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Home > 2007-08 Season > Match Reports > Woodley Sports (29.03.08)

MATCH REPORT

Woodley Sports 2 Bamber Bridge 3

Northern Premier League 1st Division North

at Lambeth Stadium

Saturday 29th March 2008

By Dave Rowland

Bamber Bridge stole the points with two goals in the last two minutes of the game at Lambeth Stadium against strugglers Woodley Sports after falling behind twice. In truth, Brig didn’t play particularly well on the day but stuck to their task manfully in the trying conditions and were boosted by an inspired triple substitution on the hour mark, in a tactical move that was ultimately to prove decisive.

Brig arrived at Lambeth Grove flushed with success following their fine derby win against Chorley at Victory Park on Easter Monday. The South Ribble side were looking to consolidate their position amongst the play-off positions in the First Division North. They were also hoping to go one better against their Cheshire hosts after having drawn 2-2 at the Lambeth Stadium on the 19th January. Strugglers, Woodley Sports, had not won a game since then. Indeed, they were desperate for the points; not having tasted victory in any of their previous ten games in the league.

Brig manager Phil Entwistle was forced into making one change to his starting line-up that had enjoyed success over near neighbours Chorley on Easter Monday. Leading marksman Ryan Salmon, who was badly injured at Chorley, was replaced in the front-line by Dave Eaton. Recent signing from Lancaster City, Ryan-Zico Black was named as one of the substitutes and made a dream start with his new club when netting the winner in the last minute of the game. The other two substitutes who would ultimately play a significant roll in the proceedings, was impressive midfielder Danny Mahoney and striker Sean O’Neil, who equalised two minutes from the end. Both returned following injury.

The visitors kicked-off into the driving wind and rain and took the initiative as they moved the ball about intelligently.

However, Woodley adopted a more direct approach and almost went ahead on 12 minutes as a consequence. Right-fullback Liam Hogan sent in a long angled cross from distance that found Matt Haley on the opposite flank and caught Brig’s back line strung out. Haley laid the ball into the path of Andy Farrell, but the ’Steelmen’s’ striker shot narrowly wide of an upright with Brig goalkeeper Terry McCormick well beaten.

Bamber Bridge struggled to move forward in the teeth of a mighty gale-force wind which whipped the length of the pitch as Woodley began to take advantage, but both sides were having problems keeping the ball in play on the slippery plastic surface.

A free-kick by ‘The Steelmens’ goalkeeper Paul Horridge carried over the Brig defence in the wind on 18 minutes and Haley nipped in behind the defence but guided his shot inches wide of the goal with McCormick alone and exposed.

The home side looked dangerous every time they went forward and it was little surprise when they took the lead in the 22nd minute. Pat Maguire took a corner on the left and the ball was only partially cleared by the harassed Brig defence. It was headed back in and ANDY FARRELL reacting first, headed home at the back post to put his side in the driving seat.

Bamber Bridge eagerly tried to step up their game and came close to an equaliser on 34 minutes when Horridge spilled a viciously stuck cross from Brig skipper Alex Porter, but there was nobody on hand to take advantage and the chance was lost.

On the stoke of half-time Woodley almost increased their lead when centre-half Nick Boothby headed narrowly wide from a Maguire corner-kick on the right.

With the elements in the visitors favour after the break it was expected that there was going to be an all-out assault on the Woodley goal, but surprisingly, this did not materialise. In fact, Brig almost got caught out early doors when McCormick performed wonders in winning a one-on-one with Farrell when the ‘Steelmen’ broke quickly out of defence.

Brig eventually began to come out of their shell and almost grabbed an equaliser on 53 minutes when a Matt Mahoney drive skimmed the outside of the goalpost from 20 yards out following a neat Mark Edmeads lay-off.

The visitors made a triple substitution on the hour mark and the game took on a fresh complexion. A neat link up by the three newcomers Black, Danny Mahoney and O’Neil almost brought an immediate reward but the danger was snuffed out by the resolute home defence.

Woodley remained dangerous on the break but were completely undone in the 78th minute when Brig drew level with a superb strike. The home defence were at full stretch attempting to clear their lines following a Martin Crowder corner-kick from the right but ADAM TONG delivered a withering drive from 20 yards out after a fine lay-off by Glenn Steel to notch up his 9th goal of the season.

Brig’s jubilation lasted but two minutes when ‘The Steelmen’ caught them on the hop with a lightening strike by substitute PETER WILD who moved in from the left and sent home a finely placed shot across McCormick and into the far corner of the net. It was a fine and skilfully measured goal.

Woodley should then have made the game safe when Tom Blacker crashed the ball over the Brig crossbar when left unmarked at the back post. The home side were to pay dearly, when, with two minutes left on the clock, Brig stole the show with two lightening strikes.

Alex Porter worked his way down the left in the 88th minute and delivered a neat cross into the Woodley penalty-box where substitute SEAN O’NEIL lay completely unmarked, and the former soldier tucked the ball home with great panache. Worse was to follow for the Cheshire side when Stephen Brown broke up a home attack and wriggled his way down the right flank before delivering a sweeping cross from distance into the path of RYAN-ZICO BLACK who gleefully touched the ball home from close range.

In a dramatic finish McCormick brilliantly dived backwards and tipped a ferociously struck Peter Wild free-kick over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty-box to ensure that the points were headed towards Irongate.

Bamber Bridge: McCormick, Crowder, Bowen, Steel, Tong, Edmeads (D Mahoney 60mins), Brown, D Mahoney, Spencer (Black 60mins), Eaton (O'Neil 60mins), Porter

Goals: Tong (80 mins), O'Neil (89 mins), Black (90 mins)

Attendance: 90