Whitby Town 2 - 1 Bamber Bridge (06/10/18)

Bamber Bridge returned form the long journey to the North East Coast empty handed on Saturday following a game that they will feel they were worthy of taking at least a point from. A second half Whitby Town penalty being the difference between the two sides, securing all three points for The North Yorkshire side.

Brig had new signing Darren McKnight from Glossop North End making his debut in midfield for the suspended Michael Potts. The game started with the hosts on the front foot and right from the start they caught their Lancashire visitors flat footed, when in the 2nd minute they took the lead. A through ball down the centre of the pitch found Junior Mondal who fired into the bottom corner of the net.

Brig were stunned into action as they looked to get their passing game going, and on 15 minutes a fine move saw Andy Haworth pick up the ball on the right, The Brig No.10 beat the full back and swung over a cross that Brad Carsley met at the back post, but his header cannoned back off the outside of the post and was cleared. Ten minutes later and Haworth was again involved, this time seeing his 25 yard deflected strike loop up over the keeper and on to the crossbar.

The equaliser that the Bamber Bridge play had deserved arrived on 22 minutes, Ryan White cut inside the full back from the right wing, laid the ball back to Ali Waddecar on the edge of the box, Ali side stepped the defender and curled a beauty in the the top right hand corner of the net to level the score.

The match was now swinging from end to end and on 30 minutes Matt Lawlor was called upon to make a spectacular goal line clearance following a Whitby Town free kick. Moments later at the other end Ryan White looked odds on to give the visitors the lead as he latched on to a through ball and ran clear into the penalty area with just the keeper to beat, His shot beat the keeper but bounced back off the foot of the post to the advancing Andy Haworth but his shot blazed over the bar.

Oli Byrne in the Brig goal then made a fine save on 40 minutes, diving full length to tip a powerful shot around the post for a corner. Half time arrived with the scores level, but Brig perhaps a touch unfortunate not to be leafing having hit the post twice and the bar once.

The 2nd half never quite reached the heights of the 1st half with chances at both ends at a premium. Brad Carsley did have the ball in the net on 50 minutes with a fine low drive but the referees assistant had already raised the flag for offside. Brad Carsley then found himself on the end of a a left wing cross from Chris Marlow but his shot from 10 yards was comfortably smothered by the home keeper.

The home sides defence where now keeping the Brig forward line at arms length and the visitors where restricted to long range efforts none of which really threatened the Whitby goal. Brig’s best chance of the half fell to Ali Waddecar on 75 minutes, clearly tugged back outside the box, Unbalanced by the pull back, Ali stayed on his feet and got off a shot that the keeper saved with his legs. The Brig fans fully expected the
referee to blow for a free kick but he waved play on and the ball was cleared.

Brig made 3 substitutions as the 2nd half wore on, Matt Dudley, Chris Churchman and Jordan Darr replacing Carsley, McKnight and Haworth respectively. Moments after the 3rd change the visitors regained the lead with a penalty. Oli Byrne bringing down Junior Mondal as he attempted to claim the ball at the strikers feet. Up stepped Dale Hopson to send the Brig keeper the wrong way from the spot.

The Spot kick was the decisive moment of the 2nd half and neither side created any fur-ther chances of note as the game drifted towards its conclusion. Brig forced 2 late cor-ners but the home side held firm to take the points.

A game that on balance probably merited a point apiece but Brig where left to rue the chances that had struck the woodwork in the 1st half.

Full Time: Whitby Town - 2 Bamber Bridge - 1

Att: 264

Bamber Bridge: Byrne, Dawson, Marlow, Lawlor (Capt.), Charnock, McKnight, Wadde-car, Forbes, Carsley, Haworth, White

Subs: Dudley, Darr, Milligan, Churchman, Rigby (GK)

Match reporter: Alan Bateson