Bamber Bridge 0 - 2 Macclesfield
Coming into the game, Brig sat 12th in the table, and unbeaten in the last three games with wins over Leek Town and Hebburn Town.
Macclesfield on the other hand, have lit up the Northern Premier League this season.
They sat at the top of the table having dropped just seven points after 20 matches played, gaining a 13 point lead.
The opening quarter of an hour didn’t offer up many chances for either side to take the lead, but one chance was all it took for Macclesfield to open the scoring after Alex Curran dribbled past Fin Wallbank on the left side of the penalty area and pulled the ball across for the onrushing Neil Kengni who powered a clinical finish past Brig keeper Harvey Bardsley into the centre of the goal.
It was the full back’s first goal for The Silkmen since October 2023.
Brig responded well to the Macclesfield opener, controlling possession well for the next 10 minutes.
After moving the ball around well, a pass from Jack Baxter in the centre which was cleverly dummied by Liam Brockbank found its way to Michael Potts with space to shoot on the left side edge of the penalty area, he unleashed a curling effort towards the far corner but his shot was saved well by Max Dearnley.
With just over half an hour gone, the score remained 1-0 to the visitors.
John Rooney then delivered an excellent ball into the box from a free kick, one that his brother Wayne would be proud of, however Heathcote’s effort was blazed well over the crossbar.
The Silkmen amassed an onslaught of chances, just before the 35 minute mark, Luke Duffy’s ball towards Mellor on goal was cut out well by Bardsley.
Moments later, Macclesfield doubled their lead when Kengni struck from range , the ball arrowed towards the far corner and Bardsley saved, but he parried the ball straight into the feet of D’Mani Mellor who put the ball into the roof of the net.
Just before the half time whistle was due, Brig had an exceptional chance to get one back.
A throw in from Wallbank on the near side in line with the edge of The Silkmen penalty area was hurled into the penalty area, the ball was flicked on by Simon Grand to Potts, Potts’ shot was blocked but found its way to Alex Kenyon one on one with Dearnley but his shot was somehow saved by the goalkeeper in dramatic fashion.
The half time whistle went and the league leaders took a 2-0 lead into the break.
Brig made a half time change with Callum Leigh being replaced by loanee Nathan Mercer.
Almost immediately after the restart, The Briggers once again had a huge chance to score after Potts’ cross to the back post was met by Nathan Pond who cushioned a header across goal towards a sliding Grand but he couldn't manage to get a touch on the ball to direct it home.
Five minutes later, the substitute Mercer went on a dazzling run into the penalty area from the right side, pulled the ball back to Potts but he couldn’t keep his strike down and it was sent over the bar.
Just after the hour mark, Macclesfield then regained control of the game and substitute Lewis Fensome produced some brilliant skill to ‘nutmeg’ Brockbank, drive towards the penalty area and unleash a fierce effort but his shot was well wide of the post.
A minute later, Tre Pemberton found space to run into the penalty area on the right side with only Bardsley in his way, but the young goalkeeper stood his ground to deny The Silkmen a third.
With just over twenty minutes remaining, Dearnley’s kick forward bounced over Wallbank, and as he went to head back to Bardsley, pressure from Danny Elliot forced the full-back into a mistake when his short header allowed Mellor to get on the end of the loose ball but an incredible challenge from Adam Dodd put the ball out of play for a corner.
With 77 minutes on the clock, Dearnley decided to produce some more magic after pulling off a stunning stop to deny Grand.
A cross into the box was cushioned down by Mark Cullen, setting it up perfectly for Grand to volley on the turn, his effort looked certain to go into the back of the net but Dearnley somehow tipped the shot onto the post.
Seconds later, The Silkmen gave the ball away to Cullen inside the penalty area, who squared the ball for Pond, the striker seemed to hesitate on the ball and struck his shot into a Macclesfield defender.
Brig didn’t give up and kept at it but time was against them.
With five minutes to go, Macclesfield top scorer Elliot had a huge chance to well and truly put the game to bed for the league leaders after he went one on one with Bardsley, but the goalkeeper denied the striker of his 20thgoal of the season.
A minute before the 90’, Elliot once again found himself in a dangerous position inside the penalty area, cutting inside from the left before Liam Brockbank put in a strong but fair challenge on the striker, appeals for a penalty were shut down by referee Andy Sykes.
With four minutes of added time played, the referee brought the game to a close with Macclesfield taking all three points, extending their lead at the top of the table to 16 points.
Bamber Bridge manager Jamie Milligan credited the opponents, saying that ‘they deserve to win the league.’
“Yeah it was a good test for our lads to play against them, they’re going to win the league by a mile.
“They’re good players and they deserve to as well [win the league] but it was a good test for our lads to see where we’re at and today, especially the first half, we’re nowhere near them.”
Brig currently sit in 13th place and travel to 6th placed Hyde United on Saturday.
Match reporter: Morgan Bennion (@MBennionSjourno)
