A hard earned victory and a defeat on the road in the North East this past week has left Brighouse Town’s future in the Northern Premier League East Division hanging by a thread.
They need a home win over fifth-placed and play-off guaranteed Carlton Town on Saturday to have any hope of staying up. In fact their fate could be sealed by other clubs at the bottom with them. Grantham Town, who played Liversedge on Monday night, were away to Sheffield last night (Wednesday) and then travel to current bottom club Winterton Rangers on Saturday, who have just won three games on the trot. Ossett United, one place above Town, and Bridlington Town could both be overhauled by Town if they win and they lose and then club officials are also looking at the goal difference.
Town’s committee are pulling out all the stops to get everyone connected with the club to turn out in force to cheer Paul Quinn’s charges on and neighbouring FC Halifax Town supporters and anyone else who can lend their support.
“A big crowd will certainly make a difference and lift the players to ensure Brighouse Town hopefully stay up and not be relegated for the first time in their history,” said life vice-president Ray McLaughlin.
Caretaker manager Paul Quinn has no injuries from the two games played at Consett and Stockton and was having two intensive training sessions this week with his assistant Steve Waide and U-23s and U-18 coach Mark Ellis at his side.
Town, after surviving some early pressure at Consett on the Tuesday night, really grew into the game and deservedly took the lead in the 38th minute when fullback Josh Dacre stabbed home in a busy six yard box.
Ex-Bradford City player Curtis Peters, back from injury, was now prominent for Town along with Samuel Drake, Mo Qasim and Jack Wilson as Town looked for a second.
Town resumed the second half 1-0 up and the support noticed they were now playing more football on the carpet and stretching the home side.
They won a couple of corners which were cleared and then the third brought the second goal on 62 minutes. Wilson sent in an inswinging corner which deceived defender Calvin Smith and the ball was also helped into the roof of the net by goalkeeper Kelechi Chibuze who is on loan to them from Sunderland.
Three minutes later and Quinn brought on Jack Normanton for Myron Gibbons and he absolutely ran his socks off as Town did not sit back on their lead and took the game to a stunned Consett. They almost had two more goals which were denied by last ditch tackles or Qasim and Normanton would have been on the scoresheet.
At the final whistle the relieved travelling support gave their side a tremendous ovation as they left the pitch.
On the Saturday at Stockton, who appear to have blown the championship and automatic promotion in favour of Hebburn Town after leading the table for weeks on end, Town were in the game until the 57th minute when a screamer from 25 yards out by Glen Butterworth finally beat Jamie Hassall who was having another fine game.
Town had more than their fare share of chances in the first half including a penalty being awarded when Myron Gibbons was brought down by keeper Nat Harker in the box. After his rare penalty miss at home to Pontefract Collieries leading goalscorer Qasim was replaced by Gibbons.
However, he fluffed his lines as he hit the ball twice and while it did roll into the net, referee Matthew East quite rightly disallowed the `goal’!
Town fans in the 1,218 crowd were stunned. Would it be a nil-nil epic and a valuable point gained the away support said they would take at the break.
Town were well in it when Butterworth sent the crowd wild and nine minutes later Kevin Hayes made it 2-0 but was clearly offside.
Hayes was involved in his club’s third goal on 73 minutes when his low shot was saved by Hassall but parried to the feet of Michael Fowler who made no mistake.
Town did have a good chance of a goal when skipper Josh Grant played a great diagonal ball across the pitch to leave Gibbons free but he hit the ball on the half volley and it went into the side netting.
As the saying goes, squeaky bum time right now for the club and its supporters but by this time next week they might all have a different tale to tell.
