Bamber Bridge were beaten 4-2 in an really entertaining match at the the 1st Cloud Arena (Mariners Park) against title chasing South Shields on Saturday afternoon. A bright sunny spring day, Jazzy shirts on display from the Brig faithful, This, favourite of all Bamber Bridge away days provided us again with a special trip.

Jamie Milligan was disappointed post match with the manner of the defeat in so much as the goals conceded where all pretty much avoidable and followed Brig giving away possession. But the overall display was as good as we’ve seen for some time, and showed the green roots of revival after a disappointing spell of results.

A crowd of 2,173 were inside the vastly improving ground as the game got under way. A sparkling atmosphere and the home side as expected looked to push Brig back with a fast start. Bamber Bridge however, looked comfortable in the early stages and created a couple of decent opportunities themselves. Fin Sinclair-Smith found himself with time and space wide on the left, he turned inside and floated a curved ball towards the far post that drifted just a foot over the bar. An earlier cross form the right had been headed off the line by a Shields defender.

On 14 minutes however the ground erupted as Shields took the lead, A loose pass was intercepted in midfield, by Mitch Rose, who strode forward before smashing a great shot from distance in to the back of Matt Hudson’s net. The exact distance has been disputed/discussed at length, but estimates range from "a tap in" to "so far away, he was practically on Mars!" Brig responded well and a Nathan Pond back post header from a free-kick flashed across the 6 yard box before being hooked clear off the line. At the other end Matt Hudson then made a fine save, diving left to stop a low shot from a quick South Shields breakaway.

On 25 minutes the home side doubled their advantage, again Brig were guilty of giving up possession and a diagonal ball in to the box was chested down the Shields striker McGovern who then slid the ball passed the advancing Matt Hudson.

At 2-0 The Brig fans had fears of a hammering, but the lads dug deep and recovered their composure. A Fin Sinclair-Smith effort from the left side of the penalty area was slightly scuffed by the Brig man allowing the home keeper to make a comfortable save. Paul Dawson then struck a 25 yard free kick through the wall but the home stopper was again well positioned to make the save.

The half time whistle arrived with the hosts leading 2-0, Three efforts on target for South Shields and two of them found the net. At the other end the home keeper hadn’t really been tested.

Half time and the shirts line up for judging.

Half time in the famous South Shields marquee and it was Jazzy Shirt competition time. South Shield fans, and Bamber Bridge friends, Simon Kelsey and his young daughters, affectionately nicknamed “The KitKat Sisters” had the unenviable task of picking a winner from the atrocious display of loud, Hawaiian style shirts, donned by the travelling Briggers. The girls chose Daniella's bright yellow abomination of a shirt as the clear winner !!! With special mention to John and Adam Lickley for their outlandish efforts!!!. All good fun and Daniella was delighted as she set off on a lap of honour !!

"Winner of the jazziest shirt, Daniella with the guest judges "The Kit Kat Sisters"

The second half got underway with the Brig fans stood with the loud and happy South Shields fans, joining in with the superb atmosphere created by the League’s best supported club. An early Brig free kick wa deflected for a corner, from which Matt Thomson met the headed clearance but his shot cleared the bar.

Two further Brig shots were blocked as the visitors looked to push the home side back, Fin Sinclair-Smith saw his effort from 18 yards blocked, the rebound falling to Matt Thomson who struck well only to see the outstretched leg of a defender divert the ball to safety.

Bamber Bridge were getting on top and a sweeping move from left to right ended as a cross whipped in from the right was headed over the bar by a back-pedalling Shields defender to give Brig a corner. Brig made their 1st change on the hour, as Mark Yeates came on for Isaac Sinclair and Yeatsy came so close just moments later, seeing his 20 yard shot deflected wide again for yet another corner.

However, as as been the case quite often in recent weeks, With Brig doing the pressing, the home side broke away and with their first effort on target of the 2nd half put the game to bed at 3-0. A breakaway goal in the true sense as The Shields player burst through the Brig back line before curling a terrific effort into the far corner.

The home fans in full voice behind us, serenaded the Briggers with a pretty decent version of “Take me home Station Rd”, They even allowed Brig's Lucy Spencer to take the drum sticks to hammer out the beat.

The home side buoyed by the 3rd goal swept forward, but Brig showed great character and continued to pass the ball around. The Brig reward for their endevours arrived on 70 minutes, Fin Sinclair-Smith was upended in the penalty area, and Paul Dawson stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way from the spot. In fairness, the home fans cheered the goal with the travelling Briggers!!

Lucy passes the auditions for the first round of Britain's Got Talent!

Aaron Skinner and Craig Carney were then introduced to the fray with Chris Churchman and Adam Dawson making way. Brig continued push the home side back and at this point really looked like they might get back into the game., But once again following a good spell of Brig pressure, the home side broke away and made it 4-1. Sam Hodgson found time and space to hammer home past Matt Hudson. Again Brig responded , and pulled back a second goal with time running out. Great work from Sinclair-Smith on the left wing, his cross was headed clear and as the ball reached the edge of the box, Kevin Spinelli (I think) was tripped as he shaped to shoot. Mark Yeates stepped forward and slammed a beauty of a free kick in to the keepers bottom left corner.

The home side safely saw out the remaining minutes to take the 3 points. But what for Bamber Bridge? A strange match, in that Brig have played much worse and won. The team never gave up, showed great, character, desire and enthusiasm and possibly deserved something from the game. The stark reality though is that they can’t concede goals of the type or at the rate that they do and compete at the top end of the League. For Shields, it could essentially been seen as 5 shots on target and 4 goals.

The Brig players however can take take consolation from a good display which was much appreciated by the travelling fans, and in fairness the home fans as well. Captain, Macauley Wilson as always, brought the players across to show their appreciation to the Bamber Bridge fans. Overall, an absolutely belting day on the road with Bamber Bridge. The friendliness of the North Eastern fans always makes this the “look out for”, away day of the season. South Shields may well step up to National League North next season. Their ground, facilities and level of support certainly deserves that.

For Brig, the aim must now to end the season as high in the table as they can and for Briggers of a certain age, the phrase "page one on Ceefax" springs to mind. It’s been a roller-coaster so far, but to even compete with clubs on the scale of South Shields is an achievement, especially for a club that's been described as "a bus stop outside Preston".

Full Time: South Shields – 4 Bamber Bridge – 2

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

Subs: Yeates, Skinner, Carney, Carney, Higham, Thompson

Att: 2,173

Match reporter: Alan Bateson