Brighouse Echo Sport – Town News from the Heffernan Utilities Stadium by Dave Parker

Mixed fortunes for Brighouse Town over the past week in their Northern Premier League Division East fixtures.

They drew 1-1 at Ossett United last Tuesday and then lost 3-1 at home to League leaders Stockton Town on the Saturday.

They remain in fourteenth place of the 20 clubs on 17 points with Friday week’s visitors Sheffield FC propping up the division on 11 points from 13 games, three fewer than Town.

At Ossett, Town were very unlucky not to come away with all three points after being constantly denied by the home keeper Darryl Ombang on loan from Huddersfield Town until the 88th minute when former Ossett fullback Brandon Webster levelled the scores when he finally beat the custodian who had just been announced as their man of the match.

One of Town’s best efforts in the first half from Ashley Butterworth was superbly saved and Jack Normanton was unlucky to hit the inside of a post and then see the ball roll on the line and not into the net before Ombang saved several more attempts.

Against the run of play on a counter attack Desmond Amponsah beat the advancing Jamie Hassall to open Ossett’s account in the 21st minute and that is how it stayed until Webster salvaged a point for Town.

Stockton’s outstanding player Kevin Hayes ensured the Teesside’s were off to a flying start as early as the fourth minute when he sent in a hard, low cross and Michael Fowler was on the end of it to steer it over the line.

Brighouse keeper Jamie Hassell then made two great saves, tipping one off a post to safety and then getting down well to the other.

On the half hour there was little Hassall could do with a sweetly struck free kick from just outside the box by that man Hayes..

Town’s Cameron Bedford did rattle a post with Callum Roberts beaten just ahead of the break but the scoreline remained 2-0 to the visitors.

Town’s second half performance did deserve more than a consolation goal as visiting centre-back and skipper Adam Nicholson worked overtime to keep his defensive wall together. Manager Vill Powell unleashed his new centre-forward signing from Wakefield AFC, Kieron Ceesay in to the mix in the 56 minute along with Josh Grant and Town looked to step up a further gear.

Town shaved the crossbar but it was the tormenting Hayes who put the game to bed for Stockton with a second goal on 71 minutes when he just beat Hassall at his near post.

Myron Gibbons pulled one back from a Grant corner in the 81st minute but it was too little too late, but it did cap a very good second half performance in what was a very entertaining game.

On Saturday, Town travel to Newcastle to take on second placed Hebburn Town (3pm) who were 3-0 winners away to Belper Town last Saturday. A coach will leave the Dusty Miller, Hove Edge at 11am.

Elland-based midfielder Will Calligan, who joined Town from Bradford Park Avenue in early October, has left the Heffernan Utilities Stadium and signed for Stockport Town.

Centre-forward Sebastian Bolton, who is also playing for FC Halifax Town’s Academy side, is wanting more game time and has been offered to Step 5 and 6 clubs on a dual registration basis.