Brigg Town 1 - 0 Athersley Recreation: Rec seen off late in 1-0 defeat at Brigg

A set-piece in second-half added-time turned out to be what differentiated the sides in the fog at the EC Surfacing Stadium as Rec were beaten 1-0 by ten-man Brigg Town.

Words By Ben Swain

Joshua Jordan headed in from a corner to separate the NCEL Division One tie in the final minutes of a half in which Brigg had been very much outnumbered in their attacks, as a result of Prince Haywood’s dismissal.

Two yellow cards for similar late fouls halting Rec counter attacks caused Haywood’s sending off shortly before half-time.

Only two changes were made from Rec’s 3-0 victory over Yorkshire Amateur a week prior with Alfie Bakes and Adam Stubbs replacing absent pair Harrison Landon and Carter Tingle.

Josh Berry reaching the ball first in a pass ahead of Joshua Batty was a promising sign if Brigg’s offensive style was to continue, as expected, in a similar direct manner.

Kurtis Gollings had a clear sight of Levi Owen’s goal when found inside the box a few minutes later but he’d failed to beat the offside flag.

James Woodhouse’s pace brought him level but not past the left-hand side of Brigg’s defensive line in what proved a threatening strategy for Rec throughout, on the first occasion the ball taken away from him when being closed down from one of the bodies from Brigg’s central pack.

Batty decided against getting round Berry on the next occasion on 18 minutes, instead shooting from 25-yards, lifting the ball over Owen but also the far side of the bar.

The touch had to be good from Owen Davey picking up a clearance amongst the crowd anticipating Brigg’s corner from the left. A second took him further towards Owen’s near post before getting the shot off, Owen adjusting his hands above his head to hold.

It’s an unorthodox stop as Owen then read the ball over his back line to smother the space against a shot at the same post, correctly judging the flight of the ball at goal with his left arm fully out-stretched.

Rec’s constant threat on the counter was epitomised by Prince Haywood’s two yellow cards within seven minutes, both halting transitions. Woodhouse, linking-up with hold-up play from Thompson, was denied enetering Brigg's box with the first late challenge on thirty-six minutes as Haywood stepped away from the centre to track Rec’s left wing-back’s run.

The second in a more centralised familiar position, on the half-way line to stop Pursell’s run through the centre on fourty-three minutes.

Stubbs led the counter down the left as we entered added-time, opting for the cross which travelled across goal and to Thompson in space at the far post. It’s case of turn and shoot but the first-touch can’t keep the ball grounded and the bouncing ball was hit over.

Davey was the next in the book as Brigg again halted another break on the right. Shortly followed by Berry comfortable on the cover against Leon Osborne to close off the half goalless.

Woodhouse was the spare man on the left within minutes of the restart and was found by Bakes after a break through the centre. The fact the shot got away before being closed down and that Thompson kept the ball in is all that needs to be said on the initial effort. Thompson’s cross returned the ball to Woodhouse in the air above the penalty spot and the header’s much better, flying just under the bar till Hill reacted quick to tip over.

Perks failed to judge a dropping ball, forcing Owen to come out to close he who favoured from the error - Batty who’d still got to the ball first to round the ‘keeper. Owen retreated in time but Batty found the space between the ‘keeper and his near post, only for Perks to head off the line.

Woodhouse’s threat ensured the game continued end-to-end, Rec going man-for-man in offensive scenarios whilst outnumbering Brigg four to two on most defensive situations, Rec’s goal threatened little until added-time when one attack forced a corner.

That’s when Joshua Jordan met Harrison Coley’s corner delivery for the opener. There was little time for a retaliation from the Rec after what proved the winner.

Club Thorne visit Sheerien Park on January 4th in the next league fixture.