It was “role reversal” for Bamber Bridge at The Sir Tom Finney Stadium on Saturday afternoon. On Tuesday Evening a last minute Stalybridge Celtic equaliser saw the visitors claim a point. Today it was Brig who were to grab the late point when a Donovan Lescott Header kept the home side in the play-off positions just as it looked as though Gainsborough Trinity were about to leapfrog us into 5th place.

A healthy crowd of 641 were in attendance to see the 4th and 5th place sides at the start of play go head to head in a ding dong battle. Both defences were well on top in a first half that saw Brig play some superb passing football, while the Lincolnshire visitors were quick to counter attack whenever they had the opportunity. Clear cut chances were at a premium in the opening 45 minutes. Arron Skinner coming closest for the Lancashire side as he latched on to a delightful chipped ball into the box from Fin Sinclair-Smith on the right wing. His first time volley from 5 yards brought an instinctive reflex save from Trinity keeper Matt Yates, The ball squirming away but the keeper managed to grab it before it spun over the line.

Brig were knocking the ball around well, a move from right to left found Isaac Sinclair out wide, his cross was just inches too high for Harry Scarborough and headed clear. Fin was constantly running at the Trinity back line, jinking left and right, but the visitors defending was resolute and twice the he had to settle for a corner when his crosses were blocked before reaching the danger area.

Bamber Bridge were defending with similar vigour at the other end and preventing Trinity from getting anything like a clear attempt on goal. The closest the visitors came was a 20 yard shot that flashed a yard or so wide. The half ended with a double Brig corner, from the second one Pondy attempted an overhead kick, The Brig No.5 made a good connection but the ball sailed wide of the post.

The second half began with Gainsborough Trinity taking the lead within a minute, A ball down the right was fed across goal and stabbed home by Curtis Dunrose. Many Briggers returning to pitch side following their half time refreshments were completely oblivious to the fact the hosts were now a goal behind. In fact I’m quite sure one or two thought we had scored a late winner instead of an equaliser at the end!

Brig could and probably should have equalised just 5 minutes later, a ball from the right found the feet of Arron Skinner some 6 yards out in front of goal, the Brig No.3 didn’t quite get the connection he wanted allowing Yates in goal to get something on it and take enough pace of the ball to then allow him to gather it in a the second attempt.

Luke Hutchinson in the Brig goal was then called into action diving low to make a fine save from a close range shot. The game was now opening up as Brig pushed forward looking for the leveller, Fin again with a jinking run down the right , squared the ball across the 6 yard line but alert defending cleared the danger. With the home side beginning to get on top, Manager Jamie Milligan made two changes, bringing on Paul Dawson and Rhys Turner for Harry Scarborough and Luke Mariette. A corner from the right saw Captain Macaulay Wilson climb high to meet the ball with a fine header but it was just too high and cleared the bar.

Rhys Turner then evaded two tackles on the left as he raced in to the box then along the the byline before firing in a low shot, Yates in the Trinity goal parried the ball and it ran across the goaline just needing a touch, before it was cleared upfield. Donovan Lescott was introduced to proceedings in the 80th minute, replacing Sheldon Green, This turned out to be the master stoke from Millie.

With the clock showing 90 minutes Brig attacked down the left, Aaron Skinners cross was deflected out for a corner, which was headed clear at the near post, The ball was returned in to the mixer were Donovan Lescott rose like a salmon to head a superb looping header from 10 yards over the keeper outstretched hand and into the back of then net, sending the Briggers behind the goal wild with delight.

Brig sniffed victory and pushed on looking for a very late winner, Isaac Sinclair cutting in from the right and looking to curl a shot into the far post, the ball flashing a yard wide. From the goal kick the referee blew the final whistle on what had been a fine game between two very good sides. A draw probably being a fair result on the balance of play. Brig will certainly see this as a point gained having grabbed the leveller in the last minute and in doing so keeping Trinity below them in the table.

Another tough encounter awaits next Weekend when its 4th v 5th again. This time 4th placed Radcliffe hosting 5th placed Bamber Bridge. A superb season so far just gets more exciting by the week.

Full Time: Bamber Bridge – 1 Gainsborough Trinity – 1

Bamber Bridge: Hutchinson, Green, Skinner Thomson, Wilson (c), Pond, Sinclair (I), Mariette, Scarborough, Stanley, Sinclair-Smith

Substitutes: Turner, Churchman, Robins, Dawson, Lescott

Attendance: 641