The Bamber Bridge 2019 / 2020 FA Cup campaign started and ended at Shawe View, home of Trafford FC on Saturday afternoon. Brig went out with little more than a whimper.

The opening minutes had looked promising for Bamber Bridge as they attacked from the kick off and for 10 minutes looked more likely than their Division One North West hosts to open the scoring. But, as seems to be more than just a coincidence, Brig having started the better of the two teams where the first to concede. From the moment the home side took the lead in the 24th minute. The result was never in doubt. The home side looked fitter, sharper and certainly more determined than their Premier Division visitors.

A Brig attack broke down on the edge of the home sides penalty area, with little in the way of pressing, Trafford were able to pass the ball swiftly out of defence and launched a swift attack. Unchallenged, the ball found its way to Jake Kenny, who swept the ball home to give the Shawe View side the lead.

Moments later and it was almost two, as a free header from a left wing cross was headed over the bar from the centre of the goal. Brig simply could not get into any kind of rhythm and constantly gave the ball away or hit long aimless balls that were food and drink to the Trafford defence, When Brig did manage a shot on goal in the 41st minute, the home keeper simply fell on to the ball. He wouldn’t have another save to make until the 86th Minute.

With the visiting fans beginning to question the commitment of their team the home side doubled the lead. Another unchallenged attack from Trafford as they seemed to just stroll upfield before planting a shot into he bottom corner. That was virtually right on the half time whistle and the game was essentially over as a contest.

The second half began with Brig putting up something resembling a response. A Danny Forbes volley flew over the bar before Kieran Charnock hit the post with a downward header following a corner from the left. That was as good as it got as the home side weathered the storm and began to take charge again. Brig made two changes as Matt Dudley came on for Ryan White before Cameron Ross came on to play up front in place of Danny Forbes.

With Trafford now back in the ascendancy, the changes made little difference to the flow of the game and it came as no surprise when they added a third in the 85th minute, Dotani Gabidon, given time and space t the far post to control the ball before curling a beauty in the top corner of the net.

A Cameron Ross shot in the 86th minute forced the home keeper into his first meaningful save of the afternoon. The referee blew the final whistle and Brig's venture in this season's FA cup had been snuffed out without a whimper. In truth Trafford had been quicker, sharper and far more focussed than their opponents from the league above. From a financial point of view, a real kick in the teeth for Bamber Bridge and a 4th straight defeat on the road. A tough trip to Buxton awaits on Tuesday evening. A marked improvement will be required if Brig are to get anything from Silverlands.

Final score: Trafford – 3 Bamber Bridge - 0

Match Reporter: Alan Bateson