Bamber Bridge progressed into the 2nd Round of The Evostik IntegroSport cup with a comfortable 4-1 victory on Monday evening at Volair Park, home of Prescot Cables.

Brig are currently the holders of this competition having beaten Grantham Town in the final back in April, and on tonight's showing, have no intention of loosening their grip on the trophy.

The game started quietly for both sides, with the only effort on goal in the early stages coming from a Jamie Milligan free kick from 20 yards which curled over the wall but was comfortably collected by former Brig keeper Marcus Burgess in goal for The Cables.

On 20 minutes Matt Mahoney tried his luck with an overhead bicycle kick following a corner, but the spectacular effort landed just wide of the post. Brad Carsley then came close on 27 minutes racing on to a through ball as the keeper charged out of his goal, Brad reached the ball first and his lobbed effort over the goalkeeper dropped agonisingly wide of the goal. Bamber Bridge were forced into an early substitution on 27 minutes when Danny Forbes had to be replaced by Regan Linney following a heavy challenge.

The opening goal arrived just moments later, Dan Mooney bodychecked in the box as he tried to turn inside. Jamie Milligan stepped up and calmly stroked the ball into the bottom right of the keepers net.

Virtually straight from the kick off, Bamber Bridge won back possession, Adam Dodd played a one two with Ali Waddecar sending the Brig left back clear. He made no mistake as he smashed the ball under the advancing Burgess.

Two nil at the break and Brig looking very comfortable, the second half started with Prescot on the front foot, trying to get a foothold in the game, that duly arrived on 50 minutes, A swift Cables break saw Klein Davies on hand to halve the deficit for the hosts.

With their tails up, Cables went in search of an equaliser but on 55 minutes Cables striker Harry Cain received a 2nd yellow card and subsequently a red after going down in the box. The referee felt the striker had dived and the home side would have to play the remaining 35 minutes with 10 men.

The game now swung from end to end, with Brig having the bulk of the chances. Twice Brad Carsley found himself through on goal only to see both efforts creep narrowly wide. Prescot responded and a fine Lloyd Rigby save was followed by a headed clearance off the line.

Brig made their final substitutions on 68 and 72 minutes with James Boyd replacing Dan Mooney, followed by Matt Dudley replacing Jamie Milligan. On 75 minutes Regan Linney charged down a hopeful forward ball forcing the keeper to a throw in, from the throw Ali Waddecar ghosted into the box from the right, rolled the ball back in to the path of Brad Carsley who this time made no mistake, slamming the ball home from 10 yards.

The goal clearly deflated Cables and brig went on the hunt for more. Burgess in the Cables goal made two fine saves before he was beaten for a 4th time, James Boyd drilling the ball in to the back of the net from 6 Yards after a great move down the left and a superb low cross from Brad Carsley.

Full Time and a very impressive 4-1 victory for Brig.

Bamber Bridge: Rigby, Vasey, Dodd, Baines, Mahoney, Potts (c), Waddecar, Forbes (Linney, 27) Carsley, Milligan, (Dudley 72), Mooney, (Boyd 68)

Unused subs: Dougherty, Marlow

Match reporter: Alan Bateson