Lady Luck completely deserted Brighouse Town on their away day to the banks of the river Humber at North Ferriby last Saturday.
Seventh-placed North Ferriby took the lead in the 15th minute through a complete fluke of a goal that was given to the much travelled Tom Corner. Home debutant Harry Lovick played a well delivered free kick into the box; the ball hit the head of Town’s Jack Dando and the ball crashed off a post, then back to Corner and into the back of Jamie Hassall’s net.
Town had the experienced Curtis Peters back after a long term injury and with Cameron Bedford he was trying his utmost to get his forward line of Mo Qasim, Ash Butterworth and Myron Gibbons going forward. Town’s efforts on goal in the first half were limited and Hassall was the busier keeper of the two as he kept out efforts from McCauley Snelgrove and Corner.
Town did have an appeal for a penalty for hand ball turned down with ten minutes to the break but it remained 1-0 to the home side.
Vill Powell made two significant changes in the 58th and then 67th minutes with Kieron Ceesay on for Butterworth and then Jack Crook on for captain Josh Grant. Brandon Webster was also coming forward as a wing-back and creating chances down the left.
In the final 20 minutes as Jack Normanton joined the fray, Town were really bombarding the home goal. Cameron Bedford hit a post, Crook hit the crossbar and Ceesay had a shot just parried away at the last minute by Tom Jackson.
Town also had another penalty appeal turned down after Gibbons received a blow to the head in a tackle on the penalty box byline.
It looked all on as Town would at least get a goal and earn a point but two minutes into added time and with all their players forward, North Ferriby counter-attacked and Danny East was only faced by Hassall and he chipped the ball over him and into the net for 2-0.
Town’s management team and supporters were well pleased with the second half performance and with the rub of the green they knew full well they could have come away with a win and not another defeat.
On Saturday, Town entertain Ashington AFC from Northumbria (3pm) who they drew 4-4 with on the opening game of the season.
Ashington, who lost 4-2 at home to Newton Aycliffe last Saturday in front of a 1,084 crowd, are two places above 15th-placed Town.
The game is being sponsored by Andy Nunns Joiners/kitchen fitters of Brighouse, a good supporter of the club and himself a former local player and coach.
On Boxing Day, Town travel into North Lincolnshire to play 17th-placed Winterton Rangers (3pm) and then they entertain Liversedge on New Year’s Day (3pm).
Town manager Vill Powell has allowed former Shirebrook Town centre-back Jack Dando to take up a dual registration with Retford Town.
Brighouse Town Women were involved in the third round of the West Riding County FA Cup this past Sunday against Bradford Park Avenue who are in the West Riding Premier Division.
It was a very close first half but Town went in at half-time 1-0 down after a fantastic long range strike.
However Cara Mahoney’s charges came out fighting and wanting the game more than their opponents and scored some fantastic goals and came out 3-1 winners.
“Every player was fantastic today but a big shout out to Courtney Simpson and Summer Hadwin who were incredible over the 90 minutes,” said player-manager Mahoney.
