Bamber Bridge were beaten 4-2 on The opening day of the 2022/23 Season in Sweltering heat at The Marston Rd Stadium, home of Stafford Rangers. A 44th minute red card for Captain Paul Dawson with the scores at 1-1 made the 2nd half task increasingly difficult for the Lancashire visitors.

With pitch side temperatures approaching 33 degrees at 3pm, Brig had 5 players making their League debuts. Felix Goddard on loan from Blackburn Rovers, Harvey Hughes on loan from Blackpool, David Perkins, Tom Hoyle on loan from Fleetwood and Luke Daly. The match started at a surprising pace, Brig looking to sweep the ball across the bone hard and parched surface whilst Rangers opted for the more direct “up and at em” approach.

Playing in their new all yellow away strip it was Bamber Bridge who opened the scoring in the 7th minute. A long ball played down the left channel was superbly controlled by Finn Sinclair-Smith before he stepped to his right and smashed a low volley in to the bottom corner of the net. The Rangers keeper making a valiant full stretch effort to save the shot, getting a hand to the ball but he couldn’t keep it out.

Brig looked confident and another smart passing move on 12 minutes found Aaron Skinner wide on the right, The Brig midfielder drove in to the box and fired across a fierce shot that Belford in The Rangers goal did well to parry away before the ball was hooked clear. That save proved critical as just 2 minutes later Stafford Rangers grabbed the equaliser. A fine one touch passing move down the left wing saw the ball switched across the pitch for Joe Kenton to drill home at the back post.

The players took a drinks break midway through the first half and the Brig fans behind the goal had a decent chat with the Home keeper Cameron Belford who was recognised as having played for Radcliffe last season.

Back underway in the sweltering heat and it was the hosts who now had momentum following their equaliser. The home side looked to throw the ball in to the box at every opportunity, clearly playing to their strengths, and with the aid of an exocet type long throw in from the right, that reached the far post on a couple of occasions, the Brig back line certainly had their hands full in heading clear, and looking to slow the pattern of play down.

Bamber Bridge were now playing on the break and Fin was unlucky with half time approaching as a fine goal-bound volley from a right wing cross was blocked and cleared. The game changed however in the 44th minute. A Brig goal-kick was cleared up-field and as Paul Dawson rose to challenge fro the ball close to the dugouts on the touchline, he was adjudged to have elbowed his opponent. The home players reacted immediately and The referee had no hesitation at all in brandishing a red card.

The half time whistle arrived seconds after the free kick leaving Brig with a very difficult second half to come, in such trying conditions with only 10 men.

As expected the home side came out of the traps flying at the start of the second half and pinned the visitors back with a series of corners. Brig had made a half time change with Rhys Turner replacing Luke Daly. The Brig forward went on to have a terrific 45 minutes, but it was the home side who took the lead from the penalty spot, Nathan Pond penalised for hauling down Tonks, after the Rangers forward he wrestled possession from the Brig centre half. Tonks, dusted himself down and calmly slotted the spot kick in to the bottom corner leaving Brig with a mountain to climb.

Rhys Turner almost brought Brig level on the hour following a swift passing move, receiving the ball with his back to goal, the Brig striker swivelled and fired in a powerful shot from the edge of the box that flashed inches wide of the post with the keeper beaten. Brig were really putting in a shift and Finn Sinclair-Smith made two lung bursting runs down the right wing, but was crowded out on both occasions.

Following the 2nd half drinks break, Brig made their 2nd change as Noah Alabi came on for his league debut in place of Isaac Sinclair. Before the 6th debutant had time make is mark, the hosts effectively made the game safe. A pacey break down the right saw the ball smashed home from the edge of the area to give Rangers a 3-1 advantage.

Brig, showing commendable spirit fought back, Noah Alabi with great skill and footwork as he jinked in to the area from the left and cut the ball back across the 6 yard line, the ball being hooked clear as the Visiting forwards looked to pounce. Finn then whipped over a great cross from the right, just too high for Pondy who had been pushed up front but collected by Noah at the far post, he controlled the ball well before getting in a goal-bound shot that was blocked close to the goaline.

Brig made their final change on 83 minutes, Churchy replacing David Perkins, But with throwing everyone forward there was always the chance of being caught out at the back and that happened on 85 minutes. Another slick passing move from the hosts ended with Alex Kiwomya smashing home from close range to give Rangers an unassailable 4-1 lead. Probably against the balance of play in the second half but always likely with Brig having a player less in the sweltering heat.

Bamber Bridge grabbed a deserved second goal and claimed the final goal of the game in the 90th minute as Rhys Turner headed home following a great shot from Noah Alabi on the left, the keeper parrying the ball into the air but Turner was on hand to nod it home.

Three minutes of added time later the referee brought the game to an end. A valiant 2nd half display from the 10 Brig lads with subs Rhys Turner and Noah Alabi both looking very sharp. The first half dismissal of Paul Dawson may or may not have contributed for the loss but it certainly didn’t help.

Brig must move on swiftly as this coming Tuesday evening we host newly promoted Marske United at The Sir Tom Finney Stadium, they will arrive full of confidence having won their opening fixture 3-1.

Full Time: Stafford Rangers – 4 Bamber Bridge – 2

Brig: Goddard, Thomson, Hughes, Perkins, Pond, Hoyle, Skinner, Daly, Sinclair, Dawson ©, Sinclair Smith

Subs: Turner, Churchman, Riding, Alabi

Att; 614