An away point in The Northern Premier League is always a point well earned. However, I can’t help thinking that Bamber Bridge Manager Jamie Milligan might consider this as an opportunity missed. Ashton United aand Brig fought out a a goalless draw in horrible conditions on a very wet pitch, but the Lancashire side had the chances to take all three points.

The game was in some doubt around an hour before kick off following a morning of pouring rain. A pitch Inspection by the referee declared the pitch fit. Fair play to both sets of players for putting on a very decent match in what must have been very trying conditions.

Brig started very brightly and Nathan Pond was first to test the home keeper with an audacious chip from wide on the right. The home keeper was alert and collected the ball comfortably. Minutes later and Matt Thomson came close firing in a 20 yard shot from just outside the box, the keeper again did well to scoop the ball up and over the bar. Brig were having the better of the opening exchanges and a Churchman cross from the right was met by a Pond header which was blocked, the follow up shot deflected wide for a corner.

Ashton came close on 18 minutes, Hewelt in goal saving well from a far post header.

On 20 minutes it was Pondy again, this time firing in a 15 yard shot form the left of the area. The keeper getting down well at his near post to gather the ball. The next Bamber Bridge chance fell to Fin Sinclair-Smith, a neat one touch flick from Rhys Turner gave Fin the shooting chance but he slipped on the surface as he attempted to shoot. Moments later Fin did get in a good low effort but the shot fizzed just wide of the post.

An Ashton break then ended with a shot fired over the bar following a good move down the left wing. A corner for the home side was then cleared before a follow up shot was again fired well over the bar.

The visitors where doing most of the attacking as the game entered the final minutes of the first half. A Fin cross was just to high for Nathan Pond, with the Brig centre back, free in the 6 yard box. An Ashton effort then flew inches wide before
the half drew to a close with the supporters of both sides very appreciative of the effort put in by both sides.

The second half started as the first had ended, with Brig putting on the early pressure as the home keeper twice cleared crosses in to the box. An early 2nd half change saw Jake Thompson replace Fin Sinclair – Smith as Brig continued to look the more likely to open the scoring. A ball through the middle of the pitch saw Rhys Turner race clear but the home keeper did well to force the Brig striker wide to the right and then comfortably collected his chipped cross.

Brig made a second change on the hour as Jacob Holland-Wilkinson replaced Adam Dawson. The next Brig chance fell to Jake Thompson who cut in from the left but his low cross was cut out by the home keeper who by now was looking like he had no intention of conceding. The last Brig change came as Paul Dawson replaced Nathan Pond for the last 15 minutes. The best chance of the half ell to PNE loan striker Holland- Wilkinson as he raced clear through the centre of the pitch. One on one with the keeper, but it was the Ashton stopper who won the duel, spreading himself well to block the shot from the edge of the area.

Mateusz Hewelt had to be on his toes in the 75th minute as he raced out to pounce on the ball with home striker poised to shoot. Hewelt again saving well minutes later from a curling shot from the left of the area.

Jake Thompson was next to be thwarted by the home keeper, this time seeing his low drive pushed around the post for a corner. That was the last chance of the game as the referee brought proceedings to a close.

A goalless draw and a decent point. But Brig probably should have taken all three. But the conditions really were difficult and the pitch by the end was in a pretty poor state, so all in all, a point and good performance. Next up, weather permitting is a short trip to Atherton Collieries on Tuesday evening.

Full Time: Ashton United – 0 Bamber Bridge – 0

Brig: Hewelt, Churchman, Thomson, Spooner, Wilson (Capt.), Pond, Dawson (A), Carney, Turner, Skinner, Sinclair- Smith

Subs: Martin, Dawson (P), Yeates, Thompson, Holland-Wilkinson

Att; 236