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Home > 2007-08 Season > Match Reports > Chorley (26.12.07)

MATCH REPORT

Bamber Bridge 1 Chorley 2

Northern Premier League 1st Division North

at Irongate

Wednesday 26th December 2007

By Dave Rowland

Bamber Bridge saw out the old year with a derby-day defeat against neighbours Chorley, who, despite being reduced to ten men, managed to take all three points with a Stephen Burke goal in that last minute of the game. In a drama filled encounter, Brig can point to a controversial decision by the referee on the stroke of half-time which went against them. After awarding the home side a penalty-kick, from which they scored, referee Mr Thorley, made Brig skipper Alex Porter retake the spot-kick, as the official had apparently blown his whistle in order to caution Chorley full-back Michael Eckersley for dissent. Unnerved, Porter placed his second effort straight at Chorley goalkeeper Peter Collinge.

Brig were hoping to carry over the good work from Saturday after returning from the North Yorkshire coast with all three points following a fine 2-0 victory over Bridlington Town. The South Ribble side were also looking to achieve a hat-trick of wins at Irongate this season over their nearest neighbours Chorley after knocking the Magpies out of the League Challenge Cup in September and winning the first league meeting between the sides on the 1st December. A much improved Chorley arrived at Irongate still smarting from the 4-1 defeat suffered at Brig three-and-a-half weeks previously. Indeed, they were determined to put the record straight by repeating last seasons Boxing Day derby success when they enjoyed an emphatic 3-0 victory.

Brig boss Phil Entwistle made just one change to the successful line-up that did duty at Bridlington Town at the weekend. Neil Spencer came in to lead the line in place of Dave Eaton who reported sick. Chorley were without a game on Saturday after their home fixture against Mossley fell foul of the inclement weather.

Brig came out of the blocks with all guns blazing and James Mullineux rescued his side only seconds from the kick-off when he cut out a menacing Porter cross at the expense of a corner.

Despite starting the game on the back-foot, Chorley steadied themselves and came very close on 15 minutes when Eckersley headed narrowly over the crossbar following a fine Chris Brookes centre from the left.

It was developing into a typical Lancashire derby with both sides fully committed to the cause. Not much was being given away and little quarter was shown, as both teams got stuck in. Bamber Bridge were perhaps more enterprising at this stage and went near to opening their account on 25 minutes when a slick Danny Mahoney through-ball found Sean O’Neil in space, but the former soldier fired just wide under pressure.

Chorley responded well and Brig goalkeeper Terry McCormick defied Mullineux with a brilliant save from the midfielders full-blooded drive on the half-hour mark, as the game began to swing one way and then the other. A number of well constructed moves by Chorley saw the Brig defence having to work overtime and this period of sustained pressure was to pay off for the Magpies with the opening goal of the game on 37 minutes, albeit from the penalty spot. Steve Williams was adjudged to have impeded Mullineux inside the box and CHRIS McDONAGH made no mistake from the spot; sending McCormick the wrong way.

Brig were stung into reaction and O’Neil was just wide from an Adam Tong long through-ball. However, the home side were awarded a penalty on the stroke of half-time when Eckersley needlessly flattened Neil Spencer in the box. Porter teed up the spot-kick and when the whistle blew he fired home confidently beyond Collinge’s despairing dive. Much to everyone’s surprise the ‘goal’ was ruled out as the official cautioned Eckersley, apparently for something that he had said. Obviously unnerved by the controversy, Porter’s second attempt lacked both direction and power and Collinge kept the ball out with little difficulty.

Feeling aggrieved, Brig came out on the offensive after the break and Glenn Steel almost got himself on the score-sheet when firing just over following good work by Spencer. The game now had a definite sting in its tail and Chorley responded with some enterprising play. A fine run and cross by Eckersley ended when David German headed across the face of goal with McCormick scrambling to make a save.

Brig moved forward looking for parity and a quickly taken free-kick by Danny Mahoney was fired inches past the far upright by Stephen Brown. On the other hand, Chorley went in search of another goal to kill off their eager opponents; as the game turned into an intriguing battle for the Boxing Day crowd.

McDonagh almost claimed his second goal of the game for the visitors midway through the second-half, firing just wide of McCormick’s left hand post.

In a desperate attempt to seize the initiative, Brig manager Phil Entwistle made a triple substitution in the 65th minute, and the audacious move almost brought an immediate reward. Mike Fletcher, who had just been introduced, saw his snap-shot tipped over by Collinge before a Brown effort was deflected wide. The pressure inevitably began to increase on the Chorley goal with a succession of near misses. A Steve Williams header was pushed around the post by Collinge before Steel headed wide from a Brown corner-kick.

Bamber Bridge could not be denied and they deservedly equalised in the 82nd minute following a period of frantic action in and around the visitors goalmouth. A long throw-in by Tong caused havoc amongst the visitors defence and Brig skipper ALEX PORTER took advantage to volley home in fine style. Three minutes later the drama increased when Magpies central defender Liam Coyne was sent-off for thumping Danny Mahoney. With their blood up from their equalising goal and with the one-man advantage, Brig, understandably, went for the jugular. However, the game was to have one final dramatic twist in its tail.

With the minutes running out, Chorley substitute Jordan Goodeve sent STEPHEN BURKE away through the middle with a superbly executed long-ball out of defence. The Chorley striker kept his nerve before drawing McCormick from his line and shooting home with confidence with two Brig defenders desperately trying to keep the ball from entering the net.

Their was a last minute escape for the gallant ten-men as an Adam Tong header was cleared off the goal-line following a last-minute corner-kick from Brown on the left.

Bamber Bridge: McCormick, Melling (Fletcher 65mins), McMenemy (Edmeads 65mins), Williams, Tong, Steel, Brown, D Mahoney, O’Neil, Spencer (M Mahoney 65mins), Porter

Goals: Porter (82mins)

Attendance: 366