Bamber Bridge returned to winning ways on Saturday afternoon with a fully deserved victory at home to Grantham Town. Following a difficult run of results it was good to see the confidence back and the players celebrating the victory with the fans at the end of the match.

Prior to the game there was an impecibly obseved minute’s silence for Brian Carrigan who sadly passed away on Friday. RIP Brian.

Brig made a bright start to the match as the y looked to get the ball down and pass it around, having been forced to play the aerial route at Atherton on Tuesday evening due to playing on a swamp. The visiting Gingerbreads, well back by a good vocal support also seemed up to the task, one defeat in their previous 6 matches has given the South Lincolnshire side renewed hopes of avoiding relegation.

It was Bamber Bridge who carved out the first opening of the game, Fin Sinclair-Smith with a shot from the edge of the box, The Grantham keeper saved well, the ball rebounded to Fin, but his follow up shot went just wide of the post.

With Brig looking the more likely to break the deadlock, it was the visitors that took the lead in the 27th minute. A corner swung in from the left wasn’t dealt with, and following a goalmouth scramble the ball was adjudged to have crossed the goaline before being hooked clear. There was some debate from the Brig 50k club fans on the Sponsors Lounge balcony as to whether the ball did actually cross the line. I thought it did. Others were not so sure. Nonetheless, the goal was given and Brig found themselves trailing again.

Far from letting their heads drop The Irongate lads stepped up a gear and went in search of an equaliser. Nathan Pond came close with a powerful header from a Fin corner, the effort just clearing the bar. At the other end, another left wing corner from Grantham caused havoc once again in the Brig penalty area before the ball was eventually cleared. Matt Hudson in goal claiming he was pushed off the ball, but the referee was having none of it.

On 36 minutes, the long awaited Brig goal final arrived. Brig won the ball back on the half way line and Fin Sinclair-Smith was sent clear down the middle of the pitch, the advancing keeper forced the Brig striker wide left but he showed terrific composure to slide the ball under the Gingerbreads stopper, and the ball rolled gleefully into the empty net to the scene of great celebration on the Sponsors Lounge balcony.

Moments later and a Paul Dawson header from a Chris Churchman cross just missed the target as Brig ended the half on top.

Bamber Bridge started the second half as they had ended the first, the swagger was coming back as the players looked to be enjoying the match. Dan Martin having a superb game in the centre of midfield saw an early strike deflected just wide for a corner. The visitors were by no means out the game though, and backed by their supporters at the Woodyard end came close with rising shot following good play down the right, the ball whistling inches over Matt Hudson's bar.

Paul Dawson was the architect of the next Brig chance, turning inside the defender before clipping a ball towards the top corner, the ball dipping narrowly wide. On 56 minutes It was Paul Dawson again and this time he found the back of then net with a fine finish. Jake Thompson with some superb wing play down the right, beat his man before sliding the ball across the 18 yard line to Dawson, The Brig striker side stepped inside before crashing a 15 yard shot in to the back of the net to give Brig a deserved lead.

Bamber Bridge were clearly lifted by the goal and and started to spray the ball around the pitch in the manner of earlier in the season. A superb move on the hour saw Fin, sent away down the right, his pin point cross found Isaac Sinclair, who looked a certain scorer, but the keeper came to The Gingerbreads rescue with a fine diving save.

Brig were well on top at this stage and Fin again was unlucky as his low shot from a Jake Thompson pull back was deflected just wide of the post with the keeper stranded.

Brig made their first change on 70 minutes, Jake Thompson who’d had an excellent game was replaced by Adam Dawson. Mark Yeates then coming on to replace the tireless Fin Sinclair Smith in the 75 minute. With the experienced heads of Nathan Pond and Mark Yeates, on the park, Brig looked to take the pace out of the game and control the possession of the ball. With the minutes passing by slowly, it was Brig who almost made the points safe in the 85th minute. Adam Dawson controlling a Sinclair cross in the box before firing in a low powerful drive that was well saved by the keeper, the rebound falling to Kevin Spinelli, who fired it back in first time only to watch in disbelief as the keeper made another top save to push the ball out for a corner.

Bamber Bridge made their final change in the 89th minute, Sponsors Man of the match Dan Martin went off to a great ovation to be replaced by Aaron Skinner. The referee added 5 minutes of stoppage time which to be fair Brig controlled without any scares before the full time whistle brought much relief and a welcome 3 points to the Lancashire side.

Overall, a very enjoyable afternoon and a really good performance from Brig against a team fighting for their Northern Premier League lives. It doesn’t get any easier though, as Brig’s next opponents are title chasing South Shields next Saturday in the North East. We will travel with renewed optimization looking to put on a similar display. Bamber Bridge are back !!

Full Time: Bamber Bridge – 2 Grantham – 1

Bamber Bridge: Hudson, Thomson, Churchman, Martin, Wilson (Capt.), Pond, Thompson, Sinclair, Spinelli, Dawson (P), Sinclair-Smith

Subs: Yeates, Carney, Dawson (A), Skinner, Spooner

Att: 317

Match reporter: Alan Bateson