Reporter: Alan Bateson

Bamber Bridge made it two away wins on the spin with a superb Boxing Day victory in the Lancashire Derby at Giant Axe, home of Lancaster City. Trailing 2-1 with just 5 minutes remaining, Brig’s never say die attitude saw them score twice in the closing stages to return down the M6 with all 3 points.

The game started with both sides showing their attacking intent as the ball swung from end to end. Brig looking very lively down the left hand side of the pitch as Chris Marlow and Richie Allen linked well. Bamber Bridge who had started without talisman Ali Waddecar, due to a groin injury were dealt an early blow when Captain Matt Lawlor was forced to leave the pitch on just 15 minutes after injuring his knee in a fifty fifty challenge. Matt Thompson replaced the Skipper and took the right back slot with Callum Spooner moving across to partner Kieran Charnock in the centre of defence.

The home side piled on the pressure soon after the change but it was Brig who came closest, Richie Allen seeing a shot blocked before a Matt Dudley header was comfortably saved by the home keeper.

It was however the home side who took the lead, in the 20th Minute, a right wing cross, delivered to the far post with pace was met with a powerful back post header from ex Brigger Brad Carsley,

Brig responded and continued to play their neat passing game, chances were at a premium though with the final ball or cross just letting the Briggers down. The persistent pressure from Brig was rewarded in the 39th minute following superb work on the right side of area from Sheldon Green, he got round the left back before laying the ball across the 6 yard box. An attempted clearance was missed but pounced upon by Richie Allen who gleefully smashed the ball into the far corner of the net to level the scores.

The second half started with the home side exerting a bit of pressure on the Brig backline as they looked to regain the lead, Brig weathered the early storm and again pressed their table topping hosts back. A cross from the left saw the home keeper punch the ball clear, it was met at the edge of the box by Rowan Roache who struck a sweet volley that flew just inches wide with the keeper well beaten. A Brig free from 25 yards then struck the wall and was cleared upfield. The referee this time awarding Lancaster City a free kick for a foul a similar distance from goal. Ex Brigger Paul Dawson stepped up for the home side, drilling a superb low freekick in to the bottom corner.

Once again Brig found themeselves chasing a game they had competed so well in. Matt Dudley saw the keeper punch away another fine effort as Bamber Bridge continued to push their lofty hosts back. The home side were defending deeper and deeper and clearly content to hang on to their 2-1 lead. A Brig change on 75 minutes saw Daniel Wisdom replaced by Joe Booth.

The visitors really started to pile on the pressure as the clock ticked towards the closing minutes. A final Brig change saw the hard working Richie Allen replaced by Adam Sumner, who took the left back role allowing Chris Marlow to push further up the pitch. The change was to pay dividends as Bamber Bridge grabbed a deserved equaliser on 85 minutes. Superb wing play down the left from Marlow as he jinked his way to the byline before chipping over a cross, the City keeper tried to punch clear but the ball fell at the back post to the oncoming Matt Thompson who smashed it home from 6 yards to the absolute delight of the Briggers behind the goal.

Far from settling for a point, it was the Irongate visitors who pushed on looking for the winner with Lancaster clinging on for a point. With three minutes of the added 5 gone, Goose (Marlow) picked up the ball on the left hand side of the pitch ten yards outside the area, he surged forward and as he darted between two desperate City defenders he was brought crashing to the ground. The referee pointing instantly to the penalty spot. Up stepped Rowan Roache, and with the pressure on the young Blackpool loanee coolly sent the keeper the wrong way sliding the ball in to the other corner. Once again the Briggers behind the goal where in raptures.

The home side stunned by the turnaround launched a last gasp onslaught but just moments later the referee blew for full time. Bamber Bridge taking all three very well earned points from a thoroughly entertaining match. Certainly the best result of the season so far and arguably the best performance of the season.

Brig are back in action on New Years Day when Warrington FC are the visitors to the Sir Tom Finney Stadium.

Full Time: Lancaster City – 2 Bamber Bridge – 3
Goalscorers for Brig : Richie Allen, Matt Thompson, Rowan Roache (pen)

Att: 325

Bamber Bridge: Roccia, Spooner, Marlow, Lawlor (Capt), Charnock, Wisdom, Green, Churchman, Dudley, Roache, Allen