Bamber Bridge: McCormick, Steel, Crowder, Williams, Tong, Bowen, Brown (Edmeads 65mins), D Mahoney, Salmon, Black (O’Neil 61mins) (Fleming 86mins), Porter Goals: Porter (59 mins), Crowder (82 mins) Attendance: 320 HT: 1 - 0
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