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Home > 2008-09 Season > Match Reports > Garforth Town (24.03.09)

MATCH REPORT

Bamber Bridge 2 Colwyn Bay 5

Northern Premier League 1st Division North

at QED Stadium, Irongate

Tuesday 24th March 2009

By Dave Rowland

New Brig boss Tony Greenwood, who was appointed immediately after the game, watched from the stands as Bamber Bridge went down to their 11th home defeat of the season in this seven goal thriller on a very wet and windy night at Bamber Bridge.

The South Ribble side were hoping to get back on track following the disappointing 1-3 reverse in their last home game against West Yorkshire outfit Garforth Town. They were also looking to complete a ‘league and cup treble’ over the Welsh outfit. Their in-form visitors, Colwyn Bay, who have recently risen through the ranks in the First Division North following a fine run, were keen to re-establish their newly won position amongst the play-off places after Saturday’s 0-3 defeat at promotion rivals Skelmersdale United.

Caretaker boss Neil Crowe made four changes to the line-up that started the game against Garforth Town. Andy Banks returned following a short break in Australia to take over in goal from Paul Horridge. Stuart Shepherd returned from injury replacing Ryan Bowen in the centre of midfield. Sean O’Neil came in to lead the line in preference to Mike Mason and was partnered at the front by Graeme Mitchell who was also returning from injury.

Brig took to the field for the first time in ten days as the heavens opened and fell behind after just two minutes play. A superbly struck pass from distance by former Brigger Stephen Aspinall evaded to home defence and DEAN CANNING was on hand to rifle home past goalkeeper Andy Banks from close in.

Despite this early setback, Brig responded positively, and almost drew level on the quarter-hour mark when skipper Glenn Steel headed narrowly over the crossbar from a Jamie Nay free-kick deep on the right.

Brig took the game to their visitors with great enthusiasm and a powerfully driven low shot from distance by Stephen Brown skimmed across the wet turf, but Bay goalkeeper Christopher Sanna made a fine save to keep the effort out. However, Brig’s continued enterprise paid off in the 22nd minute with the equaliser. ALEX PORTER blasted home an unstoppable free-kick from the edge of the box for his 20th goal of the season.

Despite the atrocious conditions underfoot, both sides moved the ball about with skill and determination to enthral the few but hardy spectators. The visitors nearly got back in front on the half-hour mark following a neat three man move started by Aspinall who threaded the ball through to Lee Hammond in space down the left. Hammond put Matthew Wood in with a half-chance, but the midfielder shot just wide of the near upright.

However, the Welshmen were not to be denied and went back in front on 33 minutes directly from a free-kick by STEPHEN ASPINALL who thundered home from 25 yards in spectacular fashion against his old club.

Banks then did well in blocking a Robert Hopley effort from point-blank range as Colwyn Bay powered confidently forward. The rampant ‘Seagulls’ then grabbed a third goal on 36 minutes, albeit in somewhat fortunate circumstances. A long through-ball by Aspinall found ROBERT HOPLEY on the edge of the penalty box and the strikers’ shot deflected off a Brig defender and looped high over Banks and snaked under the crossbar before bouncing into the empty net.

Brig responded and went desperately close to pulling a goal back on 43 minutes. A long ball out of defence by Jamie Nay was latched onto by Graeme Mitchell and the strikers’ drive beat Sanna as he came out to narrow the angle, but the effort drifted agonisingly past the far post.

Just before the break however, the visitors missed a golden opportunity when Ashton Taylor somehow missed with the goal at his mercy following a defence-splitting cross by Hopley from the right.

The second-half kicked off in the relentless deluge and Brig made the early running. However the home side fell further behind in the 50th minute. ASHTON TAYLOR picked up a loose ball some thirty yards from goal before sending in a powerfully struck low drive which skidded across the wet surface and flew past Banks into the net.

Banks then saved with his feet from Hopley as Bay threatened to run riot.

To their credit, Brig kept plugging away, and Matty Mahoney came close twice within as many minutes, being particularly unlucky on the hour when his drive from the edge of the box flew past Sanna but the ball came back into play off the base of the goalpost.

Despite the three goal deficit, Brig stormed forward and an Alex Porter free-kick flew narrowly over on 66 minutes. Then shortly afterwards, Mike Mason headed narrowly wide at the near post following a Brown corner-kick. Brig then reduced the arrears on 75 minutes following a neat three man move through the middle. Steve Smith found Mason just inside the Bay penalty area and Mason laid the ball into the path of ALEX PORTER who rifled in his 87th goal in a Bamber Bridge shirt to become the second highest goalscorer in the clubs history behind top marksman Andy Whittaker.

Ten minutes later Colwyn Bay notched a fifth goal when LEE DAVEY converted at the back post following a great cross by Hopley from wide on the left.

Mason then became the second Brig player to be denied by the woodwork when he stuck an upright following a Porter cross from the right.

Despite the result, Brig had played their part in a superb game of football played throughout in monsoon-like conditions.

Bamber Bridge: Andy Banks, Jamie Nay (Colin McAllister 44mins), Matt Mahoney, Steve Williams, Glenn Steel, Stuart Sheppard, Stephen Brown, Steve Smith, Sean O'Neil, Graham Mitchell (Michael Mason 45mins), Alex Porter. UNUSED SUBS: Michael Mason, Colin McAllister, Phil Mitchell

Goals: Alex Porter (22,75mins)

Colwyn Bay: Christoper Sanna, Thomas Spearitt, Lee Hammond, Tim Brandreth, Dave Challinor, Matthew Wood (Daniel Edwards 56mins), Dean Canning (William Webb 75mins), Ashton Taylor, Robert Hopley, Lee Davey, Steve Aspinall (Michael McGraa 79mins). UNSED SUBS: Graham Branch, Farai Jackson

Goals: Dean Canning (2mins), Steve Aspinall (33mins), Robert Hopley (36mins), Ashton Taylor (50mins), Lee Davey (85mins)

Attendance: 112