Bamber Bridge and Brighouse Town had met 3 times already this season serving up 16 goals between them with Bamber Bridge winning all three. Todays encounter followed the same pattern adding another 6 goals to that total in an enthralling 3-3 draw at The Yorkshire Payments Stadium.

From the kick off it was clear that the home side were in no mood to allow Bamber Bridge a 4th victory of the season over them. They looked up to the task in hand, and so it proved. However, it was Brig who created the first chance of the game, Ali Waddecar breaking free and charging towards the penalty area, his hard low drive beating the advancing keeper but creeping just wide of the post.

Moments later in the 8th minute Brighouse took the lead, a swift move down the right led to the ball being switched to ex Macclesfield Town striker Waide Fairhurst who took one touch before smashing a low shot past Brig keeper, Rigby. With Brighouse in the lead and the visitors struggling to get their passing game going, the match became ra-ther scrappy for a spell. Chances where few and far between at this stage but Regan Linney came closest for Brig on 20 minutes when he cut in from the left wing in to the 6 yard box but found his close range shot blocked and forced out for a corner.

At the other end Brighouse had a chance to double their lead on 25 minutes when a free kick delivered from the left was headed wide as Brig failed to pick up the striker lurking at the far post. With the game now opening up it was straight to the other end and Linney again was involved, this time he raced in to the area, the home keeper diving at his feet to smother the ball. As the 1st half drew to a close it was Bamber Bridge doing all the pressing. An almighty scramble in the Brighouse 6 yard box saw Ali Waddecar 3 times get his foot to the ball but on each occasion a Brighouse defender flung himself at the ball determined to keep it out. The ball eventually being poked wide for a goal kick.

Just on half time Stu Vasey was sent clear down the right, his rasping drive being well saved by the diving home keeper pushing the ball wide for a corner. The corner was cleared and the referee blew for half time with the determined hosts clinging on to their slender lead.

Bamber Bridge started the 2nd half on the front foot looking for the equaliser and 10 minutes into the half it duly arrived. An attack down the left wing saw a cross into the box that was partially cleared, the ball fell to Matt Dudley with his back to goal. His overhead attempt was deflected into the path of Keiran Charnock and with the keeper stranded he gleefully smashed it into the empty net.

A few minutes later and Dudley was involved again, this time is looping header just clearing the bar. With Brig looking the more likely to get in front, it was the homeside who took the lead. A long corner from the left drifted over everyone only to find Aaron Martin unmarked at the back post, his looping header beating Lloyd Rigby and dropping into the net. Brig where stunned and immediately made two changes, with Gary Pett and Brad Carsley replacing Matt Dudley and James Boyd. Worse was to follow however just 4 minutes later when Brighouse where awarded a penalty. Rigby was unlucky has he got a hand to the thundering spot kick but saw it ricochet into the net off the underside of the bar to give the home side an unexpected 3-1 lead.

Bamber Bridge where rattled but continued to believe they could get back into this game having come from behind on more than one occasion in their earlier encounters with Brighouse this season.

Matt Mahoney replaced Stu Vasey on 75 minutes and seconds later another goalmouth scramble in the home 6 yard box again saw Brighouse clear the ball. Not for long though as in the 76th Minute Gary Pett on his Brig debut was sent through on goal and from the edge of the area drilled a beauty in to the back of the net with home keeper at full stretch. Game on !!! With the match entering it’s final stages Bamber Bridge where putting everything into getting something from the game. Brighouse to their credit where determined to keep them out. With time ebbing away a Brig corner on 88 minutes was headed up into the air by a Brighouse defender, as the ball dropped, Regan Linney controlled it, side stepped a defender and lashed a 10 yard shot under the keeper to bring the scores level at 3-3.

All of a sudden Brig sensed victory and poured forward looking fro the winner, Danny Forbes was unlucky with a shot blocked in front of the line. Ali Waddecar then drilled in a shot form the right that the keeper did well to hold. Another scramble in the home penalty area led to the ball being cleared up field, The Brighouse striker raced towards goal and unleashed a rocket with Rigby in goal pulling off a great save to tip the ball on to the bar. Seconds later and the referee blew the whistle to end a superb match with both sides having given everything and a point each was probably a fair result.

So it's 4 games between these two sides and an impressive 22 goals scored. For Bamber Bridge, in the context of the game it was a point gained. In the context of the season possibly 2 points dropped. But credit to Brighouse Town who have given us 4 terrific matches this season.

Bamber Bridge: Rigby, Vasey, (Mahoney) Marlow, Lawlor (c), Charnock, Potts,
Waddecar, Forbes, Dudley (Pett) , Boyd (Carsley), Linney

Unused subs: Wiles, Doughty