Brighouse Echo sport – Town News by Dave Parker

Brighouse Town saw off the challenge of NPL East Division League leaders Hebburn Town in the Isuzu FA Trophy first qualifying round following a penalty shoot out.

However they had led 1-0 from the 67th minute when hot shot striker Mo Qasim slotted home after pressure on the Hebburn goalmouth until five minutes into added time when Aiden Heywood struck home for a deserved equaliser.

The cup tie had everything from the 15th minute when Town cleared their line and then went up the other end and a free Qasim was left one-on-one with keeper Shaun Newbrook, but he failed to lift the ball over him and the visitors survived.

Moments later Town’s left full back Brandon Webster had an opportunity to put his side one goal up but the ball rattled against an upright with Newbrook beaten.

Hebburn on the stroke of half-time then hit a post when it would have been easier to score and the sides went in at the break level 0-0.

It was frenetic end-to-end stuff in the early stages of the second half as substitute Jayden Major, Josh Grant and Ashley Butterworth cranked up the Town attacking machine.

Town did survive a huge scare ahead of their goal when keeper Harry Garman made a great save from Amar Purewal. Play went to the other end and after some blocking the ball fell to Qasim to score his ninth goal in eight games. Newbrook was injured in the attempt to save when he hit his head hard against the post and he needed lengthy treatment.

In the ensuing time Town tried their utmost to close the game out but with just two minutes of added time left Garman was beaten.

On the whistle the game went to penalties which Town won 6-5 thanks to goals from Qasim, Butterworth, Darius Smith, Grant, Ben Tweed and Sam Bentley.

They will now entertain Clitheroe at the Heffernan Utilities Stadium on Saturday, September 23 in the 2nd qualifying round after they beat Widnes 1-0. The mid-table NPL West Division side have just made their well travelled star striker Sefton Gonzales available for transfer.

On Saturday Town travel to south Yorkshire to take on Stocksbridge Park Steels (3pm). The former home of England striker Jamie Vardy had a 3-1 away win the Trophy at Newton Aycliffe last Saturday but they have only won one game in the league.

Town rested star full back Curtis Peters (ankle) last Saturday and he could be available this weekend but former Bradford City midfielder Jack Wilson could be out for up to three months with a leg injury.

No2 Keeper Isaac Khan has gone back to Eccleshill United on dual registration for some game time and in his wake has come former Huddersfield Town academy goalkeeper Michael Roxburgh who is on loan from Spennymoor United for his second spell with Town.

Defender Mackenzie Warne has gone to Maltby Main on a dual registration for some more game time.

Town’s Saturday, December 9 home game with Sheffield FC has been moved back to the preceding Friday night, December 8 (7.45). . Brighouse Town’s new women’s team have got their season underway with an 18-1 away win at Shadwell in the Fourth Division of the West Riding County FA.