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Home > 2008-09 Season > Match Reports > Wakefield (25.10.08)

MATCH REPORT

Bamber Bridge 2 Wakefield 0

Northern Premier League 1st Division North

at Irongate

Saturday 25th October 2008

By Dave Rowland

Two Alex Porter goals, one either side of the half-time break, gave Bamber Bridge a well earned victory in this hard fought encounter at Irongate. Despite a constant downpour throughout the whole ninety minutes, both sides gave their all to entertain the small crowd.

The South Ribble side were hoping to get back on track following two recent home defeats against Lancaster City and Halifax Town, and were keen to keep in touch with the leading group in the First Division North. West Yorkshire side Wakefield, arrived at Irongate on a high with three wins and a draw from their last four outings in league and cup. They had netted 8 goals in their last two games; three of them came last weekend when they enjoyed an emphatic 3-0 victory at Eastmore Road over Chorley.

Brig boss Phil Entwistle made six changes to the stating line-up against Halifax Town at Irongate on Tuesday night. New signings John Kennedy and Colin McAllister made their debut, each taking up the roll of full-back. Central-defender Dave McCann and midfielder Steve Flitcroft retuned to the colours following a couple of weeks away injured. Neil Zarac was selected to lead the front line and Mike Mason was preferred in midfield.

The home team kicked off at a very damp Irongate and after a quiet start the first real chance fell to them on 5 minutes. A huge kick by Brig goalkeeper Andy Banks caught the wind and completely foxed the visiting defence. Alex Porter broke through the static Wakefield rearguard, but unfortunately, he failed to get his shot on target.

The visitors responded, and encouraged by some enterprising play by midfielder Adam Jones, carved out a couple of dangerous openings. Chris Howarth then came close on 16 minutes following some good work down the right by Marc Roberts, and a couple of moments later, Jay Sobers turned and shot over the crossbar from a Steve Nicholson corner-kick.

Both sides somehow conspired to spoil some excellent build-up play, by giving the ball away cheaply, but despite this, the game was developing into a most interesting tussle.

Brig almost broke the deadlock on 19 minutes when Tom Ince just failed to reach a Porter through-ball following some industrious play by Neil Zarac.

Wakefield also worked hard to create an opening and Wayne Shooter came very close with one effort that was deflected wide for a corner. Shortly afterwards the same player came close again after a neat interchange between Sobers and Howarth had opened up the home defence.

There was little to choose between the sides but Brig got the break they were looking for in the 41st minute when they were awarded a penalty after Wakefield centre-half Wes Milnes brought down Mike Mason in the box as the midfielder homed in on goal. A very confident ALEX PORTER comfortably rattled home the resultant spot-kick.

Both sides came close on the stroke of half-time. Wakefield goalkeeper Andy Woods did extremely well when tipping over an Ince drive following a Colin McAllister through-ball, whilst at the other end, Howarth just missed out at the back post after Nicholson sent in a swirling cross from the right.

Wakefield came out in a determined mood in the second-half and should really have equalised on 55 minutes when the unmarked Milnes somehow managed to fire over a Sobers cross from close range.

The visitors were made to pay dearly for this missed opportunity two minutes later when Bamber Bridge increased their lead. Skipper Glenn Steel sent in a well executed cross which was knocked square by Zarac to ALEX PORTER. Porter ‘turned-on-a-sixpence’ to crash an unstoppable drive beyond Woods from just inside the box, for his second goal of the game and his ninth of the season.

Porter almost grabbed his hat-trick on the hour mark just failing to turn the ball in at the back post following a scramble in the visitors defence.

To their credit, the Yorkshiremen refused to lie down and began to apply plenty of pressure on the Brig back line. Brig centre-back Adam Tong came to his side’s rescue on 76 minutes when heading over his own crossbar as Wakefield swarmed forward menacingly. The Bamber Bridge defence had a more solid look about it than of late and some resolute resistance kept the enterprising visitors at bay.

The home side came close to a third goal on 80 minutes when Woods pulled off a fine save at full stretch from a strong Zarac drive following an astute Porter cross which had prized open the middle of the Wakefield defence.

The last few minutes of the game belonged to the visitors who earnestly battled to get some reward from the game. A fine move involving Sobers and Jones ripped apart the Brig back line but Banks pulled off a tremendous save to keep out Howarth. However, the Yorkshiremen spurned yet another golden opportunity in time added on when Sobers found Shooter completely unmarked in front of goal. But the Wakefield striker did not live up to his name and fired wide of the empty net.

Bamber Bridge: Banks, McAllister, Kennedy, McCann, Tong, Steel, Mason, Flitcroft (Mahoney 89mins), Zarac, Porter, Ince. Unused subs : Black, O’Neil, and Brown

Goals: Porter (41,57mins)

Team: Woods, Nicholson, Morris, Jones, Milnes, Laight (Mugadza 62mins), Roberts, Sobers, Shooter, Howarth, Ferguson (Noteman 62mins). Unused subs : Sparkes, Marchant and Henson

Goals: -

Attendance: 135