Three Boxing Day points from a 2-1 home win over a ten man Ossett United side took Brighouse Town five places up the table and to within seven points of a play-off place.

The game was only three minutes old when Ossett’s rangy centre-back Danny Burns powered into Town’s keeper Brett Souter who caught a stray knee in his stomach and immediately went to ground in agony. Barnsley referee Connor Everard, after restoring order, showed Burns a red card and there was no protesting from the player although the visiting supporters in the 424 crowd vented their feelings.

Souter, who joined Town from Ossett, had lengthy treatment and was then deemed fit to continue.

Town’s players appeared more shaken by the incident as they proceeded to have a poor first half, giving away too many free kicks and also not finding their men with that vital pass and former Town keeper Ed Hall in the Ossett goal had a quiet time of it.

Anyone coming in late would not have realised the visitors were down to 10 men as they attached with purpose and put the home defence under pressure.

From a corner coming in from the left, Souter punched the ball out of the box but it fell to the feet of Alex Peterson, the former Doncaster Rovers, Belper Town and Sheffield FC striker who smashed the ball into the net on 33 minutes to give his side the lead.

A lead they took in with them at the break as Town, looking slightly more lively in the final five minutes of the half, squandered chances to level the scores.

Town manager Vill Powell replaced Javelle Clarke at half-time with pacey Myron Gibbons and eleven minutes in his side were level when Gibbons came powering in from the left and then unleashed a great shot across the face of goal to level matters as Hall grasped fresh air!. Just ahead of this goal Souter had left the field feeling unwell and was replaced by his deputy keeper Jamie Hassall.

Town were gradually growing more and more into the game and playing the football they are capable of while wing back Mohammed Ibrahim was creating plenty from the back.

Town’s defence had also tightened up with Callum Charlton, Sam Drake, Sam Reed and Josh Dacre all lifting their games.

Powell then delivered a masterstroke as he brought on Bradford City loanee Jack Wilson for Jack Normanton on 70 minutes and within two minutes he had put Town level. Town were now completely on top and Laurence Sorhaindo beat his man and then lined up Wilson on the edge of the box who rifled the ball into the net. Wilson, who earlier in the season had been on loan with Ossett before returning to Valley Parade, continued to torture his former teammates with some tremendous play down the left.

Both Jack Boyle and Sorhaindo missed great chances to make the game well and truly safe while Hall denied Wilson.

Town’s manager was delighted with the second half display and result and said he could put up with some indifference in that first half as long as they well and truly came out and delivered what they are capable in the second half, as they did.

Town had got in some valuable game time last Thursday after two weeks off with the frost in the friendly with Stalybridge Celtic where they won 1-0 with a Sam Drake goal.

On New Year Bank Holiday Monday Town travel to the Brewery Fields to take on bottom club Tadcaster Albion !.0pm) who lost 2-0 at Bridlington Town on Boxing Day.

Powell will be checking on his keeper Souter, who had a safe custodian in Hassall taking over from him and he was in total command of his area when Ossett did fire the occasional shot on his goal.

Town’s next home game is on Saturday, January 7 against Stocksbridge Park Steels in what is looking a very busy month for them with the Hebburn Town away game to re-arrange and for midweek and also the West Riding County Cup third round home game with Manningham club Campion. Gateshead-based Hebburn have put forward Tuesday, January 17 only three days after Town will have travelled to Shildon in County Durham. Town are looking for an alternative date.