Bamber Bridge’s disappointing cup form continued as they exited the Buildbase FA Trophy at the first attempt at The UTS Stadium in Gateshead against NPL Division One East, Dunston UTS FC.

Brig fought back from 2 goals down at the break with two late goals to take the tie to a penalty shoot out with the home side coming out on top 3-2

Bamber Bridge didn’t make the best start to the game and found themselves behind in just the 4th minute. A shot from the edge of the box that from our vantage view at the far end looked to be covered by Brig keeper Mateusz Hewelt, the ball somehow seemed to squirm under the keeper to give the hosts a massive early lift. Video footage may well show the goal to have been a better effort than it looked from the opposite end of the pitch, but a disappointing start all the same.

Bamber Bridge looked to be struggling to get any kind of momentum going on a very bobbly pitch with long grass. The first attack worthy of mention from The Lancashire side arrived in the 15th the minute, the ball was worked well down the right wing and pulled back to the edge of the penalty area were Craig Carney met it with a fierce low drive that was heading for the bottom corner until it struck Sheldon Green, who couldn’t get out of the way. The shot knocked Sheldon off his feet and the ball was cleared.

A Bamber Bridge corner on the left was headed clear and Chris Churchman tried his luck from 25 yards. The ball ending somewhere on the car park. Brig were getting on top but still the play was sloppy with misplaced passes preventing any kind of momentum. The home side seemed content to let Brig have possession as they hadn’t been seriously troubled at the back.

With half time approaching, the Gateshead side doubled their advantage. A goal that seemed to be played out in slow motion as the hosts passed the ball across the pitch before finding the unmarked striker on the right of the penalty area, he took a touch before firing past Hewelt to make it 2-0. Moments later it was half time and in truth ended a pretty dismal first half performance from The Irongate team, leaving a second half mountain to climb.

Brig Manager Jamie Milligan made two half time changes, Rob Apter and new loan signing from Fleetwood Town, Akiel Raffie. These changes livened Bamber Bridge up and an early Rob Apter pass found Craig Carney on the left side of the penalty area but the low shot lacked power and the home keeper saved comfortably.

Dunston then came close to making it three, as Hewelt raced from his line but was beaten to the ball, the shot whistling over the bar. The game was becoming stretched now as Brig pushed forward in search of a comeback goal. It almost arrived on the 65 minutes as a fine left wing move saw the ball played across the box where Craig Carney met it with a powerful low drive, the keeper diving to his left to make a tremendous reflex save.

A third Bamber Bridge change saw Ewan Bange replace Joe Rodwell- Grant. The change heralded the start of the Brig fightback as just minutes later the deficit was halved. Rob Apter whipping in a fine cross from the right, which was met with a superb Nathan Pond header, the home keeper dived to his right but couldn’t keep the ball out of the net. Game on.

It looked to be in vain on 76 minutes when Brig club captain Macaulay Wilson was shown a second yellow card and sent off by the referee for an apparent foul that no one else saw. Macca confirmed later the referee had suggested he’d led with his elbow, when he clearly hadn’t. The harsh decision galvanised Brig and the the 10 men pushed forward in search of an unlikely equaliser. At the other end Hewelt made a smart diving save before a Fin Sinclair shot was saved at his near post by the Dunston stopper.

With 5 minutes remaining and Brig now on top, the equaliser arrived. A corner on the right was superbly headed home by Callum Spooner. Brig sensed victory, and a minute later a Rob Apter hooked volley dropped inches wide of the post with the keeper beaten. Apter again caused havoc in the home defence as he raced into the area but found himself closed down by the desperate home defence.

The referee blew the whistle to send the tie into a penalty shoot out. Something that just hadn’t looked likely just 15 minutes earlier. Inexplicably, the decision was made to take the spot kicks at the end with no supporters present, so, a quick dash ensued to get there before the spot kicks started.

Ewan Bange was first up for Brig, the keeper diving to keep it out
Dunston converted their first penalty 1-0
Next up for Brig was Akiel Raffie, who smashed the ball into the bottom corner 1-1
Dunston’s next spot kick was superbly saved by Mateusz Hewelt 1-1 after 2 pens each
Up stepped Rob Apter for Brig and calmly slotted home 1-2
Dunstons next spot kick was scored 2-2
Isaac Sinclair stepped up for Brig but his spot kick was struck over the bar. 2-2
Dunston’s next penalty was scored. 3-2 after 4 pens each
Fin Sinclair-Smith stepped up for Brig’s 4th penalty, had to score but his penalty kick was saved, giving the home side a 3-2 shoot out victory and progression to the next round.

No shame in losing a penalty shoot out. It’s simply a lottery and Bamber Bridge had done particularly well in the closing minutes of the match to take the tie to a shoot out. But in truth, Brig can have no complaints about losing the tie. The players now have to pick themselves up for an equally tough fixture in the NPL at home on Tuesday evening, when Whitby Town will be the visitors to The Sir Tom Finney Stadium.

Full Time: Dunston UTS – 2 Bamber Bridge – 2
Dunston win 3-1 on penalties

Bamber Bridge: Hewelt, Churchman, Wilson, Spooner, Pond, Forbes, Green, Carney, Rodwell-Grant, Sinclair, Sinclair-Smith

Subs: Bange, Apter, Dudley, Thompson, Raffie

Match reporter: Alan Bateson