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Home > 2008-09 Season > Match Reports > Mossley (18.11.08)

MATCH REPORT

Bamber Bridge 0 Mossley 2

Northern Premier Football League First Division North

at The QED Stadium

Tuesday 18th November 2008

By Dave Rowland

Bamber Bridge were simply out-thought and out-fought by a Mossley side who played with guile and determination. A goal in each half by the Tamesiders, who played with more cohesion and passion, was enough to overcome a strangely lethargic Brig outfit who never really got into their stride.

The South Ribble side were looking to get back on track following a 0-2 defeat against Marine in the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy last week, and a 1-3 reverse at Wakefield in the league on Saturday. Mossley were also keen to show some improvement following a recent run that has seen the Tameside club without a win in their last five outings in the First Division North. On Saturday they lost at home to bottom side Salford City, who had not won a league game all season.

Brig boss Phil Entwistle made three changes to the starting line-up from the game in West Yorkshire at the weekend. Jamie Nay was brought in at full-back replacing broken leg victim Stuart Howson and John Kennedy returned to the defence following injury. Anthony Murt was chosen ahead of Neil Zarac to lead the front line. Ryan-Zico Black was left out, but was named as one of the substitutes.

Mossley kicked off and after some early skirmishing, with both sides showing plenty of endeavour, the visitors were first to show on 20 minutes. Adam Tong brought down Danny Dignan on the edge of the penalty box and Brig goalkeeper Andy Banks did well to get down to save the resultant free-kick taken by Dignan. Dignan was to prove a thorn in Brig’s side all evening.

Three minutes later, Anthony Murt had the ball in the net for Bamber Bridge following a free-kick from Alex Porter, but the effort was ruled out for off-side. The home side continued to press and came close on the half-hour mark when Mossley goalkeeper Andy Robertson only just caught a swirling cross by Nay at the second attempt, as Murt moved in for the kill. Five minutes later Tong found Stephen Brown in space with an astute throw-in. Brown quickly laid the ball off to Porter, who’s rising drive skimmed the top of the Mossley crossbar.

Despite these worthy efforts, Brig fell behind on 38 minutes when Alex Mortimer fired in a well executed free-kick from the right-hand edge of the penalty area and GRAHAM KAY rose majestically above the home defence to head in powerfully from six yards.

Lifted by the goal, the visitors confidence grew and they came out after the break to play some of their best football of the game. Indeed, they should have increased their lead on 47 minutes when a Mortimer corner-kick was miss-hit at the back post by Nick Booth with the goal at his mercy.

Mossley played some enterprising football with the home team playing second fiddle and they nearly broke through the Brig back line after Danny Self set up Dignan, but the industrious Mossley man could only fire into the side-netting. Dignan again came close on 53 minutes when Banks saved his shot with his feet following a neat through-ball by Dan Egan. On the hour mark Robertson’s long clearance caught the home rearguard square and Self stole in but just failed to convert by a whisker with Banks left stranded.

Mossley were calling all the shots against a disjointed looking Brig side and should really have gone further ahead on 65 minutes when full-back Simon Wood put in Dignan who fired wide from an excellent position. Banks came out to save a Danny Self shot with his feet following some fine work by Chris Hirst down the left flank. Then the dangerous Dignan again had the Brig defence at six’s-and-seven’s in the 72nd minute as he bore down on goal but he was off-target and fired harmlessly wide.

Brig had run out of ideas and were relying on the long punt. However, they did have their moments and a fine cross by the busy Tom Ince was headed narrowly wide by substitute Neil Zarac on 76 minutes. There was little cohesion in the home sides play and the visitors looked more comfortable on the ball.

It was no surprise therefore, when Mossley grabbed a second goal on 78 minutes. Egan found himself some space down the inside-left position and his neat through-ball landed at the feet of leading marksman MIKE FISH, who had just entered the fray as a substitute three minutes earlier. Fish curled his shot accurately beyond the despairing dive of Banks and into the net for his 18th strike of the season.

There was no way back after that for a disappointing Brig side, although Ince had a shot spilled by Robertson in time added-on and Murt was just unable to take advantage as the ball ran clear. However, it was not to be their day and Mossley deserved to collect all three points after a display full of running and skilful endeavour.

Bamber Bridge: Andy Banks, Jamie Nay (Neil Zarac 67mins), Jon Kennedy (Ryan-Zico Black 67mins), David McCann, Adam Tong, Glenn Steel, Steve Brown (Michael Mason 82mins), Steve Flitcroft, Anthony Murt, Alex Porter, Tom Ince.

Goals: -

Mossley: Andy Robertson, Simon Wood, Alex Mortimer, Graham Kay, Nick Boothby, Reece Kelly (David Brooke 82mins), Danny Self, Daryl Weston, Dan Eagan, Danny Dignan (Michael Fish 75mins), Chris Hirst (Lee Blackshaw 90mins). Unused Subs: Leon Henry, Ryan Cook

Goals: Graham Kay (38mins), Michael Fish (78mins)

Attendance: 174