Bamber Bridge FC - Official Website

Tuesday 31st July 2012
Friendly - Barry Massie Memorial Trophy
Bamber Bridge 2-2 Coppull United (9-8 pens)
Match Report by Alex Urquhart-Cannon

A tense and entertaining penalty shootout was required to separate the two sides after a winner could not be found in the 90 minutes.

Coppull’s miss from the spot allowed Brig’s Lee Green to settle the tie as he struck his penalty into the top corner to deservedly gift Neil Crowe’s side the trophy.

Bamber Bridge captain Luke Atherton was presented the trophy after the shootout to commemorate the former Brig and Coppull manager Barry Massie.

After what was a fairly even start to the match, Brig nearly found a breakthrough in the 18th minute.

The energetic Alistair Waddecar surged down the left flank before striking a curling shot that looked destined to find the net. Unfortunately for Brig, the ball clipped the bar as goalkeeper Gavin King was certainly beaten.

Brig managed to break the deadlock just a minute later after frontman Sefton Gonzales was brought down in the area resulting in referee Chris Isherwood pointing to the spot. Gonzales immediately stepped up to take the penalty and calmly side-footed the ball into the corner to send Brig into the lead.

The striker could have doubled his and Brig’s tally for the game in the 38th minute.

A free-kick on the edge of the area was pulled back by winger Leon McCloughlin to Danny Mahoney. The midfielder sent an inviting ball towards the far post that was met by the head of a rising Gonzales, who nodded agonizingly against the frame of the goal from close range.

Bamber Bridge will have been ruing their missed opportunity even more two minutes later as Coppull leveled the scoring in the 40th minute.

A scuffed shot from former Brig striker Greg Brickell managed to find Scott Hendy who tucked the ball in at the far post to make it 1-1.

The second half saw Brig’s fortunes worsen even more as Coppull took the lead in the 53rd minute.

Hendy returned the favour for Brickell on this occasion as he swung in a corner for the striker to powerfully head past goalkeeper Lee Dovey.

Brig fought back in impressive circumstances as a stunning goal from Danny Mahoney brought Bamber Bridge back on terms with Coppull at 2-2.
A short corner from Waddecar on the left side found Mahoney who chipped a shot with perfect technique and trajectory that soared over King and into the top corner.

Little goalmouth action followed the fourth goal apart from a Coppull goal which was rightly ruled out as substitute Jordan Wilson scored from an offside position.

Despite Brig’s dominance throughout the majority of the encounter, a distinct lack of attacking threat saw the tie finish with the score locked at 2-2.

The match was forced to go to penalties, with Coppull being the side to begin.

A succession of composed and faultless penalties from Kev Brown, Atherton, Matt Lawlor, Mahoney, Neil Reynolds, Callum Mahoney, Lydon Hodgkiss and Alistair Waddecar matched Coppull as the penalty scoring was tied at 8-8.

With suspense building, Coppull buckled under pressure and sent their penalty way over the bar to hand Bamber Bridge the advantage.

Brig’s Lee Green duly took the opportunity and comfortably hit an unstoppable penalty into the top-left corner to make Bamber Bridge the winners of the trophy.

Check out photos taken by Stefan Willoughby, via the Bamber Bridge FC News & Game Photos facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/media/set/?set=a.331988606890513.75341.152556491500393&type=1

Brig's next pre-season fixture is against Bala Town on Tuesday 4th August down at Irongate, kick off 3:00pm.
Admission: £2 Adults, £1 Concessions and 11 year old's and under go free with paying adult/concession.