BAMBER BRIDGE FC

A strong second half performance by Brig just wasn't enough as Gainsborough take all 3 points

The teams were out and Bamber Bridge got us underway at the KaL Group stadium.

The game was underway and on just 6' minutes Gainsborough had the first chance. The target man Declan Howe made it through past the Brig defence on the right side, but his shot was then comfortably saved by Casper.

It was Brig who had the next chance of the game on 11' minutes. Some good football in the middle of the pitch eventually found

Heath. Heath then plays a good ball into Cleary who takes on the shot, but it goes way over the bar.

On 22' minutes Declan Howe opened the scoreline for the hosts. A long ball over the top by Butroid caught the Brig defence of guard and sent Howe through on goal. Casper came running out of his net but Howe managed to get to the ball first and chip it over the head of Casper and into the back of the net.

It then took just 3 minutes for Gainsborough to double their lead. A ball came through to Howe who then looks to foul Brockbank but the referee waves play on. He then takes on the shot which Casper saves, but unlucky for Brig, Javelle Clarke was there to slot in the rebound. Michael Potts was then booked for his protests.

The game then quietened down for a bit, but on 37' minutes Brig had a chance to get one back. A loose ball in the middle of the Gainsborough half found Brockbank, who takes on the shot from distance, but his shot goes just wide.

The last chance of the half was in favour of the hosts. A ball came through to Howe. He takes a touch out of his feet before unleashing a good strike. It takes a nasty deflation but Charlie Casper was there to make an excellent save. Half Time.

The teams were back out and Gainsborough got us underway for the second half. Brig came out for the second half completely different having chance after chance. The first chance came from some good footwork in the middle of the pitch. The ball then fell to Churchman who whipped in a good cross to Heath on the right side. He plays the ball back across the box but no one is there to tap it in.

Brig then had another chance just seconds later. A throw in on the left side makes its way to Cleary who turns and shoots, but it goes just over the bar.

GOAL! Brig have one back on 54' minutes. A mistake by Will Lancaster at the back then sent Robbie Cleary through on goal. He took it past goalkeeper Wharton before slotting it home into an empty net.

Just 3 minutes later Brig were inches away from an equaliser. Ewan Bange received the ball on the edge of the box. He played a good 1/2 with Potts. Bange then takes on the shot, but it goes inches wide of the left post.

In the 62' minute the hosts then went on the attack. Wallbank did look to be fouled by Helliwell, but the referee waved play on then, Helliwell played a good pass to Howe but Charlie Casper made a magnificent double save. Just minutes later the hosts had another great chance. A good ball forward left Brig in a 3 vs 1 situation, but luckily for Brig Butroid selfishly went for goal, but it went just wide.

Brig then made a triple change with Forbes, Cullen and Grand all coming on for Jarrett, Bange and Baxter. Brig then had another chance. A long ball on the right side found Heath who lays the ball of to Cleary who takes on a good shot, but Wharton saves.

In the dying stages of the game it was all Brig. What looked like a clear handball by Ashley Jackson. The referee waves away all penalty claims and Simon Grand goes into the book for his protests. Then in the 91' minute a ball in behind finds substitute Forbes.

He then plays Cullen through on goal and again what looked like a foul inside the box, the referee waves away any calls for a penalty.

The final chance of the game was agonisingly close for Brig as Adam Dodd looks to put a ball into the box but it gets cleared out for a corner, which Charlie Casper comes up for. The corner comes into the box by inswinger Potts. Its a scramble in the box but it eventually gets cleared away back to Potts, he takes on a great shot on the edge of the box but it just swerves away from goal and goes agonisingly wide. Full Time.

Bamber Bridge are next in action next Saturday when we return to the SFC Stadium to take on Matlock Town, 3:00 kick off.

Casper, Heath, Brockbank, Dodd, Wallbank, Churchman, Jarrett, Potts, Bange, Cleary, Baxter. SUBS: Cullen, Grand, Bould, Forbes