Gainsborough Trinity 2 - 1 Bamber Bridge

Still no joy for Brig on the road.

Bamber Bridge returned from another long away trip, this time into Lincolnshire and Gainsborough Trinity with nothing to show for their efforts. It’s now five defeats on the bounce and ten without a win for the Lancashire side in all competitions.

Brig began brightly and tested the home keeper in the 5th minute. Darren McKnight striking a 20 yard free kick over the wall, the keeper diving to his right to palm it away for a corner. Neither side seemed to be gaining control of the match in the first half hour with Brig looking the equal of their play off chasing opponents. Ali Waddecar burst down the right wing on 30 minutes and swung over a fine cross that eluded everyone and sailed just wide of the far post with the keeper stranded.

As the game approached half time the home side began to increase the pressure on the Brig back four, without creating any chances of note. Debut keeper Russell Saunders being well protected. However, following a succession of corners The Home side took the lead in the 36th minute in familiar fashion. A floated corner wasn’t cleared and, following a scramble the ball appeared to be poked home from no more than a yard out.

Brig responded to going behind and came close minutes later when Phil Doughty headed back a Waddecar cross for the oncoming Darren McKnight, who’s fierce 18 yard shot was blocked four yards from the goal line.

Half time and Brig trail 1-0. A second half change saw Regan Linney on for Ben Thomas, but almost from the kick off the home side struck the bar with a curling effort. However, Brig responded well and the Gainsborough keeper was called into action on 50 minutes, Diving at the feet of Brig debut striker Dom McGiveron. The keeper picked up and injury in the challenge and never fully recovered, eventually having to be replaced by the Centre back for the final 15 minutes of the match. With The keeper clearly in some discomfort Brig failed to mount any sustained pressure on the troubled keeper and the Trinity defence protected him well, being first to every ball and clearing their lines.

Ali Waddecar was once again putting in a shift down the right wing, with Regan and Goose combining well down the left wing, but try as they might, they found no way through the solid blue wall of defenders. McGiveron had a fine run into the box following a slick Waddecar pass but his was well tackled in the area as he was poised to shoot.

The home side doubled their lead on 68 minutes. Simon Russell finding time and space on the left left hand side of the area to curl a tremendous 25 yard shot into the top corner of the net. Again Brig responded and a Darren McKnight free kick at the other end was met by a flicked Waddecar header that took a deflection and flashed inches wide of the far post for a Brig corner. From the corner, Waddecar again was unlucky has he got in a close range shot that was well blocked by the stricken Trinity keeper, the ball was cleared but returned for Danny Forbes to get in a shot which the keeper again dropped on to smother the ball. This was the last action for the home keeper has he limped off to be replaced in goal by the Centre half.

Brig were now throwing the kitchen sink at Trinity in the final minutes and Dom McGiveron will wonder how he failed to score, when on 89 minutes, following great link up play between Linney and Waddecar he somehow managed to head wide from 3 yards out with the keeper beaten. With a further 5 minutes added by the referee, Brig were left to rue what might have been when McGiveron did get on the score-sheet with a fine 15 yard shot which unfortunately turned out to be the last kick of the match.

So, once again, a game where Brig were not disgraced in any way, gave as good as they got all over the pitch yet came away with no points. It’s the small margins that are proving costly, with chances not being taken at one end while mistakes at the back seem to be punished every time.

Brig must now roll up their socks and look to get back to winning ways in the home encounter with Whitby Town next Saturday in what is looking like a “must win” fixture. The effort and the quality is there and Brig are certainly due a change of fortune.

Full time: Gainsborough Trinity – 2 Bamber Bridge – 1

Att: 527

Bamber Bridge: Saunders, Spooner, Thomas, Lawlor (Capt), Doughty, McKnight, Waddecar, Dudley, McGiveron, Harries, Marlow

Subs: Linney, Buchan, Forbes, Churchman, and Stu Barton

Match reporter: Alan Bateson