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Home > 2008-09 Season > Match Reports > Ossett Albion (24.01.09)

MATCH REPORT

Ossett Albion 1 Bamber Bridge 0

Northern Premier League 1st Division North

at Dimple Wells

Saturday 24th January 2009

By Dave Rowland

Despite a much improved performance Bamber Bridge went down to a single goal defeat in this tightly contested ‘roses clash’ in West Yorkshire. A first-half penalty miss was to prove costly for the Lancastrians, denying Brig, what should have been, a deserved share of the spoils after Albion scrambled home a goal just after the break.

The South Ribble side arrived at Dimple Wells determined to put a miserable run of form behind them having won none of their last five competitive fixtures and having conceded no less than 25 goals in the process. Their West Yorkshire hosts Ossett Albion have also gone without a win in their last five outings and were keen to make amends for the 0-5 home reverse inflicted on them by Bamber Bridge at the tail end of last season which effectively ended their hopes of making the play-offs. The two sides were level on points and goal-difference in the First Division North with fourth placed Brig ahead by dint of a superior number of goals scored.

Brig manager Phil Entwistle made sweeping changes to the side that had faced Durham City at Irongate the week previously. Jamie Nay returned from a one match ban replacing Colin McAllister at full-back with McAllister chosen to take the place of injured Allan Fleming in the centre of defence. Dave McCann also took up a central defensive roll in place of the departed Adam Tong. Ryan-Zico Black returned to the centre of midfield in place of Danny Mahoney who has also moved on. Neil Zarac was chosen to lead the front line in preference to Sean O’Neil. Mike Mason came in on the left of midfield in preference to Ryan Bowen, with Tom Ince in at full-back instead of flu victim Ged Smith. New signing from St Helens Town, striker Graeme Mitchell, was named as one of the substitutes.

After a quiet opening period Albion were first to show on 10 minutes when a fine cross-shot by Nicky Boshell was tipped onto the crossbar by Bamber Bridge goalkeeper Andy Banks. Four minutes later Brig right winger Stephen Brown came very close with a drive from distance which skimmed just past the upright.

The game had an even look about it but Brig were given a golden opportunity in the 22nd minute when they were awarded a penalty. Albion central defender Darren Utley was adjudged to have handled in the area, but his goalkeeper Neil Bennett saved the day for the home side, when making a brilliant diving save to keep out Alex Porter’s spot-kick.

A defensive slip-up let in Albion centre-forward Gareth Hamlet in the 28th minute, but Banks came out quickly from his line to smother the danger.

Bamber Bridge played with more cohesion and with an increased measure of confidence than of late and moved the ball around well as the home team struggled to mount any sort of sustained pressure. Indeed, Brig pushed forward at every opportunity with some attractively inventive play. However, neither side were imposing themselves on the game and chances were at a premium.

The visitors nearly opened the scoring just prior to the break when Bennett got down low to prevent a useful looking drive from Neil Zarac squeezing home at the far post.

Brig came out with renewed vigour at the beginning of the second-half and put their hosts under pressure. However, Albion got their noses in front after 53 minutes when a well struck Boshell corner-kick was headed back across the face of goal by David Syers and converted from close range by inrushing central defender DOMINIC RIORDAN who gleefully bundled the ball home.

Despite the set-back, Bamber Bridge immediately responded with a flurry of sorties and Jamie Nay stung Bennett’s hands with a rasping angled drive following a neat interplay of passes between himself and Brown down the right flank.

Black then found Porter in space down the left and Porter’s deflected cross almost squirmed in at the far post, but Bennett somehow kept the ball out with his feet despite being wrong-footed.

Albion were then reduced to ten men in the 75th minute when full-back Damian Hopkins managed to get himself sent off, after first fouling Brown just outside the box, and then getting into an unnecessary altercation with Alex Porter.

The visitors pushed forward in numbers in search of an equaliser with Tom Ince and Alex Porter prominent, but just couldn’t find a way through the well organised Albion rearguard.

Ossett spurned three golden opportunities to seal the game late on, as they caught Brig out on the break. Substitute Andrew Catton should have done better when heading straight at Banks with the goal at his mercy following a Boshell free-kick on 82 minutes and Banks denied Duncan Bray twice when the Albion man should really have netted from good positions.

Ossett Albion: Neil Bennett, Damien Hopkins, Kyle Cook, Darren Uttley, Dominic Riordan, Ryan White, Michael Senior (Andrew Catton 80), David Syers, Gareth Hamlet (Sam Jackson 78), Duncan Bray, Nicky Boshell (Jason Bentley 88) Unused subs: Martin Allison, Mark Ryan

Goals: Dominic Riordan (52mins)

Bamber Bridge: Andy Banks, Jamie Nay (Mark Edmeads 87mins), Michael Mason (Mitchell.G 67mins), Colin McAllister, Dave McCann, Glenn Steel, Steve Brown, Ryan Zico-Black, Neil Zarac, Alex Porter, Tom Ince. Unused subs: Kyrstian Liptrot

Goals: -

Attendance: 168