Photos by Jonathan White
Bamber Bridge went up to second in the Northern Premier League after a 1-0 win over Nantwich Town at the Swansway Stadium.
The Dabbers made 3 changes from the win over Gainsborough, with Joel Connolly making his first start; Sean Cooke started his 4th spell at the club on the bench.
In front of a season-high crowd of 741 on Non-League Day, Paul Carden spoke afterwards of a first half where ‘we were a little bit apprehensive’ and a second where ‘we were on the front foot and aggressive without really creating too much.’
After just one minute, the visitors came close to taking the lead as Rowan Roache found himself in behind but his effort was saved down low by Tom Booth.
Tom Scully and Dan Cockerline had half chances that went begging, then in the 18th minute Stevie Hewitt fired a free kick towards goal but his effort was saved well by Felix Goddard.
On the half hour mark Cockerline found himself in behind but Goddard was once again on hand to save comfortably.
Six minutes later the only goal of the game came when Fin Sinclair-Smith took matters into his own hands and volleyed into the far corner from 25 yards. It was a wonderful goal from a player who has been excellent for Brig this season.
Cockerline had another half chance that was straight at Goddard in what was a frustrating half for the striker.
A late challenge from Connolly saw him booked 4 minutes before half time, with Paul Carden admitting after the game that he’d have had no complaints if a red was given there.
At half time, The Dabbers were very much in the game but had a lot of work to do in the second half.
Sean Cooke, on his return to the club came close on the hour mark but he volleyed over the bar. He was then denied what on replay looked a stonewall penalty as his defender kicked through Sean’s leg when looking to go for the ball. Nothing at all was given by referee Alan Bennett, who given the way Cooke fell surely had to book him for simulation if he thought it wasn’t a foul.
Cockerline had an effort headed away as he tried to loop the ball in following a misjudged punch from Goddard.
Then the match began to be defined by the Brig’s ‘game management’. At every opportunity players were going down injured and taking every second on getting the ball back into play.
You would think that any referee worth his salt would look to clamp down on this. But not one card was given to a Bamber Bridge player; in fact the only cards in the second half were to Scully and Troy Bourne for dissent.
Fin Cross-Adair came close to sealing the win late on but his effort was dragged wide.
The Dabbers huffed and puffed in the final few minutes, Roxburgh and Cockerline came close but neither could find the net.
Another blatant foul on Cooke, this time just outside the box, was missed in stoppage time to top off a bad day for Mr Bennett.
The Dabbers are next in action away at Marine on Saturday 1st April.
Teams
Nantwich Town: Tom Booth, Aidy Roxburgh, Joel Connolly (Caspar Hughes, 61), Nathan Okome, Jon Moran, Troy Bourne, Ivan Urvantev (Sean Cooke, 51), Tom Scully (Mo Malumo, 89), Dan Cockerline, Steven Hewitt, Byron Harrison
Subs not used: Liam Humbles, Connor Evans
Bamber Bridge: Felix Goddard, Matthew Thomson, Aaron Skinner, Luke Mariette, Macauley Wilson, Sky Sinclair (Chris Churchman, 76), Rowan Roache (Donovan Lescott, 71), Isaac Sinclair, Fin Cross-Adair, Paul Dawson (Joe Robbins, 45), Fin Sinclair-Smith
Subs not used: Danny Forbes, Connor Stanley
Goal: Sinclair-Smith (36)
Attendance: 741