Bamber Bridge 4 - 0 FC United of Manchester
Brig started the game quickly, Michael Potts with a defense splitting pass to Simon Grand, the forward taking a touch before curling the ball cooly into the bottom right to open the scoring just 4 minutes in.
Two minutes later Lucas Weaver produced the spectacular goal to double Brig's lead. Weaver saw Conor O’Keefe off his line before delicately dinking the ball over his head from the tightest of angles for 2-0.
FC United almost bounced back immediately, Luca Navarro finding Charlie Munro whose shot rolled narrowly wide of the far post.
The visitors began to take control of the game dominating possession. However, this would prove to be a false dawn. 23 minutes on the clock and Brig practically sealed victory.
Potts fed Weaver on the left the man of the moment charging in beating his man and unleashing a powerful shot into the bottom left corner of the goal to find Brig’s 3rd and his eighth of the season.
At the half hour mark there was almost another spectacular goal this time for the visitors. Munro broke down the right, his cross was met by a Navarro bicycle kick but there was not enough power to test James Pradic in goal.
United continued to be frustrated by Bamber Bridge's Adam Dodd with a stunning diving lunge to keep out Jordan Buckley. The visiting side continued to create chances, Jan Palinkas heading wide from a free kick being their best.
Lucas Weaver and Simon Grand celebrate Brig's 2nd goal.Bamber Bridge capped off an almost perfect first half in the third minute of added time. Jack Baxter picked up the ball on the edge of the box before curling his effort into the top right corner to give Brig a 4-goal lead going into the break.
As the second half got underway the hosts continued to frustrate United, Pradic was called into action diving to his left to somehow keep out the despairing Munro.
Brig looked to build on in the second half Potts coming close on the half volley after a Grand flick, but the skipper’s effort flew narrowly over the bar. Baxter came close to a second and Brigs 5th with an audacious halfway line lob but the effort curled narrowly wide.
With the minutes ticking away Weaver thought he had found his hat trick. The forward burst into the box past his man before smashing the ball across the goal only to be kept out by the defending of Charles Oliver.
In the closing minutes of the match United had a great opportunity for a consolation goal. Muro lined up a free kick from twenty-five yards out, but Pradic was equal to it to maintain Brigs clean sheet.
A resounding victory for Brig who travel to Workington AFC in the 1st round of the FA Trophy next Saturday.
Manager Jamie Milligan reflected on the win saying, “I was after a response from the boys from the last game, they knew they weren’t good enough but knowing that group of lads they always do respond, and they did today in an unbelievable fashion.”
“From the goalkeeper to the back line all the way through the team up to the front lads they were excellent today and I couldn’t have asked for any more from them.”
“It’s going to be another tough game away from home but there’s no reason why we can’t go on another run because we’ve got the lads to do it, and we’ve got the ability to do it.”
Match reporter: Noah Mills
