Official website of Bamber Bridge Football Club
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Home > 2009-10 Season > Match Reports > Ossett Albion (15.08.09) |
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MATCH REPORTOssett Albion 0 Bamber Bridge 1Northern Premier League 1st Division Northat Dimple WellsSaturday 15th August 2009By Dave Rowland
Brig arrived at Dimple Wells for their opening game of the season determined to avenge the heavy home defeat suffered at the hands of the West Yorkshire outfit in the final game of the 2008-09 season back in April. Albion, who finished in a creditable 6th position in the First Division North last time out, were equally keen to overcome their Lancashire guests after having secured the ‘league double’ over them last term. Tony Greenwood had virtually a whole new squad to select from with striker Sean O’Neil and central defender Colin McAllister the only remaining first team players left at the club from last season. Full-back James Heywood, who had reported sick during the morning, was the only absentee. Albion opened the proceedings in lively fashion and a dangerously struck in-swinging corner-kick by Joe Thornton was punched clear by Brig goalkeeper Mike Hale after just 3 minutes.
However, within two minutes of this set-back Brig were a goal to the good following a neat lay-off by Phil Eastwood on the left of the box which was fired home from six yards by the inrushing Ashley Dunn. The goal stunned Albion and they almost fell two behind on 10 minutes when Phil Denney headed narrowly wide from a Ryan-Zico Black corner. At the other end Brig full-back Lee Pryers, who was making his 99th appearance in a Brig shirt, cleared from the goal-line whilst under pressure as the Yorkshiremen responded. Despite this near call, Bamber Bridge were forcing the pace with some nicely controlled touch-football and Albion goalkeeper Neil Bennett pulled off a brilliantly spectacular save from a Phil Denney half-volley on 20 minutes after the tall striker had dispossessed a home defender on the left hand edge of the box. Denney again came closer minutes later when heading just wide from a Mitchell Bailey corner from the right.
As was to be expected, the home side came out fighting after the break and began to make inroads through the visitors back line. They had a real chance of parity on 56 minutes when they were awarded a penalty-kick after Lee Pryers upended Shane Kelsey just inside the box. However, Brig goalkeeper Mike Hale was up to the task and confidently kept out Kelsey’s resultant spot-kick. The set-back knocked Albion out of their stride for a while but they were soon back on song, as hungry as ever. A Joe Thornton free-kick was superbly tipped over by the impressive Hale on the hour mark, as the pressure continued and the home side looked increasingly dangerous. However, as the game wore on Albion’s efforts smacked more of desperation than of defined planning and inevitably they began to run out of ideas. The visiting defence, ably marshalled by Martin Moran, Colin McAllister, Chris Marlow and the energetic Lee Pryers, proved to big a hurdle for the Dimple Wells team.
This almost paid off with minutes to go when the Yorkshiremen won a corner-kick. However substitute Gareth Hamlet headed wide when handily placed following the resultant flag-kick from Albion skipper Michael Senior. With it the chance of grabbing a point was gone for Ossett. In truth, Brig had earned their right to all the spoils after a fine workman-like display at a place which has proved a difficult venue for them in the past. Ossett Albion: Neil Bennett, Sam Jackson, Kyle Cook, Ryan White, Lee Connor, Damian Hopkins, Tom Harban, Michael Senior, Shane Kelsey, Rikki Popplewell, Joe Thornton. Unused Sub: Lee Ashforth, Gareth Hamlet, Eddie Hague, Aaron Guiry, Adam Frost Goals: - Bamber Bridge: Mike Hale, Colin McAllister, Lee Pryers, Martin Moran, Phil Robinson (Chris Marlow 5mins), Ashley Dunn, Mitchell Bailey (Sargeson 81mins), Neil Reynolds, Phil Denney, Phil Eastwood (Sean O’Neil 68mins), Ryan-Zico Black. Unused Sub: Shane Oldfield Goals: Ashley Dunn (7 mins) Attendance: 121
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Bamber Bridge thoroughly deserved their win on the opening day of term with a scintillating first-half display followed by a determined and dogged defensive show in the second period, which included a penalty save by impressive new goalkeeper Mike Hale. The visitors, who began the season off with a completely new line-up, had their hosts on the back foot from the start and remained strong enough to hold on to an early lead despite a gritty response from their hosts after the break.
The visitors lost their inspirational skipper Phil Robinson after just 5 minutes play following a collision, Robinson being substituted by young Chris Marlow in defence.
Brig’s tenacity constantly disrupted Albion’s rhythm as the Lancastrians continued to boss the game. Denney once more brought the best out of Bennett following a long throw-in by Colin McAllister and Eastwood came very close with an effort which was blocked by defender Damian Hopkins following an astute Bailey cross on 40 minutes. Ryan-Zico Black nearly got his name on the score-sheet on the stroke of half-time, firing a free-kick inches over the crossbar from 25 yards out.
Neil Reynolds and Ashley Dunn again began to regain mastery of the midfield and the home team turned to the long ball game in desperation.