Bamber Bridge 2 -4 Scarborough Athletic

The Relegation trap door swung wide open for Bamber Bridge on Saturday afternoon following another home defeat, this time a 4-2 reverse at the hands of Scarborough Athletic. At the same time Mickleover Sports strengthend their chances of survival with their 2nd away win of the week with a a 3-2 victory at Promotion chasing Nantwich Town. These results leave Brig firmly entrenched in the bottom 3 with just four games remaining.

As is customary in recent weeks Brig started the brighter of the two teams and forced several early chances. Daniel Wisdom getting his head to a fine Goose cross in the 5th minute but his attempt was well held by The Boro keeper, Regan Linney came close minutes later when he cut in from the right but curled his effort high over the bar.

Chances were coming along on a regular basis for Brig, but clinical finishing is something that has deserted Bamber Bridge in recent weeks and this was to lead to the inevitable, as this match progressed. Ali Waddecar was next to test the Boro keeper with a downward header from another Goose cross, Matt Dudley found himself one on one with keeper following a terrific defence splitting pass but the keepers outstretched leg managed to flick the ball around the post for a corner.

Brig were in total control of the game at this stage but once again pressed the self destruct button. Following a succession of corners and two blocked efforts the visitors broke away and an unchallenged 70 yard run from the edge of the penalty area ended with the Boro striker slamming the ball home from 30 yards giving the visitors the lead with their first real attack. That this scenario has occurred so many times of late can no longer be attributed to bad luck.

Brig had a superb chance for an immediate response when Adam Dodd found time and space in the area, but his left foot shot lacked power and the keeper dived to his right to push the ball around the post for another brig corner. Brig continued to dominate proceedings as the half progressed, but somehow, just like last week at Basford, went in at the break 1 goal down.

The second half began in the worst possible way for Bamber Bridge, as the visitors doubled their lead. A cross in to the box was headed on and knocked home from close range. Ten minutes later and Brig’s chances of a recovery were further reduced when Callum Spooner lunged in with an unnecessary challenge and received a straight red card.

Strangely the sending off seemed to galvanise the home side and on 64 minutes Brig were back in the match when Ali Waddecar stepped up to convert from the spot following a rash challenge. Game on, Not for long however, just 5 minutes later, a cross into the box was met with a bullet header from Boro striker James Balshaw and the visitors two goal advantage was restored. Straight to the other end and hope was again restored as Ali Waddecar grabbed his 2nd of the match after he reacted quickly in the Bro area to poke the ball home and reduce the deficit to just one with 20 minutes still left on the clock.

Any hopes of a Brig comeback were extinguished on 75 minutes when Boro made it 4-2, Walshaw again, this time with a fierce strike from the edge of the box. 4 goals in 13 frantic second half minutes. Brig brought on young Blackpool loanee striker Owen Watkinson for the closing minutes and the young Seasiders’ striker was immediately involved, seeing a shot on the turn narrowly clear the bar as the home side tried in vain to salvage a point. The full time whistle duly arrived and Brig were once again left to rue the missed chances particularly in the first half that saw a defeat from a performance that merited more.

Full time:

Bamber Bridge – 2 Scarborough Athletic – 4

Att: 346

Bamber Bridge: Rigby, Spooner, Dodd, Charnock, Lawlor, Wisdom, Linney, Booth, Waddecar, Dudley, Marlow

Subs: Doughty, Forbes, Harries, Churchman, Watkinson