Bamber Bridge 2 FC Halifax Town 5: Town go goal crazy at Irongate
Published Date:
22 October 2008
TOWN gained revenge - and more - for their opening day defeat at the hands of Bamber Bridge as they took the Preston side apart at Irongate.
Junior Brown was the star of the show, bagging a couple of goals, making a third and tormenting the home defence from start to finish.
But it was probably the best all round display of the season from Jim Vince's side who had previously won just once in the league away from home.
The Shaymen were well in command by half time when they led 2-0 and they doubled their advantage by the hour.
Bamber Bridge pulled two back before Danny Mahoney saw red after clashing with tormentor-in-chief Brown and an own goal from Jonathan Smith's corner completed the rout.
Town created the first opening of the match, Baker playing the ball through for Stott who shot first time but was unable to hit the target.
But Bridge bounced back when Danny Mahoney picked off a poor crossfield pass and Lincoln Adams had to be alert to halt the danger.
Moments later Mahoney delivered a great cross from the right and Alex Porter, unmarked and eight yards from goal, managed to head over.
Having survived that scare, the Shaymen went in front just before the midway point of the first half after Baker played the ball through for Brown.
He was surrounded by defenders but still managed to get his shot away and it flew into the top right hand corner, dipping at just the right time.
Brown almost had a second two minutes later but his shot was blocked, and Baker could only send an effort into the keeper's arms moments later.
A Mahoney free kick curled wide before Town returned to the attack with Nigel Jemson firing over before they doubled their advantage in the 36th minute.
Brown turned provider, playing the ball through for Stott who took it round the keeper on the left before bending it home off the far post.
Bridge forced five corners in quick succession, but Town held firm and they survived again when Porter curled Stuart Howson's cross wide of the target.
Town increased their lead nine minutes after the break when substitute Jonathan Smith fed Brown in the middle. He slipped it through for Daniel who bided his time before firing home.
Porter fired across goal and wide before Town made it 4-0 on the hour. Baker's ball in was nodded back across goal by Daniel for Stott.
His header was saved on the line by Andy Banks but he could not hold onto it and Brown tapped in from close range.
That forced Bamber Bride to make a triple substitution and it was one of the new players, Mike Mason, who slammed home a 64th-minute goal to give them hope.
Town almost forced a fifth five minutes later, Banks saving twice from Smith before Brown had a shot blocked for a corner.
Smith's swerving effort was also saved before Bridge grabbed a second goal with 12 minutes remaining, Porter turning well on the edge of the area before firing home.
The home side were reduced to 10 men a minute later when Mahoney was sent off for violent conduct, his crime being to pull Brown's hair when the Town player refused to give back the ball after Bridge had been awarded a free kick.
Despite that, the home side thought they had pulled another one back with seven minutes remaining but Porter was offside when he slid in to finish off a Neil Zarac cross.
And Town made sure the points were in the bag in the 86th minute when Smith's corner from the left was headed into his own net by substitute Colin McAllister.
STAR SHAYMAN
Junior Brown is on a hot streak at the moment.
His double at Irongate last night took his goal tally to four in the three games since he returned from injury.
But it was not just his goals that made him the star of the show, he was a constant threat to the home defence and did his share of defensive work when called on.
Tom Baker struggled to shine on his debut at the weekend, but he made up for it against Bamber Bridge in the Town engine room.
He gave an impressive display of passing and, despite being one of the smallest players on the pitch, got stuck into the tackles too.
Colin Daniel did well to keep his cool under almost constant provocation from the Bridge defenders.
And he replied n the best way possible by scoring Town's third goal and helping to set up the fourth at a time when the game was effectively won.
Brown takes the three points on offer in our season-long competition, with Baker two and Daniel one.
MATCH FACTS
Bamber Bridge: Banks, Fleming (Zarac 61), Howson, Steel, Tong, Edmeads (Mason 61), Black, Mahoney, O'Neill (McAllister 61), Porter, Ince. Subs (not used): Zarac, Mason, McAllister, Brown, Peterson.
Booked: None
Sent-off: Mahoney (violent conduct 79)
Goals: Mason 64, Porter 78.
FC Halifax Town: Kennedy, Coo, Jemson, Adams, Meadowcroft, Brown (Moore 90), Phelan, Baker, Allen (Smith 51), Stott (Ellis 90), Daniel. Subs (not used): Ellison, King.
Booked: Adams (foul 19), Brown (unsporting behaviour 79), Daniel (unsporting behaviour 83)
Sent-off: None
Goals: Brown 21, 60 Stott 36, Daniel 54, McAllister og 86.
Attendance: 315
Referee: P Anderton
PLAYER POINTS
Jonathan Smith 13, Junior Brown 12, Peter Moore 10, Paul Gedman 8, Colin Daniel 7, Jon Kennedy 6, Scott Phelan 5, Ashley Stott 5, Adam Morning 4, Lincoln Adams 4, Steve Payne 3, Cavell Coo 3, Nigel Jemson 2, Craig Smith 2, Justin Walker 2, Damian Allen 2, Tom Baker 2, Phil Senior 1, Luke Hinsley 1 .
The full article contains 974 words and appears in Evening Courier newspaper.
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Last Updated:
22 October 2008 12:17 PM
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Source:
Evening Courier
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Location:
Halifax