A point gained or two dropped? We’ll know more in April, but with Bamber Bridge leading 2-1 heading into the final minutes of the New Year's Day clash at Colwyn Bay, returning home with just one point felt somehow disappointing.

On a very wet pitch and with the game still in some doubt only an hour prior to kick off, and with a swirling wind and regular downpours, it did not seem to be the ideal conditions for a classic, and so it turned out.

Brig started in lively fashion and in the 1st minute Ali Waddecar broke free in the box but his shot was smothered by the hosts keeper. On 8 minutes matt Dudley tried his luck with a 30 yard free kick but this sailed over the bar. A midfield battle was already developing with neither side creating much in the way of clear cut chances and the wind and rain certainly not helping the players. In the 15th minute Brig keeper Lloyd Rigby came to the visitors rescue making a fine save when the home striker found himself one on one with the Brig stopper.

At the other end, Ali Waddecar again came close as he beat the left back and whipped over a fine cross from the right hand side of the penalty area, initially cleared, It fell to Danny Forbes who controlled the ball before firing in a great shot that the keeper pushed over the bar for a
corner.

The next chance of the half fell to Colwyn Bay on 35 mins when Lloyd Rigby was again called upon to pull off a fine save from a rasping 25 yard drive. Straight down to the other end and Ali Waddecar got in a great effort from the edge of the box that beat the keeper only to see a Colwyn Bay defender on the goal line to head the ball clear.

Half time Colwyn Bay - 0 Bamber Bridge - 0

The 2nd half began like the 1st with Brig on the attack. Regan Linney seeing a shot blocked almost straight from the kick off. Just 2 minutes in to the half it was Linney again, turning in the penalty box and brought crashing to the ground. Jamie Milligan stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way to give Brig the lead.

Minutes later Adam Dodd weaved his way into the box but his low shot was comfortably saved. The goal seemed to have lifted both teams with the pace of the game noticeably quicker. The hosts where begining to dominate possession and they pulled level on 60 minutes. An initial shot was blocked but fell kindly to Elliot Rokka who slammed it home from 10 yards.

On 69 mins James Boyd replaced Regan Linney for Brig and it was Boyd who was denied by the home keeper just 2 minutes later when a fine reverse pass from Danny Forbes set him free into the area. Brig then took the lead for the 2nd time on 80 minutes, Matt Dudley swung in a free kick from the left and Ali Waddecar rose with a superb glancing header that sailed over the keeper and in to the back of the net to the delight of the travelling Brig faithful behind the goal. Moments later and Dudley hit a thunderbolt of a shot from 20 yards that cleared the bar by inches.

With time running out and Brig looking to hold on for 3 valuable points, disaster struck. Colwyn Bay midfielder Will Booth crossed what looked a routine, floated ball from the left hand touch line, it seemed to evade everyone and somehow crept over the line for the equaliser. Brig responded and ended the game by forcing a couple of corners, but moments later the referee brought proceedings to a close with the final whistle.

Full time and a 2-2 draw. On balance a fair result but disappointing to concede such a soft goal so late in the day.

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

Unused subs: Staunton-Turner, Vasey

Attendance: 213

Match reporter: Alan Bateson