3 Strikes & Out!

An away trip to Irongate the home of table toppers Bamber Bridge with current form was always going to be tough. My travelling companions and I lacked direction by the sat nav as we approached the ground. Concrete bollards stopped the easy route. Radcliffe were to endure an afternoon of little direction and the concrete home defence would take some breaching. As any away fan you cling to possibility, could the new signing make a difference? The travelling supporters hopes of rekindling the impressive away form prior to the last outing were dashed quickly by the embarrassed Priestley whos first decision was to slam the ball against the approaching striker, as the ball fell back to him he placed the ball truly in the path of Mahoney who gratefully placed the ball in the gaping net, all within 28 seconds! Heads went down and didn't rise again for 45 minutes. Borough with long balls hoping to reach a target could not get close to Bamber Bridge and offered too much room to enable them to build. The mountain was to get higher as the irongates closed on 13 minutes. The impressive Mahoney struck his brace after good work by Ince forced Dawson to clear the cross at a perfect height for the midfielders great drive into the bottom left of the net. 2-0 The Boro needed to play with some steel to avoid a rout.
The next fifteen minutes explained 'Brigs' table top position. Chances developed quickly and usually after purposeful approach work. Mahoney came close to his hat trick heading well at the near post under pressure. Boro failed to hold up play and take stock. Rutter lively and willing ran blinkered with nobody offering an outlet. M Jones tried and was clearly frustrated as no foil was available. G Jones and Oates spent too long with their backs to goal watching the ball fly over head from heavy central defenders boots.Bridge forced into a change replace Zico Black with Henders. It was to get worse just after the half hour after two corners are defended the ball is sent forward to find Stephen Brown free in the box, he checks his watch controls with his chest and finishes in style past Priestley. 3-0!
Gerry and Kevin need to plan the half time team talk, whether it be one of few words or one that smashes every cup available in the Irongate ground, it needs to work. Who delivers the team talk?
Boro do manage a more purposeful move with Griff Jones ending it with a blocked shot.Rutter sees goal but fires a poor attempt high. As the nightmare half ends Hill is burgled by Brown who looks to set up but as no support , the referree subjects Boro fans to 2 extra minutes.
Rutter wont start the second half as new signing Adam Roscoe is introduced. He looks to mean business as his first touch is a shot that fizzes past the post. The next ten sees Roscoe encouraging Boro and shows some good link play with Oates and Jones . Boro have their best period of the match and are clearly out to restore some pride. Griff Jones works hard in his own third along side Oates , they desperately need to do a job in the oppositions half. Some confidence is now evident but still no outlet with Roscoe after some tuning a possible for the future games. The home side still look dangerous and Boro could suffer if they push too hard. The first booking sees Porter after using the biggest handbag after a strong challenge on him.Porter looks to make Priestley more embarrassed as he lobs him from just inside the Boro half, it luckily flys wide and over the bar. Boro containing well replace Oates for Brookes on 75minutes. The game as been less entertaining in the second half as Boro work hard to break down any further threat. Damage limitation rather than a go at reducing the deficit, Griff Jones goes off for Traynor . Chappell finds himself in the 6 yard box close in on the keeper but cant convert as the keeper is busy for the first time.Bamber Bridge use double subs to see the game out and cement number 1 spot in the league.
As I watch the players body language as they leave the pitch it is going to be a really hard management task to pick them up. Tuesday night is not far away and any time they have with the squad must be productive. Boro are heading for a difficult period lightened only by returning players, Irongate should close firmly behind them and be forgotten. The next gate to open is a home win, hope is the best weapon in a football fans armour,

see you Tuesday,