THE BRIGHOUSE Town end-of-season run continued at the oldest home of English football, Shefffield FC, as they won 2-1 with a late goal by runaway leading goalscorer Laurence Sorhaindo.
Town now take their eight match unbeaten run to the Clayborn Stadium, Liversedge, on Easter Monday (3.0) to take on the leaders of the Pitching In NPL East Division. Liversedge, who will be Town’s West Riding County FA Senior Cup opponents at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium on Friday, May 6, have a tough encounter on Saturday away to Marske United who are level on points but behind on goal difference. Whereas Town have a Saturday off and more time to recover from what was a tough game at Dronfield last Saturday. In front of a 539 crowd, which included former successful player and manager Ronnie Moore, the home side threw everything at Town who took time to settle on a bumpy pitch, dryng out by the minute in the sun and strong northerly wind.
It was 0-0 at the half-time break with home keeper Ryan Musselwhite tipping a Sorhaindo header over and Town’s Brett Souter denying James Baxendale and Nathan Modest, while Sam Greenhouse blew a great chance with a weak effort when one-on-one with the visiting custodian.
Town had the wind behind their backs for the second half but it was Sheffield who went ahead in the 59th minute when Town’s midfielder Corey Gregory brought down Modest in the box. Skipper Marc Newsham made no mistake from the spot to beat Souter and put his side a goal up as they battled for their lives at the foot of the table.
Town had already brought on Zander Edwards for Darius Smith and the next substitution in the 67th minute proved a turning point as the experience and strength of Zeph Thomas, on for Javelle Clarke, really aided Sorhaindo to get into the game and shake off his markers. Five minutes later and Town were level thanks to right wing-back Mohammed Ibrahim who received a ball some 20 yards out headed back to him from the dead ball line by Edwards and he moved forward and then unleashed a shot across goal to beat Musselwhite which sent Town’s large following into raptures.
Three minutes later and Ibrahim, who has been a revelation in his new position since coming back from a long term groin injury, sent another 20-yarder just over the crossbar.
Manager Vill Powell wasn’t finished with the changes and on came Shiraz Khan after 77 minutes following three weeks on the sidelines injured, and in the 84th minute he came in from the left, beat his man and then sent a precision cross into the six yard box and a diving Sorhaindo met the ball beautifully and left Musselwhile no chance of defending his net and Town were 2-1 up.
That is how it stayed despite the home side trying their utmost to salvage a point as they slipped to second from bottom, with Pickering Town propping them up and just above them Lincoln United and Bridlington Town.
