Brighouse Town returned to winning ways in some style on the doorstep of Sherwood Forest with a scintillating 4-1 victory over fellow relegation threatened hosts Sherwood Colliery.

In the early stages of the game on a brand new 4G surface Town struggled to get a foothold into it and it was the Mansfield Woodhouse-based side that held sway.

Promising young keeper Shea Callister had to be on his game and looked like he was going to have to save a penalty some 15 minutes into the game but the referee said the foul had been committed six inches outside the box with then player then stumbling forward towards the six yards box.

This proved a turning point as Town, despite losing acting captain Kevy Tanrangadzo with a re-ocurring hamstring injury, really picked up their game and started coming forward on attack. 

Teenage FC Halifax Town loanee Harvey Coates took over from his skipper and went onto play a key role in stifling out anything that Sherwood threw at Town for the rest of the game. He was well assisted by Matthew Nebard playing his 100th game for the club

In the 34th minute Matthew Tootle split the home defence and found Myron Gibbons in space and he homed in on the home goal and blasted the ball into the net.

This is how the score remained until half-time and then until the 76th minute when Sherwood equalised through Jacob Pearce in a goalmouth scramble.

Town regained the lead four minutes later following a free kick some  25 yards out. Rhys Plater stepped up and sent a blistering shot into the net with keeper just grasping thin air.

Sherwood made four changes but Town were buzzing and added a third in the 89th minute when Danny Edwards, who led the line tirelessly, won a ball in the air and headed down to Gibbons who delightfully added his second of the afternoon.

Three minutes into 10 minutes of added on time, Town’s Hull City loanee midfielder Cameron Gray added a fourth goal to seal victory and three priceless points. 

Town’s good following had extra support from locally based players Josh Egginton and Josh Waldram and they were delighted to cheer off their heroes.

Tarangadzo is likely to miss out on Town’s home game on Saturday with Pontefract Collieries (3pm) and there was also a worry over the experienced Tootle who has added so much to the Town squad since his arrival from Peterborough Sports six weeks ago.

While Town have signed the experienced Danny South on a dual registration from Hallam FC, he is not available until April and the deadline for signings for this season is in one week’s time.

Town have eight more games to keep earning valuable points and ensure another season in the NPL East Division.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Brighouse Town have in the past week shocked promotion play-off sides Dunston and North Ferriby with two hardworking 1-0 victories.

Last Wednesday evening a 17th minute stunning strike from 35 yards out by Rhys Plater beat the Gateshead-based side and then on Saturday away to North Ferriby under the shadow of the Humber Bridge, Town’s experienced new recruit Matthew Tootle struck home in the 29th minute from 15 yards out.

The six points have been most welcome for Grant Black. The passionate manager has gone over and beyond to bring in players to cover injury and suspension with now skipper Josh Grant out for the next three games and also ruled out of the North Ferriby game.

He has brought in midfielders Derry Robson from Bridlington Town and Richard Patterson from Retford, while bringing back right fullback Matthew Tootle from Northampton Town where he was on trial.

Tootle,34, played in the 2-1 win at Liversedge on February 8 after arriving from Peterborough Sports and then went back down the Midlands to see if he could get back in to the EFL. He was included in the game with Dunston and once more brought his calming influence to the game. The Widnesian, who has played for Crewe Alexandra, Shrewsbury Town, Notts County and Chesterfield and has over 300 EFL appearances to his name, was delighted to have been in the right place at the right time to send the ball past Ben Bottomley.

Just ahead of the goal, striker Danny Edwards was brought down by Bottomley just inside the box but referee Steven Taylor looked at his assistant for help and the home side were awarded a free kick!

The Humbersiders were more than held by the Town outfit who had to survive nine minutes of added time before the final whistle. The players were given a rapturous ovation as they came  off the pitch by a very good Town following. Stand-in skipper Kevy Tarangadzo along with Tootle marshalled the players in great style and Isaac Aquah also put in a great shift when he came on as a sub for Cameron Gray  .  

Next up for the side is a home game on Saturday at the Heffernan Utilities Stadium with Sheffield outfit Stocksbridge Park Steels (3.pm).

It is not surprising Town’s on-loan goalkeeper Shea Callister, 18, has been handed an extended contract by Hull City as the 6ft 3ins custodian is looking like going all the way in the game.

The club has awarded goalscoring play anywhere dynamo Rhys Plater a contract after recent performances, Club officials feel he will somewhere down the line also earn himself a deal much higher up the pyramid system.

Town’s manager Grant Black has turned down a move to East Midlands club Clay Cross, preferring to stay with his current club and players.