Fans returning to the Sir Tom Finney Stadium for the first home game of the season were treated to a stunning 6 goal display by Bamber Bridge in the August evening sunshine.
Brig took the lead on just 7 minutes when Macauley Wilson drove his free kick from just inside the area past the wall, taking his goal tally for the season to two in two.
The visitors responded and were denied an equaliser on 10 mins when a close range shot was well saved by Lloyd Rigby in the Brig goal.
Matt Dudley scored his 1st Bamber Bridge goal on 16 minutes. Midfielder Michael Potts’ long free kick found Matt Lawlor in the area. Lawlor headed across goal to Dudley who headed the ball home to take the home side in to a 2-0 lead.
The game looked to be beyond Goole’s reach when on 21 minutes Alistair Waddecar turned on the edge of the box and smashed his shot home to make it 3-0.
It was one-way traffic for the remainder of the half and the home side went in at the break with a very comfortable 3-0 lead.
The second half started much the same as the first had ended with all the action being in front of the Goole goal. Brad Carsley was denied when his low shot from the corner of the 6 yard box was covered by Goole’s keeper, Leigh. Matt Dudley and Dan Mooney also went close to extending Brig’s lead.
An injury to Danny Forbes forced Brig’s first substitution on 55 mins when he was replaced by Sam Staunton-Turner.
The visitors capitalised on their first chance of the half and scored their consolation goal on 57 minutes through Lewis Dennison.
Brig captain Matt Lawlor also took his goal tally to two in two when on 62 minutes he hammered a shot in to the roof of the net (4-1).
Brad Carsley got his first Evo-Stik league goal on 78 minutes. A great through-ball from Michael Potts found Carsley who side-stepped the keeper and calmly slotted the ball in to the empty net (5-1).
Dan Mooney rounded the evening off for Brig with a superb strike on 89 minutes, firing the ball edge of the box and into the bottom corner of the net. (6-1).
A brilliant performance all round from Bamber Bridge.
Next up for Brig is a home FA Cup tie against Brighouse Town on this Saturday. (19 August)
Half time: Bamber Bridge 3 – 0 Goole AFC
Full time: Bamber Bridge 6 – 1 Goole AFC
Goal scorers:
Wilson, Dudley, Waddecar, Lawlor, Carsley, Mooney (Bamber Bridge)
Dennison (Goole AFC)
Bamber Bridge Team:
Rigby; Wilson (Marlow 74); Dodd; Lawlor (c), Doughty, Potts, Waddecar, Forbes (Staunton-Turner 55), Carsley, Dudley (Reid 85), Mooney
Subs (not used): Mahoney, Linney
# | Team | Pl | Pts |
1. | South Shields | 42 | 103 |
2. | Scarborough Athletic | 42 | 95 |
3. | Hyde United | 42 | 92 |
4. | Bamber Bridge | 42 | 74 |
5. | Prescot Cables | 42 | 72 |
6. | Trafford | 42 | 66 |
7. | Tadcaster Albion | 42 | 62 |