BAMBER BRIDGE FC

Goals from Michael Potts, Simon Grand and Lucas Weaver were enough for Brig to progress in the cup.

Workington threatened to spoil the party late on as Steven Rigg notched a brace of penalties to make Brig sweat. However, Brig held on resolutely to put their name in the hat for the next round for the first time in 17 years!

Brig were unchanged from last week’s 4-0 thrashing over FC United of Manchester, and wasted no time in getting going.

With less than five minutes on the clock it was Brig who took the lead courtesy of an emphatic Potts strike.

After sustaining some early pressure on James Pradic’s goal, Brig regained the ball on the near side. Chris Churchman worked a fantastic ball into Weaver on the edge of the area who slipped the skipper in superbly to crash his effort past Alex Mitchell, to the elation of the travelling supporters.

Brig almost doubled the lead five minutes later as Potts and Weaver combined again with the latter failing to truly test Mitchell in the Reds’ goal.

The visitors were forced into a change early on as Alex Kenyon received treatment on 13 minutes. After failing to shake off the knock Jeff Adubofour entered the fray in his place.

On 18 minutes it was two for the rampant Brig. Goal-scorer turned provider Potts kept the ball fantastically well on the edge of the area before laying off to Simon Grand who curled his effort into the far-left corner from 20 yards.

Two In two games for Brig’s number nine who is certainly enjoying his football since the switch up top.

On 30 minutes the Red’s did have their first chance. Ex-Love Islander and Montserrat international Jamie Reid fluffed a dangerous ball from the far side into the gloves of James Pradic.

Moments later, Adubofour received the first yellow card of the afternoon for bringing down Reid on the edge of the area. The resulting freekick from Josh Galloway failed to trouble Pradic in the Brig goal.

After being booked for dissent, Grand had a chance to notch his second of the tie. A delightful ball in from Finn Wallbank from the near side was met well by Grand, who couldn’t quite steer his effort either side of Mitchell. 

A subsequent quiet five minutes was the last action of a dominant half for Bamber Bridge who entered the interval in a comfortable lead over the Reds’.

Lucas Weaver was agonisingly close to making it three on 50 minutes as he crashed an effort off the inside of the far post after slick feet on the near side.

Straight down the other end and Adubofour to the rescue for Brig. Tom Stephenson latched onto a lovely through ball from the Workington midfield to race one on one with Pradic. However, Adubofour recovered superbly well to intercept inside the 18-yard-box.

Jake Allen made way for Kai Nugent on 55 minutes in the first change for the Reds’.

With 59 minutes on the clock, referee Ryan Moore made his first big decision of the game awarding a penalty against James Pradic for taking out Stephenson. Moore booked Pradic for his challenge and up stepped Steven Rigg who slotted past the Brig number one to give Workington a lifeline.

Potts freed Weaver down the far side who moved away from his marker with ease and fired and forced Mitchell into a routine save from 18 yards.

Danny Edwards was withdrawn for Lewis Hey as Brig looked too sure up the midfield with 30 minutes to go.

On 75 minutes, Brig’s hotshot Lucas Weaver produced a sheer extraordinary finish from 25-yards to restore the two-goal advantage.

After receiving the ball on the far side Brig’s on-loan star cut onto his ‘weaker’ left foot to curl a delightful effort into the top left corner in front of the travelling Brig supporters.

Jarma Mohamed and Mark Cullen joined the action with Michael Potts and Chris Churchman making way.

On 83 minutes, referee Moore awarded the home side their second penalty off the afternoon against Grand. The outcome the same as the first, Rigg blasting his penalty past Pradic to reduce the deficit to one. 

Seconds later a goalmouth scramble almost gave Rigg his hattrick as the hosts applied the pressure late on.

With seven minutes of additional time indicated Lewis Hey fired an effort over from the edge of the area as the game descended into end-to-end action.

A delightful ball in added time from Galloway was met at the far post by a Workington outstretched leg which Pradic was more than equal too.

A late swarm of Workington long balls were met by a resolute defensive display from Brig in added time who held on to advance through the FA Trophy Second Round Proper.

Brig return to league action next Saturday (2nd November) as Morpeth Town visit the SFC Stadium.

Match reporter: Ernie Bratherton