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Home > 2008-09 Season > Match Reports > Woodley Sports (31.01.09)

MATCH REPORT

Bamber Bridge 2 Woodley Sports 1

Northern Premier League 1st Division North

at QED Stadium, Irongate

Saturday 31st January 2009

By Dave Rowland

Bamber Bridge overcame First Division North form team Woodley Sports by 2-1 with a first-half brace from debutant Graeme Mitchell in this thrilling encounter at the Irongate ground. Woodley were reduced to ten men in the second period when substitute Gareth Morris was sent off for a second yellow card. Despite this, the Steelmen fought back bravely to reduce the arrears late on but couldn‘t prevent their hosts from deservedly collecting all three points.

Brig were looking for their first win in the First Division North since the 2-0 victory over Trafford at Irongate on the 29th of November. Despite the poor run, which has seen the South Ribble side go without a victory in their last seven league and cup outings, they were hoping to continue with the improvement in form shown over the last two games at Ossett Albion last Saturday and at Radcliffe Borough during the week.. Mid-table Woodley Sports arrived at Irongate on a high having won all of their last five games in the league.

Bamber Bridge manager Phil Entwistle made four changes to the line-up that lost narrowly at Stainton Park on Tuesday night. Tom Ince moved into a more familiar roll on the left of midfield, replacing Mike Mason, with Ryan Bowen drafted into the vacant full-back position. Mason took his place on the bench. Stephen Brown returned to the right of midfield in preference to Mark Edmeads who was named as one of the substitutes. Having recently received international clearance, Matt Mahoney replaced Ryan-Zico Black in the centre of midfield and new signing from St Helens Town, Graeme Mitchell, was chosen to lead the front-line in place of Neil Zarac.

Woodley Sports kicked off in their distinctive red and blue apparel facing the clubhouse end and came close to opening their account on 5 minutes when Mike Clarke put in danger man Gavin Salmon. However, Brig goalkeeper Andy Banks, who was making his one-hundredth appearance for the Irongate club, was quickly off his line to bravely block Salmon’s shot with his feet.

Bamber Bridge responded and were unlucky not to have gone ahead on 12 minutes when centre-half Dave McCann struck the crossbar with a header following a smart cross by Tom Ince. The home side were playing with confidence and got their noses in front just after the quarter-hour mark when GRAEME MITCHELL scored with a fierce header from a Ryan Bowen cross following more good work down the left by Ince.

Ince continued to cause the visitors problems with his jinking runs from left-midfield but Woodley began to put some good moves together of their own. They came close on 24 minutes when a fine header by Salmon was hacked away by McCann following a well directed cross by full-back Gary Furnival. Then after Russell Headley shot just wide of the goalpost after a Danny Queely lay-off, Banks was called upon to save at full stretch from Salmon.

Bamber Bridge however, were testing the visitors defence with some industrious play and extended their lead on 27 minutes. A fine through-ball from distance by Bowen put in GRAEME MITCHELL and new man knocked in his second goal on the rebound after his first effort came back to him off the left-hand goalpost.

Alex Porter tested Woodley goalkeeper Ben Connett just after the half-hour mark as Brig cut through the visitors lines with some neat one-touch football. Despite the two goal deficit, the visitors remained a constant threat with Headley and Salmon prominent, but the Brig rearguard remained resolute with Jamie Nay outstanding at full-back.

The home side were even more impressive after the break and played with guile and commitment. Matty Mahoney, who was enjoying a fine game in midfield for Brig, put Porter in on goal, but Connett was alert to the danger and was able to fend off Porter’s shot from close range. The Woodley goalkeeper denied Porter again on 50 minutes when he got down well to save at his left-hand post following some intricate footwork by Brown down the right.

Brig continued to dominate with a flurry of attacks before the visitors broke and they really should have scored when Clarke shot wide from a good position with Banks left stranded.

Mitchell almost claimed his hat-trick on 65 minutes, shooting narrowly past the post from another Brown cross.

The Steelmen were reduced to ten men on 68 minutes when Morris got his marching orders for a second bookable offence and things looked ominous for the Cheshire side. However, to their credit, they continued to make a spirited show of it with some inventive football.

Brown came close twice as Brig took advantage of the ‘extra man’. On 76 minutes his low angled drive was saved at the near post by Connett who got down well to keep the effort out, and then two minutes later, Connett made the save of the match when touching Brown’s fierce shot onto the goalpost following a neat lay-off by Ince on the edge of the box.

With just ten minutes remaining Woodley were awarded a penalty when Colin McAllister upended GAVIN SALMON just inside the box.. Steelmen’s prolific striker picked himself up and dusted himself down before making no mistake with the resultant spot-kick, tucking his shot just inside the left hand post.

Both Sean O’Neil and Alex Porter came close for the home side as Brig comfortably saw out the remaining few minutes to record a fine win against their determined and skilful opponents.

Bamber Bridge: Andy Banks, Jamie Nay, Ryan Bowen, Colin McAllister, David McCann, Glenn Steel, Steve Brown, Matt Mahoney, Graeme Mitchell (Sean O’Neil 73mins), Alex Porter, Tom Inc (Michael Mason 79mins). Unused subs: Mark Edmaeds, Krystian Liptrot

Goals: Graeme Mitchell (16, 27mins)

Woodley Sports: Ben Connett, Liam Hogan, Gary Furnival, Levi Kennedy, Danny Jarrett (Tom Blackler 66mins), Jeff Whiteley, Russell Headley, Gary Gee (Gareth Morris 45mins), Gavin Salmon, Mike Clarke, Danny Queely. Unused subs: Tom Sellars, Mark Haslam

Goals: Gavin Salmon pen (80mins)

Attendance: 103