Official website of Bamber Bridge Football Club
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MATCH REPORTBamber Bridge 1 Newcastle Blue Star 4Northern Premier League 1st Division Northat IrongateSaturday 23rd August 2008By Joe MarchantA week is a very long time in football. Only seven days ago Brig were playing FC Halifax Town off the park and silencing a large home crowd at the Shay. The same starting eleven were on the receiving end of a drubbing by a Blue Star side who could have scored ten, had it not been for some particularly profligate and wild shooting, and a couple of good interceptions by Brig keeper Andy Banks. The absent Brig boss Phil Entwistle named an unchanged starting line-up for the third successive game, and there were presentations before kick-off to mark the 100 appearances by Glenn Steel and Neil Spencer, plus Alex Porter’s 200th game for Brig. That was about as good as the day got for the home side. Brig went into the game having drawn 3-3 at home to Warrington in midweek, whilst Blue Star were beaten 2-1 at Ossett Albion on Tuesday night. Brig began in lively fashion and the visiting defence had to look lively and stop Alex Porter in the box, whilst a couple of minutes later Porter’s cross went just behind Neil Zarac and Ryan-Zico Black. Blue Star keeper Dan Lowson was injured and received treatment, but was able to continue. Newcastle had their first chance after 14 minutes. A crossfield ball from the right found Chris Fawcett in space on the left and he cut inside but shot high and wide with Jamie Nay snapping at his heels. Blue Star went ahead in the 19th minute. Another cross from the right, this time by the impressive Jamie McClen was flicked on by Neal Hooks for PAUL BRAYSON to head across goal and in. Brig’s bright start had faded and McClen was pulling the strings for the visitors. Hooks crossed from the right for Brayson to toe-poke past. Blue Star had a good chance on 24 minutes when a long ball out of defence found Brayson clear on the right but as he advanced into the box, his shot brought a good save from Banks. Zarac outpaced the Blue Star defence latching on to a long clearance but his shot from outside the box lacked any power and Lowson collected safely. With the game swinging from end to end, McClen picked out Chris Emms on the left but his low cross was safely gathered by Banks with Brayson lurking.. Brig then went up the other end and Porter shot from outside the box. On the half hour mark Hooks created a chance for Brayson to shoot across the Brig goal. Brig went up the other end and Black’s lay-off saw Adam Tong’s shot blocked. A long Blue Star goalkick found Brayson all on his own inside the Brig area but the striker’s indecision allowed Banks to smother the ball. Brig ended the half on a positive note. A decent passing move across the edge of the box ended with Neil Spencer floating a shot at Lowson. On 40 minutes they had a glorious chance to equalise. Black’s corner from the right caused some panic in the box and Zarac from a couple of inches out scooped his shot over the bar. Just before the break, Tong’s acrobatic overhead kick from a Black cross went inches over the bar. Neither side made any changes at the break but two goals in as many minutes killed off Brig. On 49 minutes an exchange of passes along the edge of the Brig penalty box ended with NEAL HOOKS’ shot going in off the post. With 51 minutes gone, another incisive move cut through the Brig defence and Emms set up HOOKS to shot across the helpless Banks to put the game out of Brig’s reach. Brig were all over the shop and a couple of minutes later it should have been four. A quick break by Emms put it on a plate for Fawcett but his wild shot only found a digger in the adjacent timber yard. 57 minutes and a horrendous blunder surrendered possession to Blue Star and Brayson curled a shot wide of the far post with banks beaten. Newcastle netted their fourth on 60 minutes and it came from a Brig free-kick at the other end of the field. Black’s set piece saw both Porter and Zarac’s shots blocked and the visitors surged upfield and were awarded a free-kick outside the Brig area on the right-hand side. LEON SCOTT curled his effort into the top corner. After Danny Mahoney shot wide from the edge of the box, another quick Blue Star break was thwarted by Allan Fleming’s timely tackle on David McTiernan. It was one-way traffic and the visitors repeatedly steamed upfield. A Scott long ball caught out the Brig defence leaving Brayson clear but he dithered allowing Banks to get a tackle in. Another good move started by Scott saw McClen tee up Emms across the box but the wild finish wasn’t in keeping with the build-up play. Within a minute Blue Star had spurned yet another gilt-edged chance. Scott again in the action and Brayson laid it on a plate for Hooks to complete his hat-trick but the shot was hoofed over the bar. Brig fought back and after Mahoney’s corner wasn’t properly cleared, sub Sean O’Neil’s shot from the edge of the box whistled narrowly wide. Another chance wasted by Blue Star as Emms blasted a free-kick across goal. Brig finally got on the scoresheet after 79 minutes. Mike Mason’s corner was headed in across Lowson by SEAN O’NEIL. Blue Star then passed up two chances in as many minutes. Another quick passing move ripped Brig apart but McTiernan’s hesitation allowed Banks to clear, then some horrific defending let Fawcett advance down their left and place a low ball perfectly for the unmarked McTiernan to blast carelessly high over the bar. Lowson fumbled Mason’s corner but Brig couldn’t react quickly enough to take advantage of the slip and normal service was resumed as Blue Star surged to the other end with Tony Stephenson and Dean Nicholson creating a chance for Fawcett to shoot wide. Scott raced upfield and Lee Novak passed to Stephenson whose shot was deflected for a corner. Sadly Steel was carried off with what looked to be a foot injury. The game ended with Blue Star missing another chance as Nicholson wandered across the edge of the box but floated a poor effort at Banks. Blue Star are a decent side. Accurate passing and quick on the break. Scott was outstanding. However, the only consolation Brig can take from this mauling, is that they surely cannot play as badly as this again. Bamber Bridge: Andy Banks, Jamie Nay (Dave McCann 63), Allan Fleming (Mark Edmeads 73), Glenn Steel, Adam Tong, Neil Spencer, Ryan-Zico Black (Sean O’Neil 63), Danny Mahoney, Neil Zarac, Alex Porter, Mike Mason SUB NOT USED: Joe Peterson GK Goals: O'Neil (79 mins) Team: Dan Lowson, Darren Craddock, Leon Scott, Chris Carr, Richard Flynn, Jamie McClen (Dean Nicholson 70), David McTiernan, Neal Hooks, Paul Brayson (Lee Novak 72), Chris Emms (Tony Stephenson 81), Chris Fawcett SUBS NOT USED: Steve Barker, Steve Bowey Goals: Brayson (19 mins), Hook (49,51 mins), Scott (60 mins) Attendance: 152
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