Bamber Bridge’s trip to the Yorkshire brewery town of Tadcaster on Saturday afternoon is not one that the players, Manager, coaching staff and supporters will want to see repeated any time soon!

A resounding 5-0 thumping at the hands of play-off chasing Tadcaster Albion certainly wouldn’t have been expected, even at half time with the score locked at 0-0 with nei-ther side looking likely to break the deadlock.

The match started in bitterly cold conditions with both sides unable to keep possession, leading to a very scrappy opening to the match. Things started to look quite bright for Brig round about the 10 minute mark as they strung a few passes together ending with a looping Keiran Charnock header that forced the home keeper to arch backwards and tip the ball over the bar. Five minutes later and Brad Carsley tested Ingham, the
Preston born keeper with a low drive from a tight angle. The keeper once again pushing the ball away for a corner. Unbeknown at the time, that was pretty much the extent of his afternoons work !

As the half wore on Tadcaster came more into the game and it developed in a midfield stalemate. The freezing weather being the main topic of conversation in the crowd. Chris Marlow saw a 20 yard drive fly high over the bar only to rebound of the frame of the stand roof behind the goal. The hosts had the ball in the net on 25 minutes but the linesmans flag was raised for offside. The last “action” of the half saw Adam Dodd
receive a yellow card for a lunge close to the touchline

Half time 0-0

Both sets of fans hoped for more in the 2nd half, but i doubt anyone in the ground could have expected what was to follow. Brig looked to have started the brighter, with an early flurry of corners. Nothing of note came from any of these and Tadcaster soon started look the more likely. On 57 minutes they took the lead. A fine move down the right ended with Aiden Savory converting an inviting cross.

The Brig fans hoped this might stir their team into action but the goal had the opposite effect and Brig simply could not get in to the match. Brig Manager Neil Reynolds opted to make changes, and Potts, Boyd and Tanner replaced Dudley, Marlow and Forbes on 63 minutes. The changes almost paid dividends as Michael Potts struck a rasping drive from outside the penalty area which crashed against the cross bar and rebounded to safety. However, just moments later Tadcaster counter attacked down to the other end and made it 2-0. Before anyone really had time to think, Tadcaster had won the ball back, attacked again and Will Annan, on loan to Albion from Hull City went on a mazy run and finished it off with a great shot to make it 3-0 and effectively end the game as a contest.

With Albion now in total control Brig were reduced to 10 men when Macauley Wilson flew in to a tackle on 75 minutes and was shown a straight red card. Could things get any worse? Well yes !! Will Annan again tormented the Brig defence before slotting the ball home to make it 4-0, and just 3 minutes later on 82 minutes it was 5-0. Annan again doing the hard work before passing to Sheppard who gleefully knocked it home.

Brig almost pulled one back on 89 mins but Ingham spread himself to save a Ali Wad-decar free kick. At the other end it was almost 6 as Annan almost grabbed a hat trick but his effort came back off the bar.

Brigs misery was ended seconds later with the final whistle. A second half that nobody saw coming at half time, but in the end Albion where worthy winners as they had pretty much converted every chance they created. Hull Loanee, Will Annan being the main tormentor in chief with a sensational 45 minutes.

A game Bamber Bridge will quickly need to forget as they move on to what is now a crucial match against Skelmersdale Utd on Easter Monday

Final Score: Tadcaster Albion - 5 Bamber Bridge - 0

Att: 303

Bamber Bridge: Rigby Wilson, Dodd, Lawlor (C), Charnock, Roscoe, Waddecar, Forbes, Carsley, Dudley, Marlow.

Used subs: Boyd, Potts, Tanner
Unused subs: Linney, Vasey