Another Tuesday night and another 300 mile round trip to the North East, was a bridge too far for a depleted Brig squad up against the Full time League favourites. Bamber Bridge gave it 100% effort from the 1st minute to the last but were ultimately overwhelmed by a strong South Shields side who put on what was described by their supporters as their best performance of the season to defeat the Briggers 5-0

The 3rd Long Distance trip on a Tuesday in the last month, including Gainsborough, in Lincolnshire and Whitby in North Yorkshire. This brought to end a ridiculous sequence of fixture scheduling that has seen Bamber Bridge play six of their last seven fixtures away from home, travelling a combined distance of over 1000 miles!! The 3pm departure meant some players not being able to travel due to work commitments, this coupled with injuries and suspensions left Brig with just 13 available players, so just two substitutes available to Millie.

OK, grumbles over, and on to the match. Brig started brightly under floodlights that put many League grounds to shame in a rapidly improving stadium that would already grace The football League. An early fine move as Danny Forbes ran through the middle, switched the ball to the left were it was played into the path of Fin Sinclair-Smith, Fins curling effort flashed just wide of the far post. Donovan Lescott then made a superb run with the ball, but a last ditch tackle on the edge of the penalty area prevented him from getting a shot away. Fin was then stopped by a superb tackle as raced towards goal.

Shields, however were already beginning to control possession and they opened the scoring in the 14th minute, A right wing cross was powerfully headed home to give the home side a lead that in truth they were never going to relinquish. A Brig free kick on the edge of the box was taken by Rowan Roache, but it struck the wall and was cleared. Bamber Bridge were being forced to defend very deep as The Mariners really turned the screw late in the first half.

Any chance of a Brig comeback were extinguished in just two minutes as Shields doubled and then trebled their lead in the 38th and 40th minutes. Joao Gomes finished a good passing move for the hosts to make it 2-0 with his 2nd goal of the night before Darius Osei powered home a header to give the North Easterners an unassailable three goal half time advantage.

Brig came out for the 2nd half and tried with all they had to get into the game, a good move saw Rowan Roache win a corner which was taken short and reached Isaac Sinclair who struck a rising shot just over the bar. Fin then struck a fierce low 20 yard shot but he home keeper was right behind it to make a fine save.

On the hour Brig made the only two changes available to them with both Noah Alabi and Vaughn Green replacing Danny Forbes and Rowan Roache who both put in great shifts. Vaughn Green got himself right into the action with a run and shot from the right of goal that was deflected behind for a corner. But with Brig pushing to get back in the game Shields showed their clinical edge as they made it four from a right sided corner. The ball headed home from close range in the centre of the goal.

Brig continued to show a fantastic fighting spirit and a superb chipped pass from Isaac Sinclair sent Noah Alabi racing into the box, the Linesman's waving yellow flag put an an end to any hopes of a Brig consolation. Another nice passing move this time down the left saw the home keeper climb high to grab a deep cross at the back post whilst under pressure from the Brig forwards.

There could be no denying the fighting spirit of the Lancashire visitors as the worked their socks off looking for that elusive consolation goal. But once again it was the cutting edge of The Mariners that made it 5-0, a deep cross from the right was headed back across goal and hooked home from close range in the 85th minute.

The referee called time on a really tough night for Bamber Bridge, but the visiting supporters, gave the lads a great ovation. Despite a heavy defeat and being well beaten on the night , there was absolutely no disgrace and the the 100% effort from start to finish was well received, not least by the South Shields supporters who once again showed their class, with their appreciation of our players and our travelling supporters.

For Bamber Bridge, after this horrendous run of away games we now have the luxury of a home game this weekend when Matlock Town will be the visitors to Irongate. Another tough match awaits before the North East monthly visits continue with a trip up to Marske Utd on December 3rd.

Full Time: South Shields – 5 Bamber Bridge – 0

Bamber Bridge: Goddard, Green (S), Skinner, Wilson ©, Sinclair (S), Churchman, Roache, Sinclair (I), Sinclair-Smith, Forbes, Lescott

Substitutes: Alabi, Green (V)

Att: 1,651