FOLLOWING on from their first two pre-season friendlies, against Athersley Recreation and Tadcaster Albion, Brighouse Town have already said goodbye to one player and signed another who impressed in the games.

Striker Kieron Ceesay, 23, who was signed midway through last season from Wakefield, where he was their leading goalscorer, has left for Pontefract Collieries after last Friday night’s 2-1 win over Tadcaster where he was a goalscorer. Ceesay had previously played for Guiseley and Horbury Town and it is thought that Pontefract had scouts at the game.

Manager Grant Black has kept the squad numbers up by signing midfielder Curtis Senior from Horbury Town and is delighted with the capture.

Athersley 0-4 Brighouse Town

Leading supporter Maurice Dyson who led a decent following last Tuesday to Athersley, said it was a game for the players to get to know each other and was good that manager Grant Black used a further eight players in the second half. It was 2-0 at half-time and Town added a further two in the second half.   

The first goalscorer was close season signing from Knaresborough Danny Edwards with a finish into the bottom right corner after a lay-off by Sam Drake. The second came from Cameron Bedford after some nice play; the ball fell to him on edge of the box and he put it in the top right corner. Into the second-half and the third came from another new face, Rhys Plater with a tidy finish into the bottom right corner after some good work from Ceesay to draw away defenders. The fourth goal scorer was Ezio De Santis from the penalty spot after he drew a foul. The former Accrington Stanley and FC Halifax Town player excelled with his pace and skill.

Tadcaster 1-2 Brighouse Town

Town’s first goalscorer at Tadcaster was Jack Normanton, who can play in pre-season games despite being suspended, played a good one-two Danny Edwards and it allowed him to score a looping header.

 Tadcaster scored in 89th minute through Luca Bolino after a good first initial save from Jamie Hassall. However, the ball wasn’t cleared and he snuck it in past the keeper to score at the near post. In the 90th minute, Ceesay picked up the ball on half way line, dribbled through, and rounded the keeper and tucked it away for a last-minute winner.

Last season’s vice-captain Curtis Peters was the outstanding man of the match for Brighouse who deserved the win for a tireless performance.

Manager Black commented on the two games:” 

For the first game with Athersley it was great to get the team together and see things we had looked at so far in pre-season training. Athersley are a team in the NCEL who are physical and fit, so it was a great test for the first game 

“We showed a lot in large parts of the game of we want to play this season with possession and we used the ball well. To score four good goals and a keep a clean sheet gave us lots of positives but also showed us we still have lots to work on.

“Tadcaster was a different game and against a team I always play pre-season as they give a real test in all areas. They keep the ball well, which allowed us to get some practise on our press, 

“And they have good movement so challenged us in regards to defensive shape and we dealt well with that for most parts of the game. Again, we kept the ball well but were a little too slow to move it at times but as we are inputting a new way to play than they have been used to that will take time. Again, the group showed quality and resilience so early on and with lots of changes to players and formations throughout the game it shows they as a group can adapt well in game time scenarios. 

“All in all, two good workouts.”