Bamber bridge match report

[karltt]

Seems a bit like Eastenders !!! Phil Mitchells return

 

Bamber Bridge moved into third position in the First Division North table with this comprehensive 3-0 victory over lowly Warrington Town at a very cold and wintry Cantilever Park. Brig went in at the break a goal to the good following a superbly taken Alex Porter free-kick and then went on to dominate the second period with a fine display of attacking football. Try as they may, the gallant Cheshire side could do little to deny their impressive guests who performed with spirit and guile throughout.

 

The South Ribble side arrived at Cantilever Park hoping to carry on the good work following Saturday?s home win against Woodley Sports. They were also keen on regenerating their promotion aspirations after a poor run of results over Christmas and the New Year which saw Brig slip from poll position at the beginning of December, down to sixth place in the table by the end of January. Strugglers Warrington Town were on a high after an unexpected 3-1 triumph at Curzon Ashton on Saturday and were hoping for a further three points in their quest to stave off any lingering threat of relegation.

 

Brig manager Phil Entwistle made just two changes to his successful starting line-up from the home game against Woodley Sports at the weekend. Tom Ince moved back into defence replacing left-back Ryan Bowen with Mike Mason taking over on the left of midfield. Making his Bamber Bridge debut was former Warrington Town star Phil Mitchell who replaced Stephen Brown on the right of midfield. New signing Matty Elder, recently recruited from Kidsgrove Athletic, was named as one of the substitutes.

 

Brig were first to show on a bitterly cold evening when Matt Mahoney brought Town goalkeeper Richard Mottram to his knees with a crisp shot from the edge of the box on 6 minutes after a Phil Mitchell corner-kick was only partially cleared.

 

Both sides were knocking the ball around well but Town almost broke through with some delightfully enterprising play when their lively striker Phil Howard came close twice in as many minutes. Brig goalkeeper Andy Banks saved with his feet as Howard let fly from the edge of the box on 22 minutes following a flowing move through the middle. Then three minutes later Banks came out quickly to deny Howard again as the Warrington man bore down on goal.

 

A series of corners on the left by Phil Mitchell caused his former colleagues a few anxious moments as Brig put the Town defence under growing pressure, whilst at the other end, the visiting defence remained resolute. The Mitchell brothers linked up well and almost broke through the home rearguard on 40 minutes but the raid was repulsed with some determined defending on the edge of the Warrington penalty area.

 

Bamber Bridge were growing in confidence as the half-time whistle approached and they broke the deadlock in dramatic fashion on 43 minutes. Town defender Anthony Daniels upended Matt Mahoney in a central position some twenty yards from goal. ALEX PORTER rattled home the free-kick beyond the defensive wall with goalkeeper Mottram firmly routed to the spot.

 

The South Ribble side came out for the second-half with renewed vigour and got right down the throats of the Town defence with some penetrating play. On 47 minutes Tom Ince found Graeme Mitchell in space and Mitchell?s lay-off put in Alex Porter who shot narrowly over.

 

Town came battling back with a fine combination of interplay through the middle between Robert Dutton, Anthony Daniels and Phil Hadland, but the promising enterprise was abruptly halted on the edge of the Brig box with a timely intervention by Brig skipper Glenn Steel.

 

Brig worked hard and looked the more cohesive unit as the second-half wore on and Warrington began to run out of ideas. Ince overlapped on the left and put in Porter, but the opportunity went a begging as Brig?s leading marksman lobbed over from a good position. The visitors swarmed about the home back-line like a hungry pack of wolves and were rewarded for their endeavours on 62 minutes with a second goal. Mike Mason cut in from the left following some industrious play by Phil Mitchell and Alex Porter and then was floored in the box by a desperate challenge from Paul Bowes. ALEX PORTER blasted the resultant spot-kick into the roof of the net for his second goal of the game and his 18th of the season.

 

Warrington almost disappeared as an attacking force as Brig dictated proceedings with some powerful forward play and Graeme Mitchell saw a fine effort brilliantly tipped around the post by Mottram on 65 minutes after good work by Porter on the left.

 

Three minutes later the Mitchell brothers combined to set up Brig?s third goal. Phil Mitchell found his brother down the left, and after overcoming the challenge of a defender on the bye-line, Graeme fired a pass back beyond the 18yard-line. The cross was met on the half-volley by MATT MAHONEY who cracked in an unstoppable drive beyond the reach of Mottram?s despairing dive. Graeme Mitchell then came close with a volley which flew just past the post with Brig?s next raid.

 

Things got worse on 74 minutes for luckless Warrington when Daniels was sent off after collecting a second yellow card for a needless challenge on Glenn Steel on the halfway-line. He thus became the third Brig opponent to be dismissed in the last four games.

 

Graeme Mitchell almost took advantage of a slip-up by Town full-back Chris Fitzsimmons on 80 minutes when firing narrowly over the crossbar.

 

Ten men Warrington enjoyed a really good spell in the last ten minutes and Brig?s new recruit Matt Elder, on as a 77th minute substitute, hooked the ball off the goal-line, following a looping effort by James McCarthy which evaded Banks. The Brig goalkeeper then saved a one-on-one with Howard after a neat through-ball by Dutton which had split the visitors defence.

 

With one minute remaining Brig central-defender Colin McAllister was shown a straight red card after flooring Howard on the edge of the box as the Warrington man made for goal. Nothing came of the free-kick and Brig were able to keep a clean-sheet.

 

Warrington Town: Richard Mottram, Jamie Holme, Chris Fitzsimmons, Paul Bowes, Anthony Kielty, Anthony Daniels, Phil Hadland, Peter Moore, Robert Dutton, Phillip Howard, Chris Gahgan. Subs: Andrew Thomas, James McCarthy, Francis Smith

 

Goals: -

 

Bamber Bridge: Andy Banks, Jamie Nay (Matt Elder 77mins), Michael Mason, Colin McAllister, Dave McCann, Glenn Steel, Phil Mitchell, Matt Mahoney, Greame Mitchell (Sean O'Neil 88mins), Alex Porter, Tom Ince. Unused subs: Mark Edmeads, Kyrstian Liptrot

 

Goals: Alex Porter (42,62mins), Matt Mahoney (68mins)

 

Attendance: 95

[Gary]

The official report and pictures are on the home page of this website!

I suspect the one above was written by someone with Rose tinted Bamber Bridge spectacles.

If (and I know it is a big if) Warrington had taken all their chances they could have won 6-3!

[Pieman]

That report is, pardon my french, bunkum, their second goal, a penalty was given after a collision off the ball between two players and the linesman was flagging for offside

 

Their third goal was a push on our defender, clear as day by Graeme Mitchell , ha, this was in clear view of everybody, and was easily spotted from the other end

 

Their sending off, of former Town player Colin McAllister, was a joke, as I and at least one Town official, don't believe there to have been any contact whatsoever, the player just stumbled as he ran towards goal

 

This isn't a one sided view, there were many from both sides complaining about the referee.

[Gary]

That report is, pardon my french, bunkum, their second goal, a penalty was given after a collision off the ball between two players and the linesman was flagging for offside

 

Their third goal was a push on our defender, clear as day by Graeme Mitchell , ha, this was in clear view of everybody, and was easily spotted from the other end

 

Their sending off, of former Town player Colin McAllister, was a joke, as I and at least one Town official, don't believe there to have been any contact whatsoever, the player just stumbled as he ran towards goal

 

This isn't a one sided view, there were many from both sides complaining about the referee.

 

But whatever your view - quite simply Warrington Town failed to put the ball in the back of the net - which is the main objective of any football team!