Ossett Albion 4 - 0 Bamber Bridge

Alan Bateson reports as Brig suffer a heavy defeat at Ossett Albion.

Bamber Bridge arrived at Queen's Terrace for the last ever home game at Ossett Albion, with the intention of spoiling the party for the home side. In the event they ended up adding more charcoal to the barbecue and prolonging the celebrations as the hosts ran out comfortable 4-0 winners.

With Albion and Town due to merge next season under the banner of Ossett United, there was always going to be a party atmosphere within the ground and so it turned out. An attendance of 402, more than double Albion’s usual crowd, a glorious sunny day, and a home side on a great run of form, the stage was set for Bamber Bridge to play the the roll of party poopers.

The game started so brightly for Brig. The Lancashire visitors were popping the ball around the pitch and almost took the lead on 6 minutes when a fine passing move led to Adam Dodd finding space in the penalty area, his fierce shot from 10 yards was parried up into the air by the Albion keeper and collected at the 2nd attempt. An Ali Waddecar free kick was then deflected high into the air, with the keeper again making a fine save right under the crossbar. On 21 minutes another great passing move found Dodd again in space, this time he cut inside from the right and his low curling effort clipped the outside of the post.

Unfortunately for Brig the barbecue was extinguished with Albion's 1st real assault on goal in the 24th minute, Scott Metcalfe being on hand to poke the ball under Brig keeper Lloyd Rigby to give the hosts the lead. Brig responded and on 33 minutes Danny Forbes burst into the area from the left and cut the ball back for the advancing Ali Waddecar, who’s shot cleared the crossbar.

Just moments later and Albion doubled their lead. A corner from the right was floated in and a completely unmarked Tom Corner rose to power a header into the back of the net. Bamber Bridge were clearly rattled by this stage and Albion comfortably saw out the half to lead 2-0 at the break.

Any chance of a Bamber Bridge 2nd half fightback were effectively ended on 52 minutes when right back Macauley Wilson flew in to tackle close to the touchline only to be shown a straight red card. Wilson to be fair immediately realised it was a bad challenge and raised his hands in apology. Several Albion players took exception, one grabbing the Brig defender by the throat.

From this point on, Brigs resolve seemed to be broken and the visitors struggled to mount any kind of meaningful attempts on the Albion goal. To rub salt into the wound on 70 minutes, a rare Brig attack should have led to a corner, the keeper dragging the ball back from well over the byline. It wasn’t spotted by the officials and the ball was cleared upfield, the ball being squared to Aiden Chippendale who stroked the ball home to guarantee the hosts all the points.

Albion completed the rout late into the half when they added a 4th , Adam Priestly heading into an empty net to round off a miserable afternoon for Bamber Bridge but ensuring the Ossett Albion celebrations continued well into the late afternoon.

A resounding defeat for Brig, but results elsewhere meant no ground had been lost on the assault for 4th place. The Briggers have a chance to put things right on Tuesday evening as they visit Prescot to take on strugglers Skelmersdale United.

Bamber Bridge: Rigby, Wilson, Marlow, Lawlor, Charnock, Potts, Waddecar, Forbes,
Dudley, Dodd, Linney

Subs: Nightingale, Vasey, Milligan, Tanner, Roscoe

Match reporter: Alan Bateson