Brighouse Town FC

Holmfirth 0-4 Brighouse Town Res

On a poor pitch Town started the game well, and were soon dominating the early possession.
With Alex Okeefe offering a outlet down the left, and Dale Feather raiding down the right, with this early dominance Holmfirth had their backs to the wall. The first real chance of the game fell to Adam Oldfield who should've put Town into the lead, after good work down the left flank by Alex Okeefe.
Okeefe got to the byline before pulling the ball back for Oldfield, but with the goal at his mercy the Brighouse midfielder failed to finish from close range, with Holmfirth bundling the ball away from a corner.
From the ensuing Okeefe corner, Matty Whiteley jumped the highest, but his back post header went narrowly wide. Dale Feather then played a one-two with Andy Hawker, but the big strikers pass was too heavy, but Warren Manners never gave up the chase, and his efforts were rewarded with Town getting a corner.
And from this corner Town took the lead, Dale Feather took a quick corner and slipped the ball back to Chris Dennison, whose 30 yarder swerved and dipped passed the stranded Holmfirth keeper, to give Town the lead. It was soon two-nil, when Manners again caused problems for the home defence, his turn and shot beat the keeper but not the post, but luckily for town the bounce was a nice one, as the ball came of the inside of the post, and into the path of the on rushing Feather, who added the finishing touch.
Towns rear guard marshalled the Holmfirth attackers with ease, and were rarely in trouble, with centre backs Matty Oldfield and Matty Whiteley dominating their rivals. Dale Feather was linking well with Hawker, and the young right winger was proving to be a real thorn in the home teams side. Okeefe again worked his magic down the left, before crossing from the byline and Warren Manners was on hand to finish from close range, to make it 3-0. At the interval town led 3-0, and were well worth this lead and possibly could've been further ahead.

The second half started with town again on top, but it was Holmfirth who should've pulled a goal back, when a penalty was awarded to the home side, but Ben Imeson saw the ball go wide of his right hand post, which left his clean sheet intact. Imeson was replaced by youngster Joe Stead. Carl Ainley was replaced with Glyn Hayley. On the hour town made it four. when James Coates headed in Chris Dennisons cross at the back post. Brighouse had further chances in the last twenty minutes but were guilty of not taking their opportunities.

Manager Darren Laycock commented, "I was happy with the first half as we dominated the possession and play, and we could've scored more goals. But in the second half we stepped of the gas, and we failed to put Holmfirth too the sword, but the torrential downpour may of had more to do with the second half performance".