Dave Parker

BRIGHOUSE TOWN manager Vill Powell squeezed in a behind closed doors friendly on Good Friday evening with Retford United which saw his squad come out 3-0 victors.

The scoreline flattered the visitors from north Nottinghamshire as the normally reliant wide striker Eddie Church was more than a little ring rusty and missed three good chances before half time. All Town had to show for their efforts at the break was goal from Mohammed Ibrahim.

Changes were made to give others a run and shortly into the second half rangy striker Joe Jagger, back from his loan spell at Campion, tapped home from close range and then into the half ex-Clydebank and Huddersfield Town midfielder Jack Boyle made it 3-0.

There was a return to the club of wideman Tom Robinson who missed the whole of last season to concentrate on his young family and new work commitments.

Powell is holding a Zoom meeting for the twelve clubs in the Yorkshire Trophy 2021 competition he has put together to be hopefully rolled out after the Prime Minister’s next major announcements on the releasing of further Lockdown measures next Monday.

The manager has come up with alternatives for all to discuss should spectators still not be allowed in for the opening games next week.

He is hoping that steps 3 and 4 clubs will be allowed like grassroot clubs at steps 5 and 6 be allowed to have spectators to a certain limit to watch the games. There isn’t a problem with the clubhouses as clubs can serve drinks and food via hatches to customers to then consume out on the terraces.

Town are now, as with Brighouse Town Women, back in full training as was witnessed by the visit of the BBC Look North cameras last week but to government guildelines.

Harrogate Town, who have handed former Town striker Aaron Martin a two year contract extension, have confirmed the July 17 date for the pre-season friendly at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium.

TWO GOALS from substitute Ami Woodruff either side of a Drew Greene strike on East Sunday afternoon saw Brighouse Town Women set up a West Yorkshire derby with Huddersfield Town in the next round.

After an uneventful 90 minutes, The Orange Army broke the deadlock early on in the first half of extra time. Woodruff kept herself onside, got behind the defender before firing high and left of the Magpie’s goal. Then moments later a mis-communication in the Newcastle backline allowed Player-of-the-match Drew Greene to nip in and curl into the corner to make it 2-0 just ahead of the break.

With the final kick of the match Woodruff patiently worked her way through the centre of defence, then set herself before firing into the roof of the net.

In the first half for a 20 minute spell the visitors did have chances to take the lead but keeper Carrie Simpson and central defenders Emma Dobson and Abbi Lee managed to keep them out. Town in the first half had not troubled the visiting custodian.

After manager Rob Mitchell and his staff had had words with them at half-time it was a more purposeful home side that came out in the second 45 minutes and before the game went to extra time they did have several good chances to have taken the lead while Newcastle were not the side they had been in the first half.

Town’s Vitality 3rd round tie is away their neighbours at Storthes Hall on Sunday 1pm behind closed doors.