Bamber Bridge made the relatively short journey to Shawbridge on Tuesday evening , home of Clitheroe FC for the penultimate pre season fixture of the new season. Clitheroe for some reason not wearing their usual Royal Blue, but looking resplendant in a Brazil like kit of Yellow shirts and light blue shorts and white socks.

Fortunately no points were at stake as Brig suffered a thumping defeat against their Ribble Valley opponents. Right from the kick off Clitheroe set the tone for the evening as they came out of the traps flying. Infract Brig were quite lucky not to be reduced to 10 men in the first minute as keeper Danny Roccia raced from his goal and completely flattened the Clitheroe striker bearing down on goal. The resultant free kick being cleared.

Brig had a chance to take the lead on 10 minutes but Nathan Pond, playing as a striker just couldn’t reach a low right wing cross at the back post as he stretched to make contact, the ball being hooked away to safety. The home side continued to dominate possession not giving Brig any time to settle.

The opening goal arrived on 20 minutes. A Brig attack broke down on the edge of the Clitheroe box and a rapid break saw the home side race to the other end, a square pass and the ball was swept home from close range. 5 minutes later and it was 2-0, this time a cross from the right was steered home.

Bamber Bridge were struggling to have any impact on the game and were simply being outplayed as the first half drew to a close. A 3rd almost arrived as a home player raced 50 yards down the pitch evading 2 tackles before before getting in a shot that Danny Roccia was equal to. However, the 3rd goal arrived on 44 minutes, ironically coming moments after Brig had come close to pulling a goal back. An Isaac Sinclair daisy cutter from the edge of the box had the Clitheroe Keeper at full stretch to tip it around the post for a corner. That corner was cleared, Clitheroe broke away, burst through the Brig backline and the ball lashed into the back of the net.

Half time and a 3-0 lead to the Ribble Valley outfit that was fully deserved.

The 2nd half started with both side having made a couple of changes with Trialists a plenty coming on to the pitch. 5 minutes into the half and Brig were awarded a penalty. Trialist (E), was brought down and Paul Dawson stepped up to slam the ball home. Game on ? No, not really, despite a 5 minute spell of pressure from Brig, The hosts regained their 3 goal advantage on their next sortie into the Brig half. A long ball played over the top, Brig seemed to stop claiming offside, The Clitheroe forward lashed the ball home from 15 yards into the roof of the net.

It should have been 5 minutes later as a free header looped on to the roof of the net. A Brig opportunity saw a a great diving header from a right wing cross well saved by the home keeper. Danny Roccia then made a terrific save as a Clitheroe striker ran free into the box, Danny diving right to stop the ball on the goaline. Another fine save by Danny just a minute later kept Clitheroe to 4 as they poured all over the Brig defence.

More substitutions saw the game fizzle out in the closing stages. The home side clearly happy with their nights work. Brig looking pretty shell shocked to be fair. A Brig shot from distance was deflected over the bar for a corner, but once again, from that corner Clitheroe broke away rapidly and made it 5-1, Danny Roccia unlucky with his attempted save, the ball just creeping over the line.

That was the last of the action as the referee ended the “contest” with Clitheroe romping home to a convincing 5-1 victory. OK, this was just a friendly, but Bamber Bridge really were never at the races tonight. Nothing lost though and we move on to the final Pre Season fixture with a home game against a young Blackpool side at Irongate on Saturday.