Brighouse Town returned to winning ways in the league last Saturday with a 2-1 home victory over Newton Ayclifffe.
All three goals came in the second half but there was still plenty of goalmouth action in the first half, especially from the Town perspective.
Sunderland loanee goalkeeper Daniel Cameron was in brilliant form all the game and in the first 45 minutes he saved three good chances from Mo Qasim, new signing Will Calligan and Jack Normanton, along with his defence aiding with some blocks.
The County Durham side’s strikers Cole Kiernan and Cieran Jackson also made the Town defence work hard in which there was a return by Matty Nebard who left in the summer for Pontefract Colieries but ended up signing on Friday from Campion.
However, both defences won out and it was 0-0 at the break.
The second half was only three minutes old when Town went into the lead through their leading goalscorer Qasim who was fed a sublime ball to split the away defence wide open and he this time superbly beat Cameron to make it 1-0.
Three minutes later and Town were two up as Qasim fed Normanton who went round Cameron and rolled the ball in to the bottom corner of the net.
In the 57th minute Town should have been three goals to the good as Normanton put the ball across the face of the goal but Qasim just took a touch, when a first time strike would have been the better option and his shot was then saved by Cameron.
Ten minutes later Normanton, who covered some ground in the game, rose to a cross and his bullet header was tipped over by Cameron.
Newton Aycliffe worked hard to get back into the game but centre-backs Joprge Sikora and Alexander Phillipson worked overtime to protect Michael Roxburgh’s goal.
Myron Gibbons replaced former Barnsley and Bradford Park Avenue midfielder Calligan on 66 minutes and proceeded to run the Newton Aycliffe defence ragged with his pace. There was also a welcome return on 87 minutes for former Bradford City player Jack Wilson after a lengthy leg injury. Three minutes later and the visitors pulled a goal back as Liam Adamson sent his hard shot in from Roxburgh’s left and the Spennymoor reserve keeper could only get a finger tip to the ball as it sped into the net.
Town were disappointed to concede late again in the game but they held out for a valuable three points.
On Saturday in the third qualifying round of the Isuzu FA Trophy, Town travel to Hurst Cross, Ashton-Under-Lyne to take on a Ashrton United side very much on form in the Northern Premier Division and also the FA Cup and Trophy. They currently sit in sixth place and after a 2-0 win over Lancaster City last weekend in the FA Cup they are now away on Saturday week to Kidderminster Harriers in the fourth qualifying round.
Town manager Vill Powell and assistant Louis Axcell went across the Pennines on Tuesday night to watch United take on Morpeth.
Powell has released former Huddersfield Town Academy keeper Roxburgh and re-signed James Hassall to fight for a place in goals with Harry Garman.
Next Wednesday night, October 11, (7.45) Town are away to Bradford club Thackley in the first round of the West Riding County FA Senior Cup.
