Saturday brought the first qualifying round of the FA Cup and Brig made the short trip down the M6 to take on Ashton Athletic at Brocstedes Park.
Any thoughts that the North West Counties League Premier Division side would provide an easy passage to the next round were soon dispelled, as first a deflected free kick and then a shot from distance went wide for the hosts in the opening minutes.
Neither side seemed to be able to take control of the game though, and it was the 22nd minute before Brig’s first clear cut chance came when a Matthew Dudley shot from inside the area came back agonisingly off the post.
After a further period of scrappy play Brig finally started to look the part and in the 37th minute a good passing move culminated in a turn and shot in the area from Macauley Wilson which was parried by the Ashton keeper.
Shortly after, and probably against the run of play, Ashton Athletic took the lead with a Joel Brownhill goal in the 43rd minute and Brig found themselves going in at half time a goal down.
Whatever the gaffer said at half time seemed to do the trick and Brig came out a different prospect altogether, with Brad Carsley just failing to connect with an Adam Dodd cross in the 47th minute. Soon after Ali Waddecar turned and shot from a tight angle but it went straight into the keeper’s arms.
Waddecar went close again on 54 minutes when he headed against the crossbar, then Chris Marlow drilled a low shot in the area which was saved well by Martin Pearson who was proving a tough nut to crack in the Ashton goal. Further pressure by Brig led to Danny Forbes heading just wide on 64 minutes, and it seemed like an equaliser had to come soon.
In the 67th minute however a clash and subsequent melee in the centre of the pitch led to Ashton’s Dale Korie-Butler and Brig’s Matt Mahoney being sent off, leaving each side to finish the game with 10 men. Brig manager Neil Reynolds responded by reorganising his side immediately with Chris Marlow and Danny Forbes being replaced by Stuart Vasey and Sam Staunton-Turner.
Unfortunately it didn’t have the desired effect and Ashton went 2-0 up shortly after with a Joshua Nicholson goal on 71 minutes. Brig didn’t give up though and a dangerous looking corner was tipped away by the Ashton keeper on 78 minutes.
Reno made a final throw of the dice when Regan Linney came on for Matthew Dudley with 10 minutes remaining. The game was now end to end stuff with Brig trying to claw their way back into it while Ashton counter attacked at every opportunity.
Finally in the 89th minute a great cross from Ali Waddecar was met just outside the box and despatched clinically by Brad Carsley to make it 2-1. Despite four minutes of added time it proved too little too late and Brig were out of the cup.
Half Time: Ashton Athletic 1 Bamber Bridge 0
Full Time: Ashton Athletic 2 Bamber Bridge 1
Attendance: 202
Bamber Bridge: Rigby, Wilson, Dodd, Lawlor (c), Mahoney, Potts, Waddecar, Forbes (Staunton-Turner 67), Carsley, Dudley (Linney 80), Marlow (Vasey 67)
Subs (not used): Reid, Williams, Wiles, Barton (GK)
A full gallery of match photos is available HERE
Match reporter: Mark Hornby