Brighouse Town 1 v Nostell MW 2

Brighouse Town's recent run of poor form continued with a narrow defeat against Nostell. Town made another good start to the game, getting into their stride straight away but Nostell's more direct approach saw them create chances at regular intervals right through the game, the first of these after 6mins brought a good low save from Paul Brown from Ernest Boafo's shot.
Town were on top though, and took the lead on 9mins with an excellently worked goal. Luke Malcher's driven pass from centre midfield was expertly taken in his stride by Alex O'Keefe, wide and just inside the box, he squared the ball across the 6yd box for Nathan Cartman score.

Confidence spread through the team and Town nearly increased the lead on 17mins when Lee Burgess released Cartman through on goal but his low shot from an acute angle grazed the far post.Nostell went straight to the other end and missed a great chance that Brown saved.
Cartman then had a flicked header from a Simon Wood cross saved by the keeper. On 28 mins Jimmy Eyles hit the post for Nostell, it wasn't going to be Eyles night in front of goal as he went on to hit the post another three times before the end of the match !

Cartman produced a lovely piece of skill, flicking the ball up over his head before trying a lob that just drifted wide and he also broke free and could of gone for goal but tried to find O'Keefe instead but the pass was intercepted.

Nostell were second best in the first half but dominated after the break. Brown saved from Boafo and Matty Parker rescued Town with two goal saving tackles.After some very good build up play Darren Rushton should have hit the target on 62mins, but the breakthrough came on 65mins when ex-Town man Graham Marchant scored with a lovely left foot strike after Town had failed to clear the ball.Boafo then went clean through on goal but shot wide, and from the corner that followed Eyles hitting the post, Dave Watts scored at the far post to give Nostell the lead.

Town responded with Wayne Crossley shooting just wide at the near post and the introduction of Mark Trueman saw Town play more forward passes.Cartman had a good chance on 73 mins but again just missed the far post.
Town were playing some good football now, but too many times there was no end product with Nostell happy to defend deep and let Town pass the ball about in midfield without threatening, and disappointingly Town finished the game without really giving it a go in the final stages.