Brighouse Town 4 v 1 Yorkshire Amateur

Brighouse Town 4 v 1 Yorkshire Amateur
Club News | Sat 17th Oct 09
Posted by Ray McLaughlin

Dan the Man grabs Town hat-trick !!

Brighouse Town 4 v Yorkshire Amateur 1

Town continued their recent run of good form with a hard earned win against the Ammers and although the final scoreline shows a comfortable win, this game could have gone either way until Town finally broke the Ammers spirit in the last quarter of an hour of the game.
For the second week running Town got off to a terrible start, going a goal behind after only 3 mins when to much space was given in a Ammers attack leaving Ange Blehiri to score unopposed. The good thing about the Town side now compared to a few weeks back is the reaction to such setbacks and this new found resolve saw Town hit straight back at the visitors and equalise within 4 mins. Simon Wood intercepted the ball in defence and played a quality pass wide to left back Danny Ryan who took one touch before firing-in one of his trademark crosses onto the head of Danny Toronczak who guided his header perfectly past the rooted keeper.
Town kept up the pressure, hard working Dave Watson dispossessed a defender but could not keep his shot down as he bore down on goal, then Watson’s deep cross was volleyed by Joe Townsend at the far post but the keeper saved well. Wayne Crossley thought he had scored for Town when he tapped the ball over the line after the keeper had dropped a Watson cross but the Linesman adjudged the cross has curled out, then back into of play in the build up.
Wood’s impressive distribution from his right-back position was a regular feature of the game and his pass which Townsend pulled back for Nathan Cartman created another chance but the little midfielder didn’t get hold of his shot. Town were on top for most of the half, but Ammers looked a dangerous side; they were aggressive in midfield, had strength in centre forward Ange Blehiri and lightening pace in Fernando Moke, so Ryan Brooke and Darryl Leach had to be on top of their game throughout.
Ammers made a bright start to the second half and it was they who held the territorial advantage in the early stages. However, this resulted in the game being stretched surprising early which suited the pacey Watson ideally who was causing havoc down the right wing. After being released by Andy Markham, Watson’s cross-shot was saved , and Crossley also had two attempts on goal saved all within ten mins of the restart. The Town back four worked well as a unit to restrict any clear-cut chances and Lee Williams coped well with any crosses thrown into the box.
Midway through the half, Town took the lead, Watson’s corner was met with a bullet header from Townsend that the keeper somehow managed to keep out of the net but Toronczak was on hand to force the ball home. A minute later Crossley’s awareness saw him flick the ball on to Toronczak who took one touch on the edge of the box before firing a screamer towards the top corner of the net that needed a top class save from the keeper to prevent Town extending their lead.
On 72 mins Craig Maynard was sent off for the Ammers for foul and abusive language towards the Official and two minutes later the visitors nearly equalised when Blehiri’s free-kick clipped the top of the crossbar. Town then took control of the game, Crossley hit he bar for Town on 79 mins, then Toronczak killed the game off three minutes later when he was in the right place again to coolly give Town a 3 - 1 lead. Crossley then hit the post before being replaced by Lee Burgess who wasted no time in getting on the score-sheet when he confidently scored from a Watson cross. Matty Howgate who had replaced the injured Cartman made some storming runs down the left flank against a tiring defence, had a shot blocked and in injury time Watson had a goal his hard working performance deserved, disallowed by the Assistant adjudging a Town forward to have interfered with play whilst in an off-side position even though he didn’t touch the ball.
A good team performance and another hard earned win, and the trick for Town is to keep this winning formula going which will be tested to the full next week when they travel to leaders Askern Villa who beat Town earlier in the season by a single late goal, although Town did prevail in their Cup meeting, winning on penalties after a 2 - 2 draw.