Match reporter: Alan Bateson

Bamber Bridge returned from what seems to be the annual New Year’s Day trip to Cantilever Park. Home of Warrington Town, with nothing to show from a spirited but ultimately fruitless performance, resulting in a 4-1 reverse.

Brig had started well on an unseasonably mild afternoon on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal in the Cheshire Riviera. Some neat passing football from the visitors saw 3 or 4 decent efforts from distance but in truth the Warrington Keeper remained pretty much untroubled as the home side kept Brig at arms length for much of the match.

A fine sweeping move down the right wing led to Adam Dawson whipping in a low cross, the keeper diving across his goal to cut out the danger. Dawson again on 20 minutes struck a superb 20 yard effort from the right hand side of the penalty area, it flashed inches wide as the keeper dived to cover his goal.

The Lancashire visitors were doing much of the early pressing but Warrington always looked lively on the break as they whipped over several dangerous crosses that the Brig back line initially dealt with. Dawson again from the right wing created another opportunity, this time is inswinging cross was half cleared to Fin Sinclair-Smith, who controlled the ball before letting fly with a low shot that again was just wide of the target. The best chance of the game fell to Bamber Bridge on 35 minutes. The home keeper miskicking a clearance straight to Aaron Skinner, The Brig midfielder lobbed it back towards goal with the keeper back peddling and scrambling cross his goal. Once again though Brig failed to hit the target as the ball went narrowly wide.

Brig were made to rue the missed opportunities just moments later when a long cross from the right for the home side was met with a fine header at the far post and headed back across goal into the far corner. Just a minute later and it could have been 2 for the Cheshire outfit. Again a cross from the right and a free header inside the penalty area sailed over the bar.

The second half stated with Brig again pushing forward and the equaliser almost arrive on 48 minutes, a deep cross from the right looking for Nathan Pond was slightly too high, Pondy got a glancing header to the ball directing it towards Craig Carney, who from an acute angle lashed it goalwards only to see the ball cannon away to safety off the face of the bar. Dan Martin was next to try his luck from distance for The Briggers, controlling a half cleared inswinging cross and looking to curl a shot towards the top corner. The Warrington keeper was alert however and made the save look very comfortable as he palmed the ball down before gathering it in.

Fin-Sinclair saw another shot from distance sail over the bar before on 61 minutes The home side doubled their lead. Again Brig were caught out with a long deep cross, this time headed back cross goal at the far post before being bundled home at the near post. Before Bamber Bridge had any opportunity to compose themselves it was 3-0 and the match was effectively over. A neat pass cut through the Brig backline before a cross was controlled slid past Brig keeper Mateusz Hewelt. Brig made a change bringing on Sam Billington for his debut, replacing Craig Carney.

The next attack from Brig may well have seen a penalty awarded. Fin Sinclair- Smith looked to have been upended as he dribbled into the box from the right. The referee deemed the challenge fair and awarded Brig a corner kick. This was cleared and to rub salt into the wound, the home broke away rapidly and were themselves awarded a penalty for a challenge that looked remarkably similar to the Brig claim moments earlier. Pondy receiving a yellow card for making that very point. The penalty kick was duly dispatched giving the home side a 4-0 lead with almost 20 minutes still to play.

Bamber Bridge needed to dig in and show some character and to be fair that’s what they did. Danny Forbes came on to replace Adam Dawson and made a good impact. Danny almost pulled one back immediately, receiving the ball with his back to goal just inside the area, a smart turn and a shot that flashed across the goal missing the far post by inches. On 81 minutes Brig pulled a goal back, Danny Forbes played the ball wide to the right, the low cross was blocked but Isaac Sinclair reacted quickly to divert the ball home via a deflection. Brig were showing some real spirit and it was Danny Forbes again on 85 minutes who was upended on the edge of the penalty area. Dan Martin took the free kick but it unfortunately struck Nathan Pond on its way towards goal enabling the home side to clear.

Chris Churchman replaced Fin Sinclair Smith as the home side seemed content to see out the remaining minutes. Danny Forbes was unlucky not to pull a second goal back for Bamber Bridge when he volleyed a superb Pondy knock down from 10 yards only to see the ball deflected just inches wide of the post with the keeper stranded. Sam Billington saw a curling effort just clear the bar before the referee brought the game to an end.

A 4-1 defeat for Brig and there is no doubt the home side deserved the points simply because they took their chances when they came and in truth kept Brig at bay ensuring most of the chances for the visitors came from long shots. Most of which failed to hit the target. Brig showed plenty of fight and character in the closing stages. Danny Forbes coming on and adding some bite and making a fine late contribution.

There is no doubt that the loss of both Blackpool FC loan players Ewan Bange and Rob Apter and their combined 19 goals between them are being missed. Any side would miss that sort of contribution. But Brig are still playing pleasing on the eye football and it was noticeable at the end of today's match that the travelling Brig support gave their team a great ovation.

Next up for Brig is another difficult looking fixture as Buxton visit Irongate. This really is a tough league and we must remember that Bamber Bridge currently sit in 4th position more than half way through the season. A remarkable achievement from the manager, coaching staff and players.

Full Time: Warrington Town – 4 Bamber Bridge – 1

Att: 842

Bamber Bridge: Hewelt, Wilson (Capt), Spooner, Coulton, Pond, Dawson, Carney, Martin, Sinclair, Skinner, Sinclair-Smith

Subs: Churchman, Forbes, Billington, Cottom