Brighouse Town, with four changes to the side from the previous week’s FA Trophy win over leaders Hebburn Town, gave a poor showing in south Yorkshire against fellow mid-table side Stocksbridge Park Steels and lost 3-0.
They had no answer to the creativity and skill of the home side’s left winger Jack Watson and it was he who ensured they were on the scoreboard after only five minutes with a cross into the six yard box for Tomas Poole to tap the ball home. The assistant referee’s flag had gone up for offside but the referee went across to him and then overruled his decision.
Play then became end-to-end and Town did see some chances created by Myron Gibbon up the left but there was little coming out of midfield for leading goalscorer Mo Qasim to latch on to.
After 37 minutes the Steels doubled their lead when Ross Goodwin hammered the ball home from some 12 yards out. Former Huddersfield Town and Spennymoor custodian Roxburgh did pull off two good saves to keep his side in the game.
Right wing debutant Nario Baptista looked a pacy and lively customer on in the first half for Brighouse but they went in 2-0 down.
At the break, Jack Normanton, back at the club for a third time from Silsden, replaced Gibbons.
In the 65th minute Stocksbridge wrapped up the game when former Town, Chesterfield and Bradford Park Avenue centre forward Luke Rawson flicked on a header for man of the match Watson to control and then curl beyond the reach of Roxburgh.
In the last 15 minutes of the game Town played with 10 men as centre-back Alexander Phillipson had to come off with a head injury and they had also substituted ahead of this Qasim.
Town gave a debut to centre-back Jorge Sikora on loan from Marske United and on the bench they had another new centre back in Jack Dando signed on the Friday from Shirebrook Town.
Two Town players have gone on dual registrations to Maltby Main, namely Malachi Bailey and Mackenzie Warne and another defender, Luca Grant has gone on duel registration terms to Shirebrook.
Town have a busy weekend coming up with a FA Trophy 2nd Qualifying round home time on Saturday with Clitheroe (3pm) and then on the Monday, September 25 a re-arranged home league game with Dunston (7.45).
There will be no extra time on Saturday should the sides be level after the final whistle, the tie going to penalties.
Clitheroe are currently fourth in the West Division of the NPL after drawing 2-2 with promoted Oldham side Avro on Saturday.
