Manningham Mills-based side Campion, currently heading the Northern Counties East Premier Division, for the second season running put their hosts Brighouse Town out of the West Riding County FA Senior Cup just days ahead of Christmas.
They scored the only goal of the match after 20 minutes and ironically it came from the boot of one of their former players Aidan Kirby.
He cut in from the right and was only two metres inside the box when he unleashed his pile driver on Town keeper Harry Garman and into the net.
Another former Town player, centre-half Danny Illingworth, ensured with his teammates Karl Fitzgerald and Michael O’Brien that they snuffed out in the remainder of the first half a lot of Town’s play on the edge of the box.
Town’s defence on the other hand at least kept Campion’s leading goalscorer Aidan Day quiet and the experienced Nicky Boshell.
Into the second half Town did penetrate the Campion defence and a promising move was thwarted as the pacy Myron Gibbons, heading for the box, only to suddenly pull up with a hamstring injury. He was helped from the pitch and strapped up and he missed Saturday’s home game with Ashington AFC and the Boxing Day game at Winterton Rangers.
Under 10 minutes later leading goalscorer Mohammad Qasim also pulled up with tightness in his thigh and was taken straight away to the dressing rooms by physio Nathan Fennell. Just ahead of this, Qasim had come in from the left wing and sent a great ball across the goal but substitute Jack Normanton stuck out a leg in the six yard box and could only scuff the ball goal-wards before then sending it dead with his other leg and with Campion keeper Brad Emmerson beaten.
After this Town just huffed and puffed and there was no more efforts on goal.
In five minutes of added-on time their substitute centre-back Jamie Allsop collided with his own dugout and was badly injured. Play was stopped and he received treatment from all three physios on duty including the Campion medic who he knew from when she was at Nostell FC where his father is chairman.
He left the pitch at the final whistle with a back injury and a badly cut finger.
Town’s centre-back Jack Dando, who was signed from Derbyshire club Shirebrook Town back in September, has left Town for Nottinghamshire club Retford Town. He will remain on a dual registration with them and Town. He has found the travelling from his home in Shirebrook to Brighouse hard and also with an addition to the family feels he needs to be nearer home.
Town have had a contract application for striker Myron Gibbons approved by the Northern Premier League and Football Association.
The 23-year-old former Doncaster Rovers’ player’s eligibility to participate in matches is governed by Northern Premier League Regulations.
It now means any clubs wishing to make a serious move for him will have to look at paying a transfer fee. Sheffield FC and Cleethorpes have shown serious interest over the past couple of weeks.
