LIKE A bolt out of the blue, Town officials woke up on Tuesday morning to news that they could after all go ahead on Saturday with their planned NPL North West Division home fixture with second in the table Workington (3.00).

Only the night before it had been looking as though the suspension of fixtures in place since November 5 would remain and beyond the festive derby games with Tadcaster Albion on Boxing Day (3.00) and away to Ossett United on Saturday, January 2 (3.00).

However, a situation had been developing on the Monday where right across the country clubs were asking for friendlies against their fellow league clubs now they could let spectators in, and it appears this brought a change of heart in the evening.

Town will not have any away fans at present for the Workington or Tadcaster games if they stay in Tier 3, while those two clubs are in Tier 2. However they will be allowed 215 spectators in on Saturday and again on Boxing Day with their season ticket holders having priority. They sold a record amount in the close season of just over 100 and so for the other spectators it will be a case of first come, first served to see the game.

Workington are currently second in the table behind Ramsbottom United but are unbeaten with five wins and three draws. In the past week they have lost 3-1 to Nantwich in the FA Trophy and then beat Penrith Town 2-1 on Saturday in a warm up game.

Leading their line will be former Brighouse striker Reuben Jerome who left them for Southport, then moved to Warrington Town before Ramsbottom and then this season to the former Football League club at Borough Park. He already has a hat-trick to his name.

Town were in action last night at the Marley Stadium, Keighley, taking on Steeton from the North West Counties League Premier Division. At the end of 90 minutes the game was goalless but manager Powell had seen a good work out for his players and a fine performance by the home keeper denied Town several goalscoring opportunities.

Last Saturday they played an away game at Eccleshill United of the NCEL Premier Division and lost 3-1. They were three goals down by the 48th minute thanks to a brace from Luke Aldrich and an opening goal on 38 minutes from Sumail Cissa. Darius Smith replied with a consolation goal for Town.

Town have also agreed to play their away game at Mossley that was scheduled for last Saturday on Tuesday night (7.45) and once more spectators will be allowed in.

BRIGHOUSE TOWN Women continued their excellent start to the season with an emphatic 3-0 win in the Women’s FA Cup 1st Round against league leaders Chester-Le-Street at the Washington Hub on Sunday.

Town went in to the game full of confidence after playing out a 0-0 draw with Burnley from the league above the previous week and having kept an incredible seven clean sheets from their eight games this season. That was clear to see from the start of the game with Town dominating the early possession.

A blistering start to the game saw the West Yorkshire side take the lead inside two minutes, Abi Lee scoring her first for the club, finishing of a superb team goal.

The lead was doubled just four minutes later, this time Lee getting on the end of an Ellie White pass to fire in to the top corner from 30 yards. Two-nill up and Town were in complete control.

The third and final goal of the afternoon came on the 20th minute mark when a long free kick from Emma Dobson found its way in to the box, Becky Gompertz was quickest to react as she looped the ball over the advancing keeper to kill the game as a contest.

Town did have two goals ruled out for offside, both very tight decisions, with the first from Lee who was probably just offside and the second from 16-year-old local lass Katja May, who was probably just inside but didn’t get the decision as she calmly slotted in for what would have been her first goal for the club.

A player of the match performance from Ellie Dobson in the middle of the park was well deserved as Town saw out the second half comfortably to book their place in the 2nd Round proper tie to be drawn.

Town will now entertain Newcastle United Women in the next round on Sunday, January 3 at 1pm with spectators allowed to a restrictive number.