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Home > 2008-09 Season > Match Reports > FC Halifax Town (16.08.08)

MATCH REPORT

Hailfax Town 0 Bamber Bridge 3

Northern Premier League 1st Division North

at The Shay

Saturday 16th August 2008

By Joe Marchant

Following the unexpected and unfortunate demise of Halifax Town, the hastily formed FC Halifax Town’s first competitive match ended in defeat at the hands of Bamber Bridge at The Shay.

The home side under the management of Jim Vince assisted by Nigel Jemson were hurriedly assembled over a six-week period and a couple of players even signed yesterday. Only two men remain from the Halifax side playing in the Conference last season, the former Burnley and Morecambe goalkeeper Craig Mawson, and right-back Tom Harban.

Brig were without wingers Tom Ince and Steve Brown. Also missing was close-season capture Stuart Howson from Ashton United. Two new faces were in the starting line-up. Goalkeeper Andy Banks returning from Marine, and right-back Jamie Nay back from Enfield. Neil Spencer continued in his new midfield enforcer role.

Halifax took the field in blue unbadged and unsponsored Nike shirts (a temporary strip until their official new kit arrives) whilst Brig wore the all-red away strip.

The Shay still looks like a Football League ground. Large covered terracing at both ends – although the traditional “away” end wasn’t in use. A covered stand runs down one side, whilst an imposing half-built structure is on the opposite side. This houses the dressing rooms and the director’s box.

Both sides began cautiously on the large playing surface in muggy conditions. The first chance of any real note arrived in the sixth minute when Alex Porter twisted and turned to make space to shoot from just outside the box, bringing a comfortable save from Mawson.

The Shaymen hit back on ten minutes when Ashley Stott on their right played a low ball across the edge of the box and Junior Brown’s shot brought a routine save from Banks.

Ross sent a couple of free-kicks well wide before a quick Kris King throw-in saw Ross flash a header inches wide of the far post.

Porter had another chance on 28 minutes after Danny Mahoney slipped a ball through from midfield, but despite creating some more space the shot went a yard wide.

Just after the half hour mark, the hard-working Mike Mason found Porter inside the box and the striker’s first-time shot swerved narrowly wide of the near post.

The Shaymen made a quick break upfield on 35 minutes. The move was prompted by Brown and Stott and continued by Jonny Smith whose cross was volleyed by Ross across the face of the Brig goal without troubling Banks.

Brig had a couple of efforts from either flank. Firstly Mason’s cross/shot from the left dipped fractionally over the bar, whilst Ryan-Zico Black’s cross from the opposite flank was headed wide by Neil Zarac.

Black was fortunate to escape punishment after an altercation with Ross Clegg.

Neither side made any changes at the break, but it was Brig who stormed into the lead after just 16 seconds of the restart. Jamie Nay and Black worked the ball down the right-flank, Black exchanged passes with Zarac before sending over an inch-perfect long cross to the far side of the penalty area where MIKE MASON bulleted a header across goal into the top corner giving Mawson no chance.

With fifty minutes on the clock, The Shaymen threatened with a good move started and finished by winger Brown, bringing a save down to his right from Banks.

Brig doubled their lead on 52 minutes. Mason set-up DANNY MAHONEY just outside the box and the midfielder celebrated his birthday by shooting into the corner of the net.

Mason then let fly with a 25-yarder from a wide position that flew across the goal.

Justin Walker’s free-kick from a yard outside the box was safely collected low down by Banks.

A double substitution inspired a short-lived head of steam from the home side and Stott surged through the middle hotly pursued by Black who did enough to put him off so that the striker’s shot went well wide.

Neither Ross’ header from a Harban long cross, nor Clegg’s long-range effort troubled Brig. There was a narrow escape however when a corner was headed back by Lincoln Adams, Stott flicked it on and an overhead kick went over the bar.

Brig made sure of the points on 70 minutes. Porter put DANNY MAHONEY in on the right side of the box and he advanced on Mawson and cheekily chipped the keeper. Quality finish.

Banks produced the save of the game with eighty minutes gone. Dorryl Proffitt’s cross and Benjy Jones’ goal-bound header was clawed out by the Brig keeper’s left hand. Brig broke upfield and Porter’s shot sailed across the Halifax goalmouth.

With three minutes remaining Spencer and Porter fed it out to Mason on the left and some clever footwork ended with yet another shot fizzing across goal.

In the 89th minute, Mawson came dashing out of his area to clear from Brig sub Sean O’Neil only for his clearance to be collected by Mason wide left who watched his lob drop agonisingly wide of the unguarded home net.

A good, solid, team performance by Brig. Everyone played his part and the team worked well as a unit. Halifax can only get better and this game probably came too soon for them. Their team needs a bit more time to gel. Nice friendly people though, and we were made to feel very welcome.

Bamber Bridge: : Banks, Nay, Fleming, Steel, Tong, Spencer (McCann 90), Black (Edmeads 67), Mahoney, Zarac (O’Neil 72), Porter, Mason Used Subs: Joe Peterson (GK)

Goals: Mason (46mins), Mahoney (52, 70mins)

FC Halifax Town: Mawson, Harban, King, Payne, Adams, Clegg, Smith (Moore 56), Walker, Stott, Ross (Jones 68), Brown (Proffitt 56) Used Subs: Phil Senior (GK), Luke Hinsley

Goals: -

Attendance: 1549