Ossett Town 1 - 0 Bamber Bridge (21/10/17)

Danny South’s first half tap-in was the difference, in a game where the visitors dominated possession, and were left to rue missed opportunities.

Bamber Bridge won a corner in the opening seconds, which Phil Doughty met only to see his header dart well wide of the mark.

Ossett tested the Brig backline in the opening exchanges with crosses into the box, but the visitors’ defence dealt with them well.

The hosts were forced into an early substitution, with Martin Pembleton being replaced by Josh Snowden.

Moments after the substitution the hosts took the lead on 13 minutes with the first real attack of the game. Brig failed to deal with a cross into the box, which found its way to Emile Sinclair whose trickling effort was poked home by Danny South.

The league leaders were struggling to get into their rhythm. Brad Carsley and Daniel Mooney linked up well for the first time on 18-minutes, but a strong challenge from Assenso nullified the attack.

After a slow start the visitors had a couple of efforts on goal in succession. Daniel Mooney cut in from the right, only to see his effort comfortably gathered. Matthew Dudley was the next to have a go for Brig, his low shot a routine save for Overton in the Ossett goal.

As the first-half went on Neil Reynolds side grew into the game. Alistair Waddecar’s shot that look destined for the bottom corner was well saved by Overton who pushed the ball away from the lurking Brad Carsley.

Seconds later the equaliser looked certain. Adam Dodd whipped in a beauty of a delivery to pick out Carsley, but the Brig number-nine saw his volley from close range superbly blocked by Low.

The Ossett defence was being put to the test, but dealt well with numerous free-kick deliveries into the box.

With the pressure being applied, Brig saw a penalty shout turned away by the referee. Mahoney’s delivery into the box was spilt by Overton, before Waddecar fell to the ground after he tried to latch onto the loose ball.

Half Time: Ossett Town 1-0 Bamber Bridge

Neil Reynolds made the one change going into the second-half. Phil Doughty was replaced by Stuart Vasey.

The second forty-five began in very similar fashion to the first, with neither side really gaining a foothold.

The first chance fell on 51 minutes to Brad Carsley who was picked out by Mooney. The number-nines’ effort from close range flew wide after the striker slipped on the dampened surface.

The boys in white grew into the half once again.

Carsley had a header palmed away by Overton from a corner, before Regan Linney sent a shot just wide of the mark from the edge of the area.

The wide areas were where Brig looked most dangerous. Waddecar’s cross from the right was glanced wide of goal by Carsley just shy of the hour mark.

Overton was proving a tough door to break down. Lewis Baines was the next to see his header well stopped by the Ossett ‘keeper.

Brad Carsley again saw Overton deny him what looked to be a certain goal for Brig. Mooney delivered from the left, Carsley snuck in at the back post unmarked only to see his low shot from a matter of yards out superbly kept out by the goalkeeper.

The pressure was really being put on by the visitors. Matthew Mahoney was the next to see his effort deflect wide after the defender took a swipe at a bobbling ball in the box.

After a half dominated by Brig, Ossett had a flurry of chances to seal the three points in the final ten minutes.

Lloyd Rigby in the Brig goal was called into action properly for the first time on the 84th minute, diving low to tip Mackie’s shot behind.

From the resulting corner, Adam Dodd headed off the line to prevent South’s header from finding the back of the net.

Despite all their pressure the visitors just couldn’t find that telling touch. Stuart Vasey had the last attempt at salvaging a deserved point, but it wasn’t meant to be.

The cliché that sometimes it just isn’t your day certainly applied to this match for Brig, with Overton in the Ossett Town goal putting in an inspiring performance between the sticks.

Neil Reynolds remained positive after the match, insisting that he isn’t “worried at all” and that today was simply a “minor setback”.

Bamber Bridge are in FA Trophy action next Saturday at Warrington, where they will be looking to go and progress into the next round.

Bamber Bridge: Rigby; Mahoney; Dodd; Baines; Doughty (Vasey '45), Potts; Waddecar; Dudley; Carsley; Linney (Boyd '85); Mooney
Subs (not used): Milligan; Wilson

Full gallery of match photos available HERE

Match Reporter: George Hodgson - @GHodgsonSport
Referee: Paul Roots
Attendance: 195