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

Brighouse Town’s inconsistent form continued last Friday night at home to bottom club Sheffield FC who took the valuable three points with a 1-0 win.

Town were without striker Jack Normanton (attending a wedding) and leading goalscorer Mo Qasim was on the bench.

The game flowed back and forth at pace but neither side looked like scoring until Town’s Myron Gibbons was on goal after 23 minutes but steered his shot over keeper Edd Hall and inches over the crossbar.

Sheffield lost their centre-back and captain Reece Fielding two minutes later, to be replaced by Alfie Smith.

The visitors had signed in the morning Belper Town’s leading goalscorer Cameron Johnson, and as the half wore on he was getting more and more into the game and just headed wide as half-time approached.

Town had lacked direction from the midfield area and needed to be finding their men.

On 53 minutes Town’s keeper Jamie Hassall kept his side in the game with a great save from Connor Cutts.

Sheffield finally broke the deadlock after 60 minutes following some concerted pressure, when, from inside the six yard box, Smith stabbed home the ball to make it 1-0.

Town introduced Qasim after his injury and then Jack Crook and Jordan Helliwell, and the latter showed some lovely touches but it was too little too late and Town now sit in 14th place on 17 points and just four places above the bottom two clubs, Grimsby Borough and Grantham Town who are both on 13 points.

On Saturday Town travel to Humberside to take on North Ferriby (3pm) who are in seventh place and on 26 points. Promoted in the summer from the Northern Counties East Premier Division, North Ferriby have won eight matches and drawn two and will provide a more than stern test for Town. It is hoped that vice-captain Curtis Peters (ankle) who was on the bench on Friday, could make a start along with Qasim and Normantion will be back in contention.

Vill Powell’s charges spent the weekend in Dublin and it is hoped the bonding will have helped as the festive programme approaches from next Tuesday, December 19, with three league games and one cup tie to New Year’s Day.

The cup tie is next Tuesday at home to Campion (7.45) in the second round of the West Riding Senior Cup. They are the current holders and also top the Northern Counties Premier Division ahead of Emley and Albion Sports.

The coach for North Ferriby leaves the Dusty Miller, Hove Edge at 11am.

Brighouse Women’s planned home League Cup tie with Eccleshill United last Sunday was postponed owing to a waterlogged pitch and they will try again this Sunday (2pm).