Bamber Bridge 1 - 1 Colne

Jamie Milligan’s penalty kick in the dying embers saw Bamber Bridge get out of jail and earn a point against Colne.

Both sides made a lively start to the game, but it was the visitors that went in at the break at half time courtesy of Alex Curran.

And Colne held onto their lead well until one minute from time when Milligan drew Brig level after Alistair Waddecar was brought down inside the box.

Steve Cunningham’s side came the closest to opening the score on the 15-minute mark, when Lloyd Rigby palmed away Matthew Morgan’s sweeping effort after a cleverly worked free kick routine.

Brig responded well though and Michael Potts went not too far away with a well struck shot from distance that arrowed over the crossbar.
After a quiet ten-minute spell, Colne did hit the front when Alex Curran rifled in the opener from a free kick that took an ever so slight deflection.

Neil Reynolds’ side saw some half chances go begging, but other than that Colne’s goal saw them defend their lead well and head in at half time a goal to the good.

HALF TIME: Bamber Bridge 0-1 Colne

The second half started in a scrappy fashion, but it was Curran who came desperately close to his and Colne’s second when he rattled the crossbar with a venomous strike.

That chance spurred them on and Brig escaped rather fortunately on the hour mark, when Pugh hit the post following an intricate move down the right.

Alistair Waddecar came the closest to levelling for Brig with twenty-minutes left to play, but his glancing header after latching onto Chris Marlow’s cross was routine for Hakam Burton in the Colne goal.

Neil Reynolds shook things up with a triple substitution to try and find an equaliser, but Colne stood firm in the defensive department.

Curran remained a goal threat for the leading side and he flashed an effort just wide of the post with ten minutes left on the clock.
As far as chances go though, Brig couldn’t have come much closer than they did on the 81st minute.

The ball found its way to Waddecar at the back post after the cross took a deflection, the winger latched onto it and rattled his volleyed effort off the underside of the crossbar.

Despite that chance going amiss, the hosts were then handed the chance to equalise when Waddecar was bundled down inside the box with injury time looming.

Up stepped a confident Jamie Milligan to slot the ball home from twelve yards and earn Brig a point in what was a battle between two sides dealing at the top end of the table.

Man of the match (voted for by match sponsors Nick Anderton Agricultural Consultants): Alistair Waddecar

Match reporter: George Hodgson (@GHodgsonSport)