Bamber Bridge climbed back in to 2nd place in the Evo-Stik League Division One North on Saturday afternoon at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium with a comfortable 3-0 victory over local rivals Radcliffe FC.

On a bitterly cold afternoon Brig dominated the game from start to finish. Early pressure from the hosts saw James Boyd come close to connecting with a superb Ali Waddecar cross from the right, the ball being cleared for a corner. On 8 minutes Matt Dudley got his head to a fine Macauley Wilson cross but his header cleared the crossbar. Just 2 minutes later however, Brigs early dominance paid dividends when another cross from the right was fumbled by the visitors keeper Grogan Firth, Ali Waddecar challenged for the loose ball only to see the keeper force it over his own goal-line to give Bamber Bridge a deserved lead.

Brig piled on the pressure looking to add to their lead and on 15 mins Matt Dudley again got his head to a cross, this time from the left and forcing a fine save from Firth. Brig were now rampant and Regan Linney was next to surge down the right wing before delivering a superb cross in to the box that caused mayhem in the Radcliffe defence before being cleared. On 23 minutes It was Regan again who cut inside from the right of the penalty area and bent a great effort goal bound, the keeper diving full length to push it around the post for a corner. From that corner Lewis Baines headed goalwards only for Firth to pull off another top drawer save as he tipped it over the bar.

Moments later and it was Linney again tormenting the visitors defence, this time firing in a great effort that flashed just past the post with the keeper beaten. Boyd then saw his close range effort well saved with the game approaching half time and Brig somehow only one goal to the good. Just has it seemed the hosts would have to settle for a single goal half time lead, Macaulay Wilson found himself in space on the right hand side of the 6 yard box, he took one touch before drilling the ball high in to the net to give the scoreline a more realistic look.

Half time and a well deserved 2-0 lead for Bamber Bridge

The 2nd half began as the 1st ended and within 2 minutes the lead was 3-0. James Boyd latched on to a through ball down the centre of the pitch, raced forward, rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home for a fine goal. As a contest the match was now pretty much over and it was just a matter of whether Brig would add to the 3 goals. Lewis Baines came close to getting his name on the score sheet on 60 mins when his powerful header from a corner beat the keeper but was hooked off the goal-line by the Radcliffe right back.

Brig made a series of changes mid way through the 2nd half with Matt Lawler making a welcome comeback replacing Matt Mahoney, shortly followed by Gerard Garner replacing Regan Linney. James Boyd almost grabbed his 2nd of the afternoon forcing another fine save from Grogan Firth before he was replaced by Jamie Milligan for the remaining quarter of an hour.

The changes didn’t disrupt the pattern of play with Brig continuing to dominate, Matt Dudley unlucky with a driving effort that just cleared the bar. Macauley Wilson was then close adding his 2nd but his effort from a tight angle again just cleared the bar.

Full time and a fine 3-0 victory that could have been more but for some fine goalkeeping from the visitors keeper. A welcome 3 points that sees Brig back amongst the pacesetters and up to 2nd place

Bamber Bridge: Rigby, Wilson, Dodd, Baines, Mahoney, (Lawlor 60), Potts (Capt.), Boyd ( Milligan 74), Forbes, Waddecar, Dudley, Linney (Garner 62)

Unused subs: Marlow, Staunton-Turner

Match reporter: Alan Bateson