Richard Tracey and Ossett Albion had a frustrating weekend
Ossett Albion were undone by goals from Darren Green and Nicholas Platt in the 2-0 defeat to Bamber Bridge in the Evo Stik Division One North.
Green’s tap-in and Platt’s superbly-taken strike put the home side clear in the first half an hour, and, despite the best efforts of Albion, Neil Crowe’s men did not relinquish their advantage.
The first of the visitors’ chances came after just three minutes, as captain Wes Milnes’ header forced Lee Dovey in to making a very good save.
Brig, starting with two fresh faces at full-back in George Bowyer and Adam Dodd, were stung by the early let-off, and eight minutes later took the lead.
Bowyer was a central figure, playing Brett Ormerod into space on the left before the veteran striker laid the ball back for Green to slot home.
The home side, as they have done at times in this so-far inconsistent season, created problems for themselves at the back, Bowyer giving the ball away and being relieved to see Gibril Bojang fire over.
But Green, playing in his preferred attacking role, had started brightly and, after almost latching on to Booth’s through ball, he turned provider for new signing Platt, flicking the ball into the midfielder’s path.
Platt did the rest, unleashing a ferocious effort that Brett Souter in the Albion goal got nowhere near.Albion forward Nick Matthews posed questions for Glenn Steel and Matt Lawlor throughout, diverting Connor Brunt’s cross wide before stinging Dovey’s palms from 25 yards.
After the break, Matthews and Green traded blows on opposite goals, but it wasn’t until a raft of substitutions were made after the 70 minute mark that the game became open again.
Regan Linney and Stuart Vasey provided fresh legs in the Brig attack, with the former seeing a shot deflected from 25 yards out and the latter fluffing his lines when clear on goal.
Rob Bordman hit the post late on, but Brig escaped with a clean sheet.
Bamber Bridge: Dovey, Bowyer, Dodd, Lawlor, Steel, Booth, Platt, McKenna, Ormerod (Linney 72), Green (Vasey 72), Milligan.
Ossett Albion: Souter, Nicholson, Hardaker, Thompson, Milnes, Riley, Brunt (Mumbanya 80), Claisse, Muller (Boardman 75), Matthews, Bojang (Bower 67).
Referee: Mr Mark Brown
Attendance: 180
Report by Sam Carney