Grimsby Borough 1 v 2 Brighouse Town

Grimsby Borough 1 v 2 Brighouse Town
Club News | Sun 11th Oct 09
Posted by Ray McLaughlin

Brilliant "TEAM" win.

Brighouse Town ended a recent run of poor results with a fantastic win against an excellent Grimsby Borough side. This was a high quality game of football where the pace, commitment and skill level of both sets of players stayed high throughout. A key factor in the Town performance however was the unrelenting effort the players put in, and this was borne from Manager Mark Brier’s astute change in focus this week in training where he changed the routine round and really got the players buzzing again and the teamwork and togetherness really showed out on the park and ultimately brought the win.
The resolve of the players was even more impressive when considered that Town went behind after only 26 seconds of the match. A long ball from the kick-off caught the Town defence flat-footed allowing Lee Stephenson to score. Where conceding a goal in recent weeks seemed to totally knock the confidence out of the side, this week the players responded magnificently. Within a minute, after a good move, Nathan Cartman shot narrowly wide and minutes later Simon Wood’s deep cross was turned back across goal by Matthew Howgate and his cross was scrambled away by the defence.
Grimsby weathered the Town response and created a couple of chance on the break: first Ryan Brooke did well to hold up a forward and allow team-mates to get back and cover , then Darryl Leach did brilliantly to block a shot on the line. Town then forced three corners in a row just before the midway point in the half; Leach and Lee Malcher both having headers on goal deflected wide.
After a frantic end to end opening period, the game settled down into more of a midfield contest with Town skipper Andy Markham certainly up for the battle. Before half-time both sides had chances. For Town, Leach headed over from a free-kick, Malcher turned well in the box and his shot was blocked for a corner and Howgate put in another dangerous cross which was also well defended for a corner. Grimsby thought they had a second goal just before the half-time whistle but again that man Leech made an even better goal-line clearance to deny the home side.
Town made a similar start to the second half as they did to the first and were lucky not to concede twice in the first 7 mins when Grimsby hit both the post and the bar and Leach also got a vital tackle in to prevent a forward scoring into the unguarded goal. It was great to see the Town players supporting and communicating with each other to sort the problems Grimsby’s pass and move style of play was causing them and Town regained their composure.
On 54 mins Wayne Crossley replaced Lee Malcher who had run and challenged for every ball. Crossley came on and did exactly the same but more crucially higher up the field and really caused the home defence problems. Danny Toronczak was now seeing more of the ball and his hold up play set Cartman up to shoot but his effort was well blocked. On 63 mins Town got a deserved equaliser from the indomitable Crossley who scored from the spot after being hauled down by the keeper as he went through on goal. Town nearly undid all this hard work getting back on level terms by allowing Grimsby a chance on goal a minute later but Lee Williams pulled off a fine save.
The intensity of the game lifted and there were plenty of tackles flying around but none were shirked by any player. On 73 mins good link up play from Toronczak and Crossley released Dave Watson who was clipped just as he was about to shoot on goal but still tried to stay on his feet before firing wide, the players’ honesty denying him either a goal or a penalty as the Referee presumably decided he had played an advantage ?
Joe Townsend replaced Howgate on 74 mins and the big man certainly made his presents felt with a crunching tackle within a minute of his introduction and he didn’t stop working until the last whistle. With 15 mins remaining Town had what looked like a good goal disallowed for offside when Crossley side footed home a Townsend cross but was given offside when he had clearly run past a defender to get to the ball. With 5 mins left Watson skinned his fullback and stood a cross up at the back post, but Cartman tried to be too precise with his header which lacked power and was easily saved.
Toronczak made way for Lee Burgess, who showed a great attitude when although coming on as a late sub, he was still determined to work hard for the Town cause. All this collective effort was rewarded in the first minute of stoppage time when Danny Ryan’s corner was met by Darryl Leach who powered a classic centre half’s header into the net and give Town the win.
Mark Brier has brought some quality players to the Club this season to add to the players who did so well for Town last season, but it’s fair to say the side hasn’t gelled as quickly as hoped . Well today everything you need to win football matches at any level were evident in Town’s play; organisation, hard work, commitment, team-spirit, and when that is added to the undoubted skill in the side there is no reason why Town can’t compete with any side in this division.