Brighouse Echo Sport – All the latest news from the Heffernan Utilities Stadium by Dave Parker

Brighouse Town put up a sterling performance in their 1-1 home draw with third-placed Belper Town last Saturday. Having beaten the Nailers 2-0 at their place six weeks ago, Town were confident after their 4-1 beating of Carlton Town they could look to their first double of the season.

Once again Town got off to a slow start when they should have been a goal up after just five minutes. New striker Akeel Francis was looking at an open goal but failed to put his boot through the ball and beat Kieran Preston.

The Derbyshire side, knowing they had been let off the hook, took the ball to the other end and put Town under pressure. On ten minutes from a corner taken by Mason Warren they went ahead when debutant Tavonga Kuleya out jumped the home defence to head home despite Town keeper Kyle Trenerry and two defenders also on the line.

Four minutes later, Town’s Niah Payne ran on to a flicked header to leave him well clear and his finish was expertly despatched beyond Preston, who was furious with his defence.

Both keepers made some good saves towards the end of the first half but there were few moments of quality to put either side in front.

Kelan Swales fired narrowly wide for Belper after the break but it was Town who nearly won it on two occasions, once in the 85th minute when they hit a post from a corner and Ethan Vaughan’s shot on the rebound was blocked. Town, who were being well served by diminutive substitute, Rhys Plater, also snatched it three minutes into added time but Preston just got a boot to deny Payne a second.

Town’s creative player Romario Dunne left the pitch early in the first half with a knee injury and could have been doubtful for last night’s (Wednesday)re-arranged game away at Pontefract Collieries. He was more hopeful of making this coming Saturday’s home game with Cleethorpes Town (3pm) when Town hope to avenge a 5-1 scoreline on the opening game of the season. Cleethorpes, after their 2-0 home win over AFC Emley last Saturday, are currently leading the NPL East Division One table by four points and it will be a tall order for Town to take points from this one but the team is much more settled and improving game on game.

On Boxing Day, Town are away to ninth-placed Garforth Town and it is a 1pm kick off.