Bamber Bridge succumbed to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Buxton FC on the opening day of the 2021 / 22 Northern Premier Season at the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium on Saturday afternoon. A Harsh scoreline given the balance of play over the 90 minutes, but in truth the Lancashire visitors created little to trouble the home goalkeeper. Buxton by contrast took their chances when they came and also had the luxury of missing a penalty.

Having waited almost 9 months for a competitive League Fixture Brig found themselves facing one of the title contenders in their first fixture of the season. The Lancashire side lined up with new loan signing Dylan Boyle from Fleetwood in midfield and both Rob Apter and Ewan Bange, on loan from Blackpool FC making their League debuts.

Following a cagey start from both sides it was Buxton who had the first opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty following an adjudged foul by Chris Marlow as he challenged the home striker who had controlled a long diagonal ball in to the penalty area. Goose received a yellow card for his efforts and then watched on as the spot kick crashed against the crossbar and was cleared.

The relief was short lived however when just two minutes later a sloppy back pass allowed The Buxton centre forward time and space to slide the ball past the advancing Brig keeper to give The Bucks an early lead. Bamber Bridge were struggling to create any clear cut chances but came close on 25 minutes, just moments after Danny Roccia had rescued the visitors with a fine blocked save and cleared for Ewan Bange who burst forward, side stepping a defender before striking a 20 yard effort just over the bar. The Brig keeper was called into action again on the half hour, this time diving to his left to save a shot from inside the penalty area.

At the other end, as the game ebbed and flowed, Danny Forbes chested down the ball in The Buxton penalty area before turning and firing in a shot that again just cleared the Buxton crossbar. Brig were enjoying a good spell of pressure at this stage of the first half and Forbes again came close when he got his head on to a Rob Apter cross from the right. The home keeper however was well placed to make a comfortable save.

Just as it looked like Brig would go in at the break trailing by a single goal, the hosts doubled their advantage with the last action of the half. A free kick from deep on the left was controlled superbly in the box and fired home from 15 yards to give The Derbyshire side a two goal half time lead.

Buxton started the 2nd half on the offensive and Brig were forced onto the back foot, twice clearing the ball off the line in the opening stages of the half. A Bamber Bridge free kick on 55 minutes from just outside the area was well struck but again the Buxton keeper was well placed to gather the ball comfortably. Rob Apter then saw his curling effort headed clear off the goal line after he had cut inside from the left wing.

Brig made two changes on the hour with Ryan White and Jamal Crawford replacing Rob Apter and Isaac Sinclair. Brig continued to play some neat and tidy football, but in truth never really threatened The Buxton goal. Matt Dudley replaced Mark Yeates as the match entered it’s closing stages. With minutes remaining, Ryan White found space on the left, beat the full back and delivered a fine cross that was cleared for a corner. Danny Forbes met the corner with a fine header but it was cleared off the line and the danger passed.

As the game entered stoppage time Buxton grabbed a third to give the score line a slightly flattering look. A 25 yard effort that looked to take a deflection off a Brig defender causing the ball to loop over the Brig keeper and dropped into the back of the net. Seconds later and the referee brought proceedings to a close.

A 3-0 defeat for Bamber Bridge against a side much fancied to challenge at the top end of The Northern Premier League. In summary, Brig ended up well beaten in a game they were never outplayed in. The home side took the chances when they came, Bamber Bridge in contrast didn’t really carve out any clear cut openings.

It’s the first game of the season and there was much to be positive about in the Bamber Bridge performance. Three debutants and Brig were neat and tidy in possession. The games will come thick and fast in the opening weeks of the season and Brig will need to be ready to meet the challenge, starting this Tuesday night when Hyde Unite are the visitors to The Sir Tom Finney Stadium

Full Time: Buxton - 3 Bamber Bridge - 0

Att: 400

Bamber Bridge: Roccia, Marlow, Spooner, Flynn, Wilson (Capt), Forbes, Apter, Boyle, Bange, Yeates, Sinclair

Subs: Dudley, Churchman, Gourley, Crawford, White.

Match Reporter: Alan Bateson