Bamber Bridge moved back into The Northern Premier League play off positions with a fine 2-0 Victory at home to Atherton Collieries, at The Sir Tom Finney Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Goals either side of the break from Fin Sinclair-Smith and Paul Dawson were enough to lift Brig back into 5th place.

Bamber Bridge, attacking the Woodyard End in the first half made a lively start. A free kick 30 yards from goal in the 3rd minute, was chipped into the box from the right side of the area, the visiting keeper was alert to the danger and was first to react gathering the ball as he dived forwards, Moments later the Colls keeper was in action again this time a Paul Dawson thunderbolt from 20 yards, Punching the ball skywards, he then back-pedalled to tip the ball over the bar for a corner.

Bamber Bridge were on top and it came as no surprise when on 20 minutes they took the lead, following a superb paasing move the ball was switched to Isaac Sinclair hugging the touchline, Issac chested the ball down before playing a teriific ball in to Conor Stanley, who's low cross was half cleared and a richochet landed at the feet of Fin Sinclair-Smith, who took a touch before curling a beauty of a shot over the despairing outstretched hand of the diving Colls keeper before nestling in the back of the net at the far post.

The goal signalled a response from the visitors, a spell of pressure saw Brig having to defend their goal, but The hosts were looking very sharp on the break and a ball through the centre of the pitch had Fin chasing it down, under a good defensive challenge the Brig striker got in a good low strike from the left corner of the penalty area, the keeper dropping to his left to make a comfortable save.

The game became a touch scrappy as half time approached, A free kick from the right which cleared the crossbar and a low Paul Dawson cross from the right which flashed across the 6 yard line was as near as Brig came to increasing their advantage. The visitors forced a series of corners but the Bamber Bridge backline dealt comfortably with the late pressure from The Greater Manchester side who had ended the first half on the front foot.

The second half began in similar fashion to the first, with Brig back in control. It took just 5 minutes of the second period for Bamber Bridge to double their lead. A great run into the box down the left by Fin, was halted by a solid defensive tackle, the ball being picked up by Isaac Sinclair, a second challenge saw the ball partly cleared, but Brig quickly regained possession and a pass down the left touchline found Fin was able to whip in a great cross to the near post, to be met by a wonderful diving header from Paul Dawson which flew past the keeper into the back of the net.

Brig were back in full flow and a cross from the right this time flashed across goal just requiring a touch, but evaded everyone and was cleared to safety by the Colls defence at the far post. Jamie Milligan made his first change of the game on the hour, Donovan Lescott replacing Isaac Sinclair, who looked to have taken a knock just moments earlier.

Atherton began to come back into the contest as they pushed Brig back midway through the second half, A corner from the left caused confusion in the penalty area, the ball zipping around with several deflections before it was hooked clear. A breakaway From the hosts led to a left sided corner, The curling dead ball kick was swung over towards the far post by Fin, the keeper having to reach at full stretch to push it over the bar at the back post.

A second Brig change 0n 70 minutes saw Danny Forbes enter the Frey, with Joe Robbins the man to be replaced. A pivotal moment arrived just 2 minutes later when Brig Captain, Macaulay Wilson was adjudged to have committed a “last man” challenge on the Colls striker, injuring himself in the process. The resulting red card seemed harsh from my view but in fairness to the referee, he was a lot closer to the action than I was. The free kick was bent around the wall and wide of the post, possibly clipping the upright on its way past.

Down to 10 men for the second weekend in a row, Brig were forced to dig in, as Colls sensed an opportunity to get back into the game. Bamber Bridge stood firm, keeping the visitors at arms length as the minutes ticked by. A third change for the home side lead to Chris Churchman taking his place in the defence for the remaining minutes. The visitors had their claims for a penalty waved away as the match moved into added time.

However it was Brig who came closest to adding to the scoreline when Fin Exchanged passes with Paul Dawson as they burst through the middle of the pitch, Daws' striking a fierce low shot just inches wide of the keepers right hand post. Brig comfortably saw out the remaining minutes of added time to claim all three points in what in the end was a comfortable victory. Back into the top five, Brig have the chance to cement their play off ambitions when they travel to struggling Liversedge on Tuesday evening for a re-arranged fixture.

Bamber Bridge and Atherton Collieries will cross swords again when they meet in the Semi Final of The Lancashire Challenge Trophy at The County Ground, Leyland in March.

Full Time at Irongate: Bamber Bridge – 2 Atherton Collieries – 0

Bamber Bridge: Hutchinson, Green, Skinner, Thomson, Wilson ©, Mariette, Sinclair (I), Stanley, Robbins, Dawson, Sinclair-Smith

Substitutes: Churchman, Forbes, Lescott, Sinclair (S), Roache

Attendance: 485