Bamber Bridge went down to their second heavy defeat in 4 days with a 3-0 loss at the Towbar Express Stadium, home of Whitby Town on Tuesday evening. Having arrived at the ground late due to traffic congestion, Brig then found themselves behind in the match after just 18 seconds. Two further first half goals for Whitby pretty much ended the contest by half time.

The referee agreed to delay kick off slightly due to the team coach only arriving at the ground around half an hour before kick off. Whether this had any bearing on the start of the match is open to debate, but just 18 seconds after kicking off The Seasiders opened the scoring, not sure what happened but a defensive mix up seemed to prevent Keeper Felix Goddard gathering the ball, in the delay the Whitby forward simply stroked the ball into an empty net. A disastrous start, but 89 and three quarter minutes to put it right.

Brig responded quite well and for the next 15 minutes pushed the hosts back, A Paul Dawson chip towards the back post just cleared the angle of post and crossbar, then moments later Dawson again with a thunderbolt strike from 20 yards, the keeper needing two fists to punch the ball up into the air and over the bar for a corner. Nathan Pond, then controlled a high ball before swivelling round, but his shot bobbled wide of the keepers right hand post.

A Danny Forbes downward header from a left sided free kick brought another save from the home keeper as Brig looked for the equaliser. However, on 22 minutes the home side once again punished some slack play at the back by Brig. Possession was lost on the Brig right hand side and a quick pass into the middle found the Whitby Town striker with time to pick his spot and bury the ball beyond the diving Felix Goddard.

At the other end, a surging right wing run by Sheldon Green saw him cut across the full back into the penalty area, he pulled the ball back to Fin Sinclair-Smith who took a touch before fizzing in a shot that flashed inches wide of the keepers left hand post and into the side netting.

On 40 minutes Bamber Bridge were fortunate not to go three behind, giving possession away again, a snap shot looked to cannon back off the post, the rebound looked certain to be stroked home but it was knocked wide. A let off for Brig but it didn’t last long. A corner from the right in th last minute of the half looked to have been mishit as it travelled low towards the near post, The home forward somehow managing to control the ball, turn and smash it home from a tight angle to give The Seasiders an unassailable three goal half time lead.

The second half resumed with no changes for the visitors, An early free kick found the head of Sheldon Green, but his downward header was comfortably gathered by the home keeper. Bamber bridge then made two changes on 55 minutes with Jamie Thomas and Chris Churchman replacing Danny Forbes and McCauley Wilson.

Jamie Thomas was immediately involved, striking a 25 yard free-kick from outside the right corner of the penalty area into the side netting. Minutes later and a fine interchange of passes on the set Fin away, has he raced into the penalty box he was tripped from behind and the referee pointed straight to the spot. Paul Dawson stepped up, sent the keeper the wrong way but the ball struck the outside of the upright and trickled out for a goal kick. 6 inches away from being the perfect spot kick.

Brig were once again doing most of the attacking with the hosts looking quite content with their three goal advantage. Sheldon Green fired an effort wide before Fin struck a curling effort that was deflected behind for a corner. Rhys Turner came on as the last Brig change, replacing Sheldon Green. Paul Dawson then got on the end of a fine passing move, drilling in a low 18 yard shot, Home keeper Shane Bland diving left to make a fine save. With the closing minutes approaching, Jamie Thomas struck a volley wide as Brig pushed on looking for a consolation goal.

Whitby Town almost made it 4 on 85 minutes when a long goal kick downfield found the Home forward running on to the ball, his fierce shot being well palmed away by Felix in the Brig goal. Paul Dawson tested the home keeper again with a long range shot before the last action of the game saw Nathan Pond pick up a yellow card for what can only be described as a frustrated challenge on the touchline.

So, a 3-0 defeat for Bamber Bridge and a 10 goal negative swing in the goal difference from the the last two matches. However, a bad week is over and Bamber Bridge have the opportunity to put things right this weekend when Radcliffe make the short journey to Irongate. The Fixtures computer hasn’t been kind to Brig. Three successive away League games prior to this weekends home match will be followed by three more consecutive away League games along with an away tie in The Lancashire Cup at Lancaster City. Seven out of eight games away from home is a tough ask for any team.

Full Time: Whitby Town – 3 Bamber Bridge – 0

Bamber Bridge: Goddard, Thomson, Skinner, Fisher, Wilson (c ), Pond, Green, Forbes, Sinclair-Smith, Dawson, Stanley

Substitutes: Turner, Scarborough, Thomas, Churchman