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Brighouse echo Sport – Town News by Dave Parker.

A LAURENCE Sorhaindo hat-trick ensured Brighouse Town gained revenge over Frickley Athletic for a 2-1 reverse at their South Elmsall ground back in August and they kept their unbeaten home league and cup run going.

The club’s leading goalscorer was on the scoresheet after six minutes when he banged home a penalty after being brought down in the box.

Ten minutes later and a ball from the left found Frickley’s Rio Monyneaux on his own on the right an he saw off the challenge of Josh Grant and firmly planted the ball in the top corner of the net out of the reach of Brett Souter.

Town’s heads didn’t go down and Corey Gregory and Thomas Haigh ensured in midfield that their side got on top in the remainder of the half.

The second half was only a minute old and a ball came down the centre of the pitch and Sorhaindo controlled and then headed for goal, seeing off two defenders with guile and strength and then when facing keeper Joshua Chapman he drew him and then slotted the ball into the empty net.

Town were really piling on the pressure with Shiraz Khan and Sorhaindo attacking with strength and purpose. The third goal after the third of succession of corners came in the 69th minute and Grant’s in-swinger was mishandled by under pressure Chapman and Sorhaindo pounced to hammer into the net to make it 3-1.

Fresh legs from Jack Boyle, Elliot Harrison, who was very impressive in his cameo role, and Mikey Starkey ensured that Frickley’s movement up field and chances were very limited in the last 20 minutes. The added time in the second half was very feisty and Bradford referee Darius Bradley brought his cautions to seven for the match with five minutes on the clock.

Saturday’s game proved to be the last in a Brighouse Town shirt for ex-Emley fullback Starkey who has been crossed off this week after an approach from his village club Golcar United who play in the North West Counties League Division and are currently league leaders, three points ahead of new club Bury AFC.

Town, who were last night (Wednesday) entertaining Thackley in the re-arranged second round of the West Riding County FA Senior Cup, are away on Saturday at Gateshead club Dunston (3.00). They drew 0-0 with Dunston on the opening game of the season at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium and the Tynesiders are currently in sixth place to Town’s10th position.

There is a coach leaving the Old Pond, Hove Edge at 10.45.

Town will then have a break from fixtures until the Monday after Christmas, December 27, when current second-placed Liversedge are the visitors and Town officials are preparing for a big turnout for the derby game.

MATCH REPORT | Stockton Town 3-2 Brighouse Town

By James Bushnell


Early on Stockton was pressing but the Brighouse defence did well to defend any chance of them scoring an early goal. Brighouse went on the attack but it turned out to be offside, from the free kick the ball came back to Souter and slips and falls he tried to scramble back to his goal but it was too late as Nathan steel for Stockton put the ball in the back of an open goal. Brighouse didn’t put their heads down and tried to get the equaliser as they went on the attack again but it was offside again.later on in the game Stockton had a corner but it was headed away by the Brighouse defence Brighouse went on the break with Clarke and was fouled and gets a free kick the ball gets put into the box but nothing was created. Sorhaindo had a chance to get in front of goal but it was broken down by the Stockton defender and it went for a Brighouse throw, the orange army were getting into the game with having the majority of the possession, Brighouse had another attack but the ball went out of play and Stockton conceded a corner this corner was cleared away. The Orange army had a other attack with Sorhaindo and he took this chance with both hands and drilled the ball into the bottom corner a brilliant shot to make it 1-1.

Sorhaindo went on the attack once again he got in behind of the defended but a 50/50 challenge stopped from anything happening. Stockton had a chance from nowhere but the shot was blocked effectively and play resumed with a Brett Souter goal kick. Brighouse was given a free kick in the attacking third they tried to take it quickly but the ref pulled it back the free kick was retaken and no chance was created. From this free kick Stockton went on the break but Souter was there to nullify the danger.Stockton break once more and get a corner out of it but Brighouse went on the counter attack and was just lacking the final ball it make them go in front. Haigh with a rocket of s shot but it was blocked once again. The first card of the night was a yellow and it was given to Brighouse’s Haigh for a high boot. Just before the half time whistle Zeph Thomas had a strike on goal but it was a comfortable save for the keeper. 

Half time 

Brighouse came out into the second half with an attack they tried with an over the top ball to sorhaindo the keeper collects. Brighouse in the second half was making a positive impact in the second half with having another attack this time it got cut back into the box it was going straight to the Brighouse attacker but the keeper rushed out and got the ball and stopped the attack from happening. Later on into the game it was getting a 50/50 game with the possession and the attacks. Stockton was trying to get back into the game and they won a free kick but it nothing came from it and the score was still 1-1. Sorhaindo was growing in this game he had another chance but it was blocked the orange army was edging closer to break the deadlock. Stockton conceded another free kick into a dangerous area but the chance went over the bar. The first sub of the night was to Stockton the number 10 went off and the number 12 came on for Stockton. Brighouse were really trying to get in front as they had another attack but they wasn’t finding the end product.

The orange army made a change Jack Boyle came on for Zeph Thomas. Stockton went on the attack but it was defended well and Brighouse conceded a corner the ball came over to the back post and the ball went into the back of the net with a strike what went into the top corner. This didn’t deter the orange army as they still believed that they could get something out of this game, Sorhaindo had a chance what was sliced wide. 73 minutes played and the score was still 2-1 to Stockton. Brighouse was on the attack they were calling for a penalty but it wasn’t given. The No. 9 for Stockton scored a rebound goal after the ball hit the post 3-1. There was a big miss from Sorhaindo he had two chances to try get the orange army back into the game. Stockton went on another attack the number 7 has a chance but defended by Brighouse. In the 88th minute Khan went through on goal and scored to make it 3-2 to Brighouse. In the last seconds of the game Brighouse had a chance with a header but it just went wide and the full time whistle was blown. 

Full Time Stockton 3-2 Brighouse

Covid 19 Updated information after July 19th Government announcement.

Please see below the statement issued by BTAFC after the July 19th announcement. Following the Prime Ministers new restrictions update on Dec 8th, we would like to remind everyone visiting the Yorkshire Payments Stadium of the Clubs policy.

Although the Government have eased restrictions recently (July 19th), they have recommended that we continue to promote and encourage the practises that keep us safe, especially in crowded public areas. We have also received guidance from the FA asking us to adopt practises in line with the Government recommendations.
         Brighouse Town intend to fully adopt and follow wherever possible the guidance that will keep all Players, Coaches, Staff, Volunteers and Supporters as safe as possible when they visit the Yorkshire Payments Stadium. The Clubs full Risk Assessment can be found on the Clubs Website.
        We would advise all Visitors to the Ground to consider wearing a face covering in crowded and enclosed settings to protect themselves and others. Likewise, we would encourage everyone to “check in” using the NHS App to scan the QR Code or give your details on the form provided.
           Finally, Brighouse Town Players, Coaches, Staff and Volunteers have been informed they must take a Lateral Flow Test (LFT) 48hrs before any fixture at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium with the view to keeping everyone safe and restricting the potential spread of the virus, and with this in mind we would also encourage all other visitors to the Ground to also take an LFT before attending a game.

Brighouse Echo Sport – Town News by Dave Parker

BRIGHOUSE TOWN were well worthy of a result at Stockton Town last Saturday, but Lady Luck once more deserted them just like she had the week before when the floodlights went out when they were leading Yorkshire Amateur 3-0.

The game was only four minutes old when Town’s reliable keeper Brett Souter got his studs stuck in the 3G pitch and keeled over back pedaling in an attempt to prevent the home side’s Alfie Conway helping himself to an early Christmas present.

Vill Powell’s men came bounding back and inside 10 minutes from the cruel setback, leading goalscorer Laurence Sorhaindo powered to the edge of the box, swiveled and sent in a cracking low drive to beat keeper Callum Roberts.

The visitors then took charge of the game, with skipper Tom Haigh and widemen Javelle Clareke and Shiraz Khan giving the home defence plenty to think about. They were unlucky not to take the lead when Zeph Thomas let fire with a thunderous shot only for Thomas to be in the right place at the right time and they went in at the break drawing 1-1.

Into the second half and it was Town who were more attack minded and the Town defence of Harrison Beeden, Aiden Walker and Josh Grant were thwarting all the home side attempted. However Town just couldn’t find the back of the net and against the run of play in the 68th minute Kevin Haytes gave Souter no chance with a blistering drive and 13 minutes later fortune favoured them when a Jamie Owens low effort cannoned off a post and Nathan Steel was on hand to steer the ball home and make it 3-1.

Town’s players picked up the cudgel and attacked again and were rewarded in the 89th minute with a Khan goal after Sorhaindo had a great chance to bag his brace with an empty net staring at him and substitute Jack Boyle just missing a heading chance off a Khan cross.

Town’s West Riding County FA Cup tie second round tie with Thackley was postponed on Monday night with the Yorkshire Payments Stadium under water. Both clubs have now agreed to meet at the same venue next Wednesday, December 15 (7.45).

This Saturday Town entertain Frickley Athletic from south Yorkshire (3.00) and a side just one place below them in the NPL East Division table. Town need take the three points from Frickley who beat them 2-1 back in August during the first week of the season and commence a climb up the table.

“The commitment, skill and effort is there, we just need the rub of the green as we were having with Yorkshire Amateur when bad luck struck,” said assistant manager John Francis.

Manager Powell has had electrical contractor friends of his up from Sheffield to work on the power supply across the stadium and they have also sorted different heating apparatus in the various buildings.

Halifax-based proven striker Nathan Cartman who was rumoured to be a target for Town on his release from Scarborough Athletic last week over travel problems, has joined Yorkshire Amateur as assistant player-manager. His new club will be playing the replayed game with Town on Saturday, February 12.

Brighouse Echo Sport – Town News by Dave Parker

BRIGHOUSE TOWN were cruising to what looked like a comfortable victory at three nil up over Leeds-based Yorkshire Amateur after 60 minutes last Saturday afternoon when several of the floodlight pylons failed.

It was particularly devastating for groundsman Wally Hemingway who had worked for five hours non-stop to get the pitch cleared of snow and then marked with the assistance of vice-chairman Charles Tolley to ensure it was the only game going ahead in the NPL East Division.

Manager Vill Powell, his coaching staff and the players, who had played so well up to that point, were left almost speechless when word came back to Barnsley referee Ashley Royston that the lights couldn’t be fixed. Yorkshire Amateur’s dressing was a completely different place as they had got out of jail.

Town opened the scoring in 35 seconds from the kick-off as Shiraz Khan took advantage of a lost ball and then went along the byline before squaring to Javelle Clarke who fired home inside the six yard box. The dominance continued as Town played directly into a gale force northerly wind and they increased their lead in the ninth minute when Zeph Thomas rolled back the years with a sublime turn and finish from some 15 yards out on the right of the box. They made it 3-0 in the 29th minute following Laurence Sorhaindo hitting the foot of a post and on the rebound Clarke bagged his brace.

Town were well in control up to half-time and the fifteen minutes in to the second half before their bad luck struck.

The game is now likely to be replayed on Saturday, February 12, a date the league have put aside for block postponements and games abandoned owing to weather related problems.

In the meantime Town officials were today (Thursday) having electrical contractors in to sort the problem ahead of them entertaining Thackley FC next Monday (7.45) in the 2nd round of the West Riding County FA Senior Cup. They also have on Saturday week Frickley Atheltic as visitors to commence the second half of the season.

To allay any fears of a floodlight problem Town’s Women’s team for their re-arranged FA Cup 2nd round home tie with Faresley Celtic will kick off at 1pm on Sunday.

The academy game with Runcorn Linnets (12.0) today at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium is a major doubt after the rain Tuesday night and then more heavy rain across lunctime Wednesday.

On Saturday Powell’s men are treading new ground as they travel to Stockton-on-Tees to take on the town’s former EBAC Northern League Division One club (3.0). Powell is hopeful that two of his senior injured players, central defender James Hurtley (hamstring) and fullback Mike Starkey (ankle ligaments) will be available for selection. Danny Raachi (ankle ligaments) will be another two weeks at least but he is doing some running with physio Emily Harnden.

There is a coach making the trip and it will leave the Old Pond at 11am.

CLUB STATEMENT | Yorkshire Amateur Game

In the 61st minute of yesterday’s game with Yorkshire Amateurs, the game was brought to a hault due to the floodlights turning off.

We inspected the fuse box and tried to restart the lights 15 minutes after them giving way. Unfortunately we only managed to get 2 of the 6 lights on and therefore we couldn’t continue the game. Our PA system is connected to the same circuit as the floodlights which then prevented us getting the message out to supporters.

We apologise for the lack of communication that happened in the stadium to get the message across to supporters. A new date will be announced for the rearranged game in due course.