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Home > 2008-09 Season > Match Reports > FC Halifax Town (21.10.08)

MATCH REPORT

Bamber Bridge 2 FC Halifax Town 5

Northern Premier League 1st Division North

at Irongate

Tuesday 21st October 2008

By Dave Rowland

Halifax Town were simply just too good for a valiant Bamber Bridge side who, once more, were needlessly reduced to ten men following a bout of indiscipline. Indeed the sending-off came at a time when they may just have retrieved something from the game, despite being two goals behind. However, the visitors played with power and determination throughout and deservedly took the spoils in this incident-packed thriller at a very rain sodden Irongate.

Brig were glad to get back into action following the postponement of their President’s Cup Second Round tie at Rossendale United during the previous week and the lack of a fixture on Saturday. The South Ribble side were keen to get back on track after going down at home to county rivals Lancaster City just over a week ago. Former Football League side Halifax Town, arrived at Irongate a much improved team following a slow start to the season. The West Yorkshire side were looking to avenge the 0-3 defeat inflicted on them by their hosts on the opening day of term at the Shay.

Brig manager Phil Entwistle made two changes to the starting line-up that had lost to Lancaster City at Irongate a week last Saturday. Adam Tong returned to the middle of defence and Mark Edmeads was introduced into midfield with full-back Jamie Nay missing through injury and Mike Mason named as a substitute. Also on the bench was new signing Collin McAllister. Brig were still without the influential Steve Flitcroft missing through injury.

In an even opening both sides went in search of an early break. A long range effort by Halifax striker Ashley Stott came to nothing, whilst a similar effort at the other end by Brig’s Stuart Howson met with the same fate. However, the first real chance fell to the home side when a Danny Mahoney cross was headed narrowly over at the back post by Alex Porter.

The visitors were finding their men better and moving the ball about at great pace. It was therefore, little surprise, when they got their noses in front on 21 minutes. Tom Baker knocked the ball through to JUNIOR BROWN on the edge of the Brig penalty area and the lively midfielder ‘turned-on-a-sixpence’ before firing in a superb dipping drive just under the crossbar.

The goal spurred the Yorkshiremen on and they began to dictate the play with some intelligent free-flowing football. The Brig defence came under some considerable pressure but looked in control at the back until a dreadful mix-up gave the visitors a two goal lead on 36 minutes. Brig goalkeeper Andy Banks got into a tangle with a defender when there seemed little danger and as the ball ran loose ASHLEY TROTT rolled the ball in off the goalpost for the simplest of goals.

Halifax were in the driving seat and moved the ball around with purpose with Junior Brown, Tom Baker and Damian Allen impressively prominent. Indeed, they nearly added to Brig’s woes on 43 minutes when Allan Fleming robbed Brown at the back post following an astute cross from the right by Stott.

Bamber Bridge had a good chance just prior to the break when Porter hooked a shot just beyond an upright following a neat lay-off by Howson.

The home team opened the second-half with greater urgency but Halifax soon got back into their stride and scored a third goal on 54 minutes. A great through-ball by the industrious Brown completely unlocked the Brig defence and COLLIN DANIEL powered in to send an unstoppable drive beyond the reach of Banks.

To their credit Bamber Bridge kept plugging away and Porter was just wide after a well executed cross from the left by the hard working Tom Ince.

Halifax increased their lead on the hour mark with a sweeping move. A Baker cross was headed goal-ward by the inrushing Stott and Banks could only parry the effort to one side for JUNIOR BROWN to poke the ball into the net from almost on the goal-line for his second goal of the game.

At this stage Brig made a treble substitution and instantly pulled a goal back when Tom Ince fed the ball through to MIKE MASON who rounded a defender before smashing a rising shot beyond the reach of Town goalkeeper Jon Kennedy from just outside the box.

The game switched from one end to the other in thrilling style and the visitors almost grabbed a fifth on 70 minutes when Banks saved a Jonny Smith effort with his feet. Banks came to his sides rescue once more with another excellent save from Smith shortly afterwards following a great pass from Brown. However, Brig powered forward and Mason almost grabbed his second goal of the game with a blockbuster following a neat one-two with Porter, but Kennedy saved brilliantly at full stretch to keep the effort out.

Brig were looking more menacing following the three substitutions and clawed a goal back on 78 minutes. Tong set up ALEX PORTER who instinctively turned and fired a well directed shot beyond Kennedy, and for a moment, the chance of a remarkable come-back looked a distinct possibility. However, any thought of glory disappeared in an instant following a rash moment of indiscipline by Danny Mahoney. In attempting to claim the ball back from Brown following the award of a free-kick, he pulled the Halifax man by the hair and was sent to the dressing room for his trouble. After his part in the incident, Brown was rather fortunate in getting just a yellow card.

Despite this, the home side had the ball in the net again in the 82 minute after a tremendous run and shot on goal by Neil Zarac. However, the effort was ruled out when Tom Ince was caught off-side as he touched the ball over the line.

Halifax duly grabbed a fifth on 85 minutes but the goal had a touch of fortune about it. Brig’s new signing COLLIN McALLISTER headed a viciously in-swinging corner from Smith into his own net. Within minutes the visitors almost made it six when Banks made a tremendous save from Daniel; keeping the effort out with his feet.

There was a final moment of defiance by the well beaten home side when Mason saw his well aimed drive whistle narrowly past Kennedy’s right-hand goalpost.

Bamber Bridge: Banks, Fleming (McAllister 60mins), Howson, Steel, Tong, Edmeads (Mason 60mins), Black, Mahoney, O’Neil (Zarac 60mins), Porter, Ince. Unused subs : Brown and Peterson GK

Goals: Mason (64mins), Porter (78mins)

Team: Kennedy, Coo, Jemson, Adams, Meadowcroft, Phelan, Brown (Ellis 89mins), Allen (Smith 51mins), Stott (Moore 89mins), Daniel, Baker. Unused subs: Ellison, King

Goals: Brown (21, 60mins), Stott (36mins), Daniel (54mins), McAllister own goal (85mins)

Attendance: 315