BRIGHOUSE TOWN supporters eagerly awaiting the 2022-23 fixtures on Friday were handed two home preliminary round draws in the Emirates FA Cup and The Isuzu FA Trophy when the draws were made last Friday.
They will host the winners on Saturday, August 20 of the Extra preliminary round tie between Anfield-based North West Counties Premier Division club Lower Breck and south Yorkshire club Penistone Church who play on Saturday, August 6. The prize money at that stage is £1,444 to the winners, but, as director of football Charlie Tolley said upon hearing the draw, home advantage is key and all that goes with that. Town were last at home four seasons ago at this stage and disappointingly lost to Parkgate of Sheffield.
In the FA Trophy first round qualifying on Saturday, September 10 they will entertain Worksop Town and the winners will receive £1,500. Should they beat the north Nottinghamshire club they will be away to Prescot Cables or Cleethorpes on Saturday, September 24 with the incentive being £2.250.
In the meantime they are taking on loan until January 1, 2023, Bradford City’s U-19 captain and striker Bobby Pointon. Whether he will be allowed to play in the July 29 home pre-season frinedly with the Bantams will remain to be seen.
Town lost their first game in the Yorkshire Trophy last Friday night at home to Garforth Town after taking a well deserved 1-0 lead with an Elliopt Harrison goal on 19 minutes.
Garforth equalised in the 43rd minute when Town’s centre back Harrison Beeden put through his own goal.
In a lively game Garforth took the lead in the 69th minute when James Burgess jinked his way through in the box and beat Charlie English.
Town failed to convert several good chances and at the other end gave away a penalty. However English, a former Leeds United academy player, saved the spot kick and then the rebounded effort.
The Town side contained quite a few trialists.
A goal in added on time saw Town defeat Rotherham club Swallownest 2-1 in their latest Yorkshire Trophy pre-season match on Tuesday night.
Town were a goal down after just two minutes when from a precision struck cross from the right Sam Foulds delivered a powerhouse header which beat keeper Charlie English at his near post.
The score remained 1-0 until the 51st minute when Jack Boyle, who had come on as a substitute, hammered home on the angle from some 15 yards out after he had just blazed over the bar five minutes earlier.
Town had taken charge of the game and the Swallownest goal was leading a charmed life. Zeph Thomas had the ball in the net from a cross but was ruled offside and it took a ball into the box for Alex King to just beat the outstretched arms of the keeper and net the all important goal.
Town’s final game is next Tuesday at home to Horbury Town when it looks as though not only a win is needed to make the final but also a clean sheet and a few more goals to be fired into the back of the net.
On Saturday Town are away at Eccleshill United (3.0) in what is now becoming an annual pre-season friendly and then on Tuesday, July 19 (7.45) they return to the Yorkshire Trophy for a home game with Horbury Town (7.45).
The club’s AGM will be held at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium, next Thursday, July 21st, 2022 at 6pm. All supporters are most welcome to attend.
