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Home > 2008-09 Season > Match Reports > Radcliffe Borough (27.09.08)

MATCH REPORT

Bamber Bridge 3 Radcliffe Borough 0

Northern Premier League 1st Division North

at Irongate

Saturday 27th September 2008

By Dave Rowland

Bamber Bridge maintained their position at the top of the First Division North with a comfortable 3-0 win over Lancashire rivals Radcliffe Borough. All the goals came in the first half after a scintillating display by the South Ribble side, and although the visitors made more of a game of it after the break, they never looked capable of upsetting a confident Brig outfit.

Brig were looking for their fifth league win on the bounce and a continuance of the type of form that has seen them run in 12 goals in their last three outings in the First Division North. Radcliffe Borough arrived at Irongate a much improved combination after a poor showing last term when they had finished third from the bottom of the table.

Brig manager Phil Entwistle was forced to make just one change to the starting line-up that had been so successful in North Yorkshire the week previously. Dave McCann, who left the field early at Harrogate after picking up a nasty calf injury, was replaced at full-back by Allan Fleming. Injured duo Steve Flitcroft and Neil Zarac remained unavailable but striker Sean O’Neil returned to take his place on the bench. Boro were without influential striker Steve Howson who was serving the last game of a three match suspension.

Boro kicked off at the sun bedecked Irongate, but immediately fell behind following a dreadful goalkeeping error by Phil Priestley. The visiting goalkeeper’s very poor clearance went straight to DANNY MAHONEY some twenty yards from goal, and the former Morecambe man dispatched a well stuck low volley into the corner of the net after just 27 seconds of play; a club record for the fastest goal scored.

Radcliffe responded and a neat link-up between Griff Jones, Neil Chappell and Mark Jones just failed to break down some resolute home defending and the chance was gone.

Brig put some penetrating moves together and ‘Boro’ fell further behind after 13 minutes. DANNY MAHONEY rattled home his second of the game and his sixth of the season, shooting through from just inside the ‘Boro’ penalty area after the visiting defence failed to deal adequately with a Tom Ince cross from the left.

It should have been three a few minutes later after Mahoney put Stephen Brown in on goal, but the Brig wingman shot high and wide with the goal at his mercy.

The home side looked increasingly dangerous as they moved forward in swarms around their opponents goal and Mahoney came within inches of claiming his hat-trick when heading a Brown corner-kick just wide at the front post. Brig were in total control and continued to dominate with some bright attractive football. Indeed, they looked capable of scoring with each raid.

Despite this, ‘Boro’ nearly snatched a goal back after 27 minutes with a breakaway. A superb long range through-ball by Neil Chappel caught the home defence square and Griff Jones nipped in to lob the ball over Brig goalkeeper Andy Banks, but unfortunately for Jones, his effort went the wrong side of the goalpost.

There was no stopping the rampant home side and they increased their lead on 33 minutes following a period of sustained pressure. Tom Ince carved out an opening for himself down the left flank before sending over a pin-point cross along ‘Boro’s’ back line. STEVE BROWN, lurking in the box, drove home from close in, giving Priestley little chance in making a save.

At this point there was no way back for a bemused ‘Boro’ side, but in a rare sortie, Banks was called upon to save with his feet from Griff Jones on 38 minutes following some excellent work by Gary Sampson down the right.

Just before the break Brig substitute Jamie Henders, on for the injured Ryan-Zico Black, headed narrowly wide following another fine cross by Ince.

Radcliffe started the brighter after the break and nearly grabbed a goal back when former Brigger Adam Roscoe, on as a half-time substitute, fired inches wide after a neat lay-off by Griff Jones.

However, Bamber Bridge nearly increased their lead twice within as many minutes when a Brown cross was almost bundled home by Alex Porter and Mark Edmeads and then Brown just failed to get on the end of an Adam Tong free-kick.

The visitors came more into the game and put together some neat moves but they lacked penetration.

Henders came close for Brig just after the hour mark with a long range volley following a good pass by Brown, but Priestley showed some skill in tipping the ball over the crossbar at full stretch.

Radcliffe were gaining in confidence as the game wore on and Roscoe was proving a handful for the Brig defence. Michael Oats had a shot blocked by the home defence on 62 minutes following a Roscoe lay-off.

Alex Porter brought the crowd to their feet shortly afterwards when shooting narrowly over from distance with a speculative effort.

Banks had to be alert to keep out Griff Jones at the back post following further good work by Roscoe as the visitors vainly tried to find a way through a determined Brig rearguard and Banks did well to save a Chappell free-kick under pressure from Roscoe.

However, the day belonged to Bamber Bridge and Brown almost capped a fine performance, shooting just beyond the crossbar following a neat Mason lay-off in the dying moments of the game.

Bamber Bridge: Banks, Fleming, Howson, Steel, Tong, Edmeads, Brown, Mahoney, Black (Henders 26mins), Porter (O'Neil 84mins), Ince (Mason 84mins). Unused sub: Nay, Peterson (GK)

Goals: Mahoney (1, 13mins), Brown (33mins)

Radcliffe Borough: Priestley, Sampson, Hill, Kelly, Unsworth, Dawson, Chappell, Jones.M, Jones.G (Traynor 80mins), Oates (Brookes 74mins), Rutter (Roscoe 45mins). Unused sub: Hall (GK)

Goals: -

Attendance: 182