Official website of Bamber Bridge Football Club
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Home > 2008-09 Season > Match Reports > Harrogate Railway Athletic (04.04.09) |
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MATCH REPORTBamber Bridge 2 Harrogate Railway Athletic 3Northern Premier League 1st Division Northat QED Stadium, IrongateSaturday 4th April 2009By Dave RowlandLowly Harrogate Railway Athletic took all three points in this hard-fought ‘roses clash’ to avenge the 1-5 drubbing that Brig dished out to them at Station View back in September. An almost comic-like defensive error ten minutes from time presented the North Yorkshire side with an unlikely victory. Indeed, the game looked to be heading for a certain draw up to that point. Brig were eager to halt a poor run of results after having suffered three straight defeats recently, including last Saturdays‘ disappointing 0-1 defeat at basement side Salford City. The South Ribble side were also determined to complete the ‘league double’ over their North Yorkshire guests following the fine victory at Station View earlier in the season. Nineteenth placed Harrogate Railway Athletic, who have experienced a difficult season this time around, arrived in Bamber Bridge looking to show some improvement after also having lost their last three outings in the First Division North. New Brig boss Tony Greenwood, made just two changes to the starting line-up from the Salford City game last weekend. However, it was a very young Bamber Bridge team that took to the field with Mr Greenwood bringing four youngsters into the squad. Two lads from the Lancashire League side made their first team bow. Shayne Oldfield made his debut replacing the injured Steve Brown in midfield along with Chris Marlow who also made his first start for the club, coming in to take over from Steve Smith who had been released during the week. Youngsters Tom Merella and Sam Farrow joined Mike Mason on the bench. The visitors were first to show on a windy but beautiful sunlit spring day. Ben Jones and Scott Jackson linked up well down the middle on five minutes but Jackson pulled his shot wide from a good position. However, the North Yorkshire side were not to be denied and took the lead three minutes later. Full-back STEVE BALL fired home direct form a fee-kick 20 yards out on the right; the ball sneaking in at the near post with Brig goalkeeper Andy Banks vainly scrambling to keep the effort from crossing the goal-line. Brig were stung into action and responded with an equaliser in the 19th minute after some inventive play. An Alex Porter free-kick was powerfully headed home at the back post by club skipper STUART SHEPHERD for his first goal since re-signing for the club in January. Harrogate were taking advantage of the wind and almost got their noses back in front on 25 minutes when a Tom Hesketh cross was headed narrowly wide by the inrushing Jones. They almost drew blood again on the half-hour mark when Craig Smith put in Steve Smith, but the wingman powered wide of goal. Brig played some enterprising football as they moved forward looking for an opening and came desperately close on 34 minutes after a fine Chris Marlow cross from the left was hit goalwards by Jamie Nay. Sean O’Neil got his head to the ball but saw his effort skim the outside of the goalpost. Bamber Bridge opened the second period in determined fashion and almost scored on 47 minutes when a Nay throw-in was headed narrowly wide at the near post by Sam Farrow who had replaced the injured Shayne Oldfield just prior to the break. Then Brig had the ball in the net on 50 minutes when Matt Mahoney drove home past Sutcliffe from close in after a neat one-two with Porter, but the effort was ruled out for offside. The game opened up and Harrogate’s Jones chipped a worthy effort just over the crossbar on 57 minutes following some good work by Hesketh, whilst at the other end, Sutcliffe did well in getting down low to keep out an O’Neil header, following an excellent cross by Nay on the right. The home team went ahead on 62 minutes following a period of pressure. Porter steered a swirling cross behind the visiting defence and SAM FARROW directed his header beyond the beleaguered Sutcliffe from about the six-yard-line for his first goal for the club. ‘Rail’ made a flurry of raids as they desperately went in search of a precious point to expel any lingering relegation fears. However, there was little to choose between the sides. Despite this, the Yorkshire sides endeavours did eventually pay off when they equalised following a smart cross-field pass from distance by Steve Ball on 77 minutes. His well directed through-ball split the Brig defence and found substitute DAN THIRKELL in space on the right hand side of the penalty box, and the midfielder drove home confidently beyond Banks. The game looked to be drifting towards an inevitable draw, but with just ten minutes left on the clock, the home defence bizarrely gifted their visitors with the winner. Brig central defender Steve Williams, for some unknown reason, floated the ball back towards his own goal. The ball looped over Andy Banks and came back into play off the goalpost with SCOTT RYAN on hand to fire home the rebound into the empty net. It was a strange ending to the game. However, a great deal must accredited to a very young Bamber Bridge team who deserved more than to lose on the day. Bamber Bridge: Andy Banks, Jamie Nay, Ryan Bowen, Steve Williams, Colin McAllister, Stuart Sheppard, Matt Mahoney, Shayne Oldfield (Sam Farrow 44mins), Sean O'Neil, Alex Porter, Chris Marlow. UNUSED SUBS: Michael Mason, Tom Merella Goals: Stuart Shepherd (19mins), Sam Farrow (62mins) Harrogate Railway Athletic: Liam Sutcliffe, Ryan Haig, Steve Ball, Craig Smith (Chris Gowen 89mins), Chris Clarke, Garry Shaw, Phil Mitchell (Dan Thirkell 56mins), Tom Hesketh, Ben Jones, Scott Jackson, Steve Smith (Scott Ryan 73mins). UNUSED SUBS: Danny Henry Goals: Steve Ball (mins), Dan Thirkell (77mins), Scott Ryan (80mins) Attendance: 114
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