AFTER the bitter disappointment of a lifeless performance by Brighouse Town on the Saturday in the FA Cup there was a complete turnaround against Ossett United on Bank Holiday Monday.

This was a Town side in control for the most part and unlucky not to take the three points and having to settle for a 2-2 draw.

A healthy derby crowd of 381 were treated to some very energetic and pulsating play by Town who were unlucky on several occasions not to take the lead with Aaron Martin taking a rare wrong option, Gabriel Johnson going close and Tom Haigh firing over on three occasions when, if he had steadied himself could have found the target.

in fact the first goal to Ossett came completely against the run of play on 27 minutes when neat play in the box was clinically finished by Evo-Stik proven poacher Aidan Chippendale.

Heads did not go down and Rhys Jenkinson, Sam Wright and James Hurtley pushed play up from the back to keep their forwards fed with the ball to heap pressure on the United goal. It was in fact only minutes from the half-time whistle that Town got what they deserved. In time added on, a great delivery from Wright that was met by Martin whose effort was saved but went to the head of Marley Grant who steered it into the back of the goal away from the clutching arms of Leigh Overton to make it 1-1.

The first substitute for Town took place over the break when Tom Robinson replaced Marley Grant who had picked up a knock. The home side set about looking for a second goal and at the same time keeping the high spending newly formed club at arm's length when it came to defending their area.

The second sub for Town came on 61 minutes, Mohammed Ibrahim coming on for Iwan Heeley and what a nuisance to the United side he became.

Another goal for Town came a minute after he had come on. Robinson attacked down the right and in trying to cut out his cross the United skipper James Knowles headed over a despairing Overton who could only turn and see the ball bouncing into his net to put Town 2-1 up.

Jordan Porter pulled off a great one handed tip over from Gibralter international Adam Priestley in the 72nd minute before Town switched play to the other end pushing for a match winning third. However they suffered a double blow in the 77th and 78th minutes when first they were reduced to 10 men as Adam Jones was sent off for a second yellow card and then from the free kick just outside the box on the right Ossett equalised through George Grayson.

Despite pleas it was Wright who had made the reckless tackle-video evidence later confirming this- the referee stuck to his guns and Jones walked.

Then Town were down to nine men as Gabriel Johnson received a straight red in the 80th minute on the touchline just down from the dugouts for throwing the ball at Adam Porritt. Mr Lee Hible then showed the red card to Porritt who then left the field under very serious and controversial circumstances.

Town weathered the last ten minutes of normal time and five minutes of added-on time and almost snatched victory with 30 seconds left when Martin lobbed the keeper from 30 yards out for the ball to just miss its target by some six inches!

Brighouse: Porter, Jenkinson, Wright, Jones, Hurtley, Field, M. Grant (Robinson), Haigh, Martin, Johnson, Heeley (Ibrahim). Subs not used: Eli, Dennison, Donovan.

Ossett: Overton, Wilkinson, Grayson, Chantler (J Grant), Knowles, Stockdill, Khan, Yates (Gregory), Corner, Porritt, Chippendale (Priestley). Subs not used: Burke, Souter,

Referee: Mr Lee Hible (Sheffield)

Attendance: 381