Bamber Bridge’s recent run of victories came to a shuddering halt at The Project Solar Stadium, home of Hyde United on Saturday afternoon with the Tigers demolishing Brig 7-0 to leapfrog the Lancashire visitors and move in to 2nd place in the Northern Premier League. A Bamber Bridge off day, coupled with a Hungry, determined Tigers side was the recipe for a real mauling.

The game was essentially lost for Brig within 20 minutes, conceding a headed goal on 10 minutes then seeing Captain Macaulay Wilson sent off for allegedly stamping on former Brigger Callum Spooner. By this stage the home side were well on top and Brig were struggling to gain any kind of foothold in the game.

Hyde had started far the brighter of the two sides and on 10 minutes a right wing cross was met with a free header at the far post to give the home side the lead. Brig just never got into the game, An Oli Patrick shot following two blocked Brig efforts gave the Tigers keeper his only save of the match as he comfortably dropped onto the low shot form the Accy Stanley Loanee.

The goal inspired Hyde Utd as they continued to dominate possession A free kick cleared the Brig bar and several corners were repelled as the half wore on with chances coming and going for the home side. With no attacking threat from Bamber Bridge, getting in to the half time break with just the one goal deficit would have been the main aim at this stage of the match. The wheels however, where to fall off in the 41st minute, A long throw in from the right caused confusion in the Brig box, the ball ending up in the back of the net possibly off a Brig defender, The Linesman was flagging and it looked as though the goal would be disallowed, but the referee overruled his assistant and the goal stood.

Brig kicked off, Lost possession immediately, a forward pass saw Brig keeper Felix Goddard seemingly miss the ball as he tried to clear, the Hyde forward simply ran around the keeper and slotted the ball into the empty net. Unbelievably, Worse was to come just two minutes later when Fin Sinclair-Smith brought down a Tigers player has he ran into the box, The referee pointing without hesitation to the spot. The penalty was duly dispatched giving the hosts a 4-0 half time lead. Three goals coming in the final 4 minutes of the half.

Two second half changes for Brig saw Danny Forbes and Rhys Turner replace Harry Scarborough and Aaron Skinner. The changes made little impact to the flow of the game as Hyde United once again completely dominated the second half. Brig failed to create any meaningful chances and didn’t have a shot on target at all.

Four goals soon became five just 10 minutes into the second period, Callum Spooner rubbing salt into the Brig wounds with with a great strike form the edge of the area following a swift passing move down the left wing. Two Bamber Bridge corners which came to nothing were as much as Brig offered in an attacking sense as Hyde swarmed all over the visitors in pursuit of more goals. Felix Goddard made a superb point blank save to keep the scoreline down to five. The mid section of the half drifted on with Hyde seemingly content with their five goal haul, but,with just minutes remaining, a five goal thumping became a six and then seven goal thumping. Another left wing attack ad a low cross was slotted home from close range to make it six.

The referee indicated 4 additional minutes and in the third of those, Hyde United made it seven to round off a truly dismal afternoon for Bamber Bridge. The full time whistle brought some relief to the beleaguered Briggers behind the goal. The Brig supporters showed their support for Millie and the team and applauded them as they walked disconsolately towards them

We just have to brush this one aside and move on to Whitby Town on Tuesday night. Wise words also from Brigger Sean Kemplay, who’s considered thoughts were “Had we drawn with Hyde at home and drawn away, we’d all be happy with the two points as it is we beat them at Irongate and actually have 3 points from the two games” Wise words Sean !!! But I’m still not using your “Magnificent Seven” headline !!!.

Full Time: Hyde United – 7 Bamber Bridge – 0

Bamber Bridge: Goddard, Patrick, Fisher, Wilson ©, Perkins, Thomson, Scarborough, Skinner, Pond, Stanley, Sinclair-Smith

Substitutes: Turner, Forbes, Alabi, Green, Churchman

Att: 572