Brighouse Town have been relegated from the Northern Premier League’s East Division over the Easter period and lose their step 4 status and look like heading to the step 5 Northern Counties East League from which they were promoted some ten years ago.
Having lost the three points in the week leading up to games with Bishop Auckland and Garforth Town, Brighouse needed to win both games but they lost 3-0 up in Durham and and then drew 2-2 with Garforth back at the Heffernan Utilities Stadium on Easter Monday.
They had only Bridlington Town to target and they also lost 3-0 at home to Stocksbridge PS on the Saturday but they went to Grimsby Borough on Monday beat them 2-0.
Town’s long trips to the north east and the midlands will now disappear and be replaced with away games in West and South Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. They will still appear in the FA Cup and over the closed season will have to look to rebuild a side to play at this lower level.
At Bishop Auckland’s tidy stadium, where the previous evening Middlesbrough U-21s had played West Brom U-21s, Town had the better chances to score in the first half but didn’t take them despite having a very strong wind at their backs.
Bishop Auckland introduced former Newcastle United winger Louis Johnson in the second half and he was `troublesome’ from the off and he provided some telling crosses in to the box and Glen Hargrave bagged a hat-trick in 18 minutes. Town did have the ball in the net through substitute Isaac Acquah but he was narrowly ruled offside.
Word came through on the Bridlington defeat and it was status quo for Monday.
Town opened the scoring against Garforth after 18 minutes through a Danny Edwards pile driver that deceived the keeper Harry Flatters. However the visitors replied four minutes later when Rinor Ejupi beat Shea Callister also from distance.
In the 32nd minute Garforth were 2-1 up but in very controversial circumstances. It was Ejupi once more but the ball came off his thigh and straight onto his hand and he appeared to steer the ball into his path before finding the net with it. Callister was furious along with his defenders and supporters behind the goal. Referee Ian Johnston who had given the goal went to see his assistant Jodie Hunter and after speaking with her he once more pointed to the centre circle and the goal stood.
Town now needed to score two more goals and keep Garforth out. The visitors blew several chances and also hit the crossbar and Town could only manager an equaliser some three minutes into added on time through Acquah.
With two minutes on the clock to play Garforth Town’s captain Jamie Barkway was sent off for tripping Edwards and goalkeeper Flatters was very lucky to stay on after strongly pushing Edwards inside the box
Town’s manager Grant Black ahead of the added on time was sent off, not for the first time this season, and told to leave for the dressing rooms by the referee.
On Saturday Town travel to Sheffield FC (3pm), who are also relegated, for a dead rubber of a match and a meet up with their former manager Vill Powell.
