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.
