Glossop NE 0 - 1 Bamber Bridge (23/01/18)

Bamber Bridge returned from their midweek trip to Derbyshire with all 3 points following a late winner in the encounter, at Surrey Street against Glossop North End.

On a surprisingly mild January night Glossop got the game underway and made their intentions clear from the kick off as they immediately put the Brig defence under pressure with a barrage of long balls into the box. Brig were being penned back and defending stoutly without being able to mount much of an attacking threat at the other end.

However, after being under the cosh for 15 minutes or so Brig started to gain a foothold in the game, and came close to opening the scoring on 20 minutes when a corner whipped in from the left that flashed across the 6 yard box at head height, just requiring a touch form anyone in a red shirt. Moments later and Ali Waddecar controlled a cross from the left on his chest, before striking a volley just wide.

Brig where now beginning to control the game and on 30 minutes Brad Carsley latched on to a through ball and looked to be fouled on the edge of the box, the referee waved play on but Brad was clearly in some discomfort and requiring attention. It was clear he wouldn’t be able to continue and brig where forced into a reshuffle, with Macauley Wilson coming on to take the right back berth and Stu Vasey moving up front to replace Brad Carsley.

On 35 minutes, following another Brig Corner, the ball fell to Regan Linney whose volleyed effort cleared the bar. Regan was involved a few moments later when he swung in a superb cross that was met by a bullet header from Matt Lawlor that was inches over the bar.

By now it was all Brig and the move of the match saw some great one touch passing down the left hand side as Matt Dudley swung over a delicious cross, Stu Vasey with his back to goal swivelled and connected with a superb hooked volley that looked a goal all the way until the glossop keeper dived at full length to tip it over the bar. Seconds later and Vasey was again unlucky as his effort was blocked before Matt Dudley fired in a goal bound shot that the home keeper dived to smother the ball.

Half time and no score with Brig looking by far the more likely team to break the deadlock. The 2nd half started however, pretty much like the 1st with Glossop pushing Brig back. A free kick from 25 yards flashed just wide of Lloyd Rigby’s left hand post as the hosts tried to impose themselves on the game.

Once again though, Brig weathered the early storm and began to pose problems for the North End defence. Stu Vasey, having a great impact up front came close on 58 minutes as he cut inside from the right wing before curling in an effort that just cleared the bar.

On 65 minutes a reckless challenge from Glossop’s Mark Haslam on Michael Potts led to a 20 man fracas, with players from both sides, pushing and shoving. When all had calmed down the referee showed a straight red card to Haslam, he can have no complaints.

Brig sensed the opportunity to push on and following a great interchange between Ali Waddecar and Macauley Wilson down the right wing, Ali put over a great cross that Stu Vasey met with a downward header, the keeper managing to make a good save to deny the Brig striker.

On 80 minutes Brig made their first change with James Boyd replacing the hard working Vasey. With the visitors now pushing forward at every opportunity it came as no surprise when they took the lead on 85 minutes. Great play down the left wing led to a low cross into the 6 yard box where Adam Dodd gleefully slammed the ball into the roof of the net, with the Brig fans behind the goal celebrating wildly.

The goal sparked a late flurry from The Hosts with long balls being hoisted into the Brig box, but the the visitors having worked so hard to gain the lead, they where in no mood to let it slip and despite the late pressure held out resolutely to gain the 3 valuable points that pushed Bamber Bridge up into 3rd place in the League table.

Next up for Bamber Bridge is a home match against Trafford on Saturday, a weekend when 6 of the top 7 teams in the league come face to face.

Bamber Bridge: Rigby, Vasey (Boyd 80), Lawlor, Charnock, Potts, Waddecar, Forbes, Carsley, (Wilson), Dudley, (Marlow), Linney.

Unused subs: Milligan, Staunton-Turner

Match reporter: Alan Bateson