As the saying goes, it ain’t over ‘til it’s over, and that was certainly the case at U-Lock Stadium, home of Witton Albion yesterday afternoon.

Two goals in added time saw Brig romp home to a 4-1 away win and to within 2 points of league leaders Matlock Town.

The game started at a frantic pace, with the home side having the better of the first quarter.

The first notable chance of the game fell to the home side on 30 minutes when a ball over the top was missed by Nathan Pond in the Brig defence and fell to Saunders, the shot going just over the bar.

Brig picked up the pace and great interplay between Joe Rodwell-Grant and Rob Apter saw Apter picking the ball up on the edge of the area. Unfortunatley his final shot went straight at the keeper.

A scrappy half with both sides struggling to get on top. Brig had the better of the last 10 minutes but it remained goalless at the break.

The deadlock was broken 50 minutes with the two Preston North End loanees , Lewis Coulton and Joe Rodwell-Grant linking up give Brig the lead. Coulton’s ball across the box flicked in at the near post by Rodwell-Grant for his first Brig goal.

The home side drew level on 57 minutes. Saunders with a left footed shot past Hewelt in the Brig goal.

Brig’s first substitution came on 67 minutes with Craig Carney replacing Sheldon Green.

The home side narrowly missed a chance to take the lead on 70 minutes. A superb tackle from Nathan Pond denying Saunders a chance of second goal.

A further change for Brig came on 73 minutes with Matt Dudley replacing goal-scorer Joe Rodwell-Grant.

The home side were reduced to 10 men on 74 minutes. Lingboua being shown the way to the dressing room after a high foot on Churchman.

Brig made the most of extra man, but heading in to the final minutes it looked liked Milly’s men would just be taking a single point back to Irongate….

Brig had clearly decided a point wasn’t enough. With seconds of the 90 ticking away, they kept the ball moving and their persistence paid off. Craig Carney flicked home a cross to make it 1-2.

With four minutes of added time, the home side were desperate to draw level. A corner for the home side on 90+2 saw Witton keeper Hall heading up the field into the Brig area. He got his head to the ball but it was cleared.

With the keeper stranded, Chris Churchman picked up the clearance, sliding it along the left to Rob Apter, who beat his man and hit a 40 yard shot into the abandoned Witton goal. (1-3).

Despite what everyone thought, that wasn’t it! Determined to make it mark on his return debut, midfielder Paul Dawson ensured his name was on the score sheet. Picking up the ball on the right, Dawson beat his man, headed in to the area and fired his shot under Hall in the Witton goal making it 1-4.

Overall a scrappy game and a scoreline which possibly did a disservice to the home side.

After the game, Brig manager shared his thoughts on the performance:

“[it] Wasn’t our best performance of the season, but to come away to WittonAlbion who have a good strong team and management team and grind out a result the way we did is great!! Proud of the boys! We keep taking it one game at a time”

Brig are back in action on Tuesday when they welcome Chorley FC to Irongate in the LFA Trophy.

Bamber Bridge: Hewelt, Thomson, Coulton, Spooner (c), Pond, Churchman, Apter, Sinclair, Rodwell-Grant, Dawson, Green
Subs: Dudley, Forbes, Raffie, Carney, Gourley