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Tue 13 Oct 2020  ·  Premier Division
Radcliffe FC
2
1
Bamber Bridge
First Team
Radcliffe 2 - 1 Bamber Bridge

Radcliffe 2 - 1 Bamber Bridge

Ruth Hornby14 Oct 2020 - 18:37
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Alan Bateson reports from Stainton Park as Brig leave it too late against Radcliffe.

At the turn of this year, in Pre-Covid Times Bamber Bridge returned from Stainton Park, home of Radcliffe FC with 3 points in the bag following a 4-0 demolition of their hosts. How different Tuesday night’s match was.

From the kick off it was evident that this was too be a different night altogether as Radcliffe started at a frantic pace. The first effort on target however, came from the Lancashire visitors, as Callum King-Harmes burst free down the right wing, he cut inside and from a tight angle fired in a shot that the home keeper punched away to safety. Almost immediately the ball was at the other end of the pitch and a fierce 20 yard drive was deflected for a corner.

The fast paced action continued with Radcliffe not giving Brig a second and pressing relentlessly. On the occasions Brig broke free they created chances. On 12 minutes, Isaac Sinclair was found in space on the right wing and whipped over a superb cross that was defended well and flicked over the bar for a corner. The corner was headed clear but controlled by George Thomason on the edge of the box, he drilled in a low shot that was brilliantly saved by the keepers legs and scrambled away, Thomason reacted quickly from the clearance and tried to a chipped effort, the keeper this time claiming the ball from under the bar.

Mark Yates saw Brig’s next opportunity as he cut back inside from the right and sent over a curling cross that somehow evaded everyone and rolled agonisingly passed the far post and out for a goal-kick.

The home side took the lead on 16 minutes when Brig lost possession at the edge of their penalty area, Larnell Cole, picked up the loose ball and drilled into to the corner of the net. Buoyed by the goal Boro poured forward and Danny Roccia was forced into a diving save just minutes later.

Brig responded and where awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal. Mark Yates drilled a low shot through the wall, but the home keeper was well positioned and saved comfortably. Just 5 minutes later another freekick opportunity arose for Bamber Bridge from a similar position. Macaulay Wilson this time fired the free kick in to the wall, the rebound came back to Macca but this shot was also blocked. Danny Forbes then sent an an effort over the crossbar. At the other end Radcliffe twice saw efforts clear the bar as the game continued at a tremendous pace.

The second half started in disastrous fashion for Bamber Bridge. Within 2 minutes of the restart, Brig once again lost possession on the edge of the area leading to a foul and a free kick to the home side. A floated free kick was mus-handled by Brig stopper Danny Roccia and Boro striker Jean Louis Akpa-Ackpro reacted quickest to prod the loose ball home and double the advantage.

Stunned, Bamber Bridge, playing down the slope in this half pushed forward and came close when George Thomason picked up a loose ball 20 yards out and drilled a shot inches wide. On the hour Brig made the 1st change when Jamal Crawford came on for Isaac Sinclair. Within seconds of the substitution a rash tackle caused a 10 man scuffle in the centre circle. The upshot of that being Macca getting a yellow card. Brig replaced Daniel Wisdom with Chris Churchman as the game got back underway.

As the homeside looked to preserve their 2 goal advantage Brig sensed their chance and Jamal Crawford, who had looked very lively since his introduction weaved in to the area to win Brig a corner. This was cleared but seconds later another Crawford run saw him lay the ball square to George Thomason who lashed a thunderbolt in to the roof of the net from 20 yards. Game on !!

As Brig, now with the bit between their teeth poured forward, Danny Forbes dived full length to get his head on a cross from the left but the keepers’ dive and save was equal to it. Forbes again just minutes later was unlucky as his goalbound header deflected of the unwitting defender and flew over the bar. Danny then stabbed an effort inches wide as the homeside struggled to clear their lines.

The golden opportunity for the equalise arrived in the last minute as Callum King-Harmes burst down the right and whipped across a low cross at pace, George Thomason arriving at full pelt in to the box met it first time but couldn't keep it down the and the ball flashed inches over the bar, and with it Brigs chance for an unlikely point. Moments prior to the final whistle however Macaulay Wilson saw red as he reacted to a Boro player and pushed him in the chest, the vanquished home player dropping like he had been pole axed. The referee saw it as a booking and produced the yellow card, followed by the Red. Foolish action by Macca in truth as he let frustration get the better of him.

Full time and a leg weary Radcliffe celebrated their victory while Bamber Bridge were left to rue the missed opportunity and in truth the fightback came a little too late. Another tough test awaits Brig on Saturday when they travel to Nottinghamshire to face in form Basford United.

Full Time: Radcliffe FC – 2 Bamber Bridge – 1

Att: 342

Bamber Bridge: Roccia, Spooner, Wisdom, Lawlor (Capt.), Wilson, Forbes, King-Harmes, Thomason, Dudley, Yates, Sinclair

Subs: Churchman, Crawford, Radcliffe, De LaCruz, Marment

Match details

Match date

Tue 13 Oct 2020

Kickoff

19:45

Attendance

342

Competition

Premier Division

League position

14
Radcliffe FC
19
Bamber Bridge
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