Brigg win mid-table battle

Brigg Town won a mid-table battle 2-0 against Yorkshire Amateur.

Brigg defeated mid-table rivals Yorkshire Amateur 2-0 on a sunny day at The Hawthorns.

Brigg are now only a point behind Yorkshire and could finish higher than them. It depends how both sides do in their final match of the season.

Dan Waring had recovered from injury and was back in goal for Brigg. Jake Thompson and Nathan Plumtree also returned to the starting line-up.

Brigg made a promising start and almost bagged an early goal. Ryan Thompson whipped in a cross and David Deane flicked the ball on to Robert Petch whose shot rattled the crossbar.

Sam O’Malley then forced Suwara Bojang into a save before Nathan Peat curled a free kick just over.

As Brigg continued to dominate Petch was denied by Bojang at full stretch.

Yorkshire improved after a slow start with Miguel Cassama coming close and Simmi Obanji flashing an effort across the face of goal.

On 30 minutes Brigg took the lead through O’Malley who fired in an unstoppable 20 yard strike. It was an excellent finish by the striker and his fourth goal in nine appearances.

Brigg nearly got another when Anthony Bowsley played in Ryan Thompson with a quickly taken free kick. However, Bojang thwarted him with a great save as the first half drew to a close.

Yorkshire began the second half brightly with Craig Maynard shooting over after Jaydan Huglin’s corner had caused havoc in the box.

Lewis Pickering then cut inside from the left and was denied by a good save from Waring.

In the 69th minute Brigg doubled their lead in fortuitous circumstances.

Substitute Joe McFadyen, who had only been on the pitch for 8 minutes, scored directly from a corner. He swung the ball in from the right and somehow it flew straight into the far corner.

Soon afterwards Jacob Norburn had an effort blocked by Maynard. Norburn then made a block himself to keep out Patryk Baryski’s shot.

Towards the end Waring came off his line and produced a fine save to deny Huglin. It preserved his clean sheet and assured Brigg of a comfortable win.

The Zebras have kept their chances of finishing above Yorkshire alive.

Assistant manager Paul Robson was content.

“Our performance was much better than last week against Campion. When we play more football to feet the lads have many more touches on the ball which breeds more confidence.

“Sam O’Malley got our goal in a first half which we dominated. He hasn’t been at Brigg long, but has already chipped in with goals and done really well for us.

“We kept it up in the second half and Joe McFadyen scored from a corner. He made an impact after coming off the bench and is getting better and better with each game.

“It was a very different match to the last when we beat them 5-4. I think both sides had new players and have improved since – it happens to many teams near the end of seasons.

“Because we beat Yorkshire Amateur we’re now just one point behind them. Hopefully we can win our last match on Saturday and finish above them in the league.

“I also want to thank our website editors personally and congratulate them on their achievement this week. They got a silver award from Pitchero and all the club are proud to have them as part of our team.

“Well done and I was pleased with the result.”

On Saturday, Brigg visit Knaresborough Town in the league (kick off 3pm).

Brigg (3-4-1-2): Waring; Norburn, Peat, J.Thompson; Plumtree (McFadyen 61), Dennison, Bowsley (c) (Cleminshaw 76), R.Thompson; Petch; Deane, O’Malley (Marsden 80).