Another away trip for Bamber Bridge on Saturday afternoon, this time to Seel Park home of AFC Mossley, the third away match on the spin and Brig made it 7 points from those games with a convincing 3-1 win on cold, bright afternoon in South East Manchester.

With new signing from Chorley, Kieran Charnock making his debut, Bamber Bridge showed their intentions straight from the kick off pressing the home side back and creating plenty of early chances. In the 5th minute a hard low cross from the left wing evaded everyone as it flashed across the 6 yard line when it just needed a touch. In the 12th minute Michael Potts jinked his way passed two defenders to find himself one on one with the keeper who spread himself to make a fine save. Seconds later and Potts again was unlucky as his rising drive from 15 yards just cleared the bar. The same player was again denied again just 2 minutes later as he flashed another great shot just over from the left hand side of the penalty area.

The mounting pressure finally paid dividends on 17 minutes when James Boyd picked up a pass from Ali Waddecar on the edge of the box, side stepped the defender and lashed a great shot into the keepers bottom left corner to give the visitors a deserved lead. With confidence high, Brig kept the pressure on the home side and Brad Carsley was unfortunate when on 23 minutes he found space in the box and drilled a low shot goal wards that the home keeper dived full length to save.

Next up it was James Boyd in the 25th minute showing great close control to open up the space to get his shot in, once again the home keeper saved well as he pushed the ball out for a corner. From that corner Brad Carsley rose above the Mossley defence to power a header that was tipped over the bar by the home keeper who was single handedly keeping the hosts in the game. Regan Linney then tried his luck cutting in from the right and shooting low, only to find the brilliant Oliver Martin in goal diving to make yet another top save. Brad Carsley did beat the keeper on 38 minutes after chesting the ball down in the area but his effort was cleared off the line.

The inevitable happened on 40 minutes, Brigs total dominance had brought just the one goal and on a rare attack Mossley pulled level. A fine passing move set Mason Duffy free on the left of the area, he strode forward and smashed the ball across goal and in to the far corner for an unlikely equaliser.

Far from feeling sorry for themselves Brig poured forward again and re-took the lead on 45 minutes, Brad Carlsley ending a fine passing move by rounding the keeper and squeezing the ball home from a tight angle.

Half time: AFC Mossley - 1 Bamber Bridge - 2

Brig again started the 2nd half brightly but found chances weren’t quite as frequent playing up the slope towards the open end of the ground. James Boyd was challenged in the area on 52 minutes and stumbled to the ground but the referee waved play on. The game was now more even and being contested in the centre of the park. Brig were still the team creating what chances there were and Ali Waddecar found himself with time and space on the right of box on the hour and drilled a low effort that beat the keeper but sailed just wide of the post. Shortly after, great work from James Boyd as he pulled the ball back from the by line to Brad Carsley who’s shot was blocked and deflected for a corner.

With Brig begining to take control again, the hard working Carsley crashed a header against the crossbar from an Ali Waddecar cross from the right. Bamber Bridge manager Neil Reynolds, looked to freshen things up on the 70 minute mark with 2 changes. Stu Vasey and Gerrard Garner replacing Macauley Wilson and Regan Linney. Brig were now creating all the chances again and on 75 minutes Boyd was unlucky to see his shot blocked and Garner saw his effort from the rebound cleared off the line. Garner again came close in the 80th minute smashing a great shot goal wards only for the home keeper Martin to pull off yet another save.

The points where finally made safe on 85 mins as Stu Vasey set Brad Carsley free down the centre, he shrugged of the challenge of the centre half before chipping the ball over the advancing keeper. Brad then made way for Matt Dudley on 85 minutes having put in a terrific display.

The game headed into 4 minutes of stoppage time with Brig looking comfortable. No further chances at either end and the game ended with Bamber Bridge deservedly taking the 3 points back to The Sir Tom Finney Stadium.

Next up is another away game on Monday eve-ning as Brig head to Atherton Collieries looking to defend their Intergo Sports trophy.

Full Time: AFC Mossley - 1 Bamber Bridge - 3

Bamber Bridge: Rigby, Baines, Wilson, (Vasey), Lawlor (c), Charnock, Potts, Waddecar, Forbes, Carsley, (Dudley), Boyd, Linney (Garner)

Unused subs: Milligan, Staunton-Turner

Match reporter: Alan Bateson