Brighouse Town returned to winning ways in some style on the doorstep of Sherwood Forest with a scintillating 4-1 victory over fellow relegation threatened hosts Sherwood Colliery.
In the early stages of the game on a brand new 4G surface Town struggled to get a foothold into it and it was the Mansfield Woodhouse-based side that held sway.
Promising young keeper Shea Callister had to be on his game and looked like he was going to have to save a penalty some 15 minutes into the game but the referee said the foul had been committed six inches outside the box with then player then stumbling forward towards the six yards box.
This proved a turning point as Town, despite losing acting captain Kevy Tanrangadzo with a re-ocurring hamstring injury, really picked up their game and started coming forward on attack.
Teenage FC Halifax Town loanee Harvey Coates took over from his skipper and went onto play a key role in stifling out anything that Sherwood threw at Town for the rest of the game. He was well assisted by Matthew Nebard playing his 100th game for the club
In the 34th minute Matthew Tootle split the home defence and found Myron Gibbons in space and he homed in on the home goal and blasted the ball into the net.
This is how the score remained until half-time and then until the 76th minute when Sherwood equalised through Jacob Pearce in a goalmouth scramble.
Town regained the lead four minutes later following a free kick some 25 yards out. Rhys Plater stepped up and sent a blistering shot into the net with keeper just grasping thin air.
Sherwood made four changes but Town were buzzing and added a third in the 89th minute when Danny Edwards, who led the line tirelessly, won a ball in the air and headed down to Gibbons who delightfully added his second of the afternoon.
Three minutes into 10 minutes of added on time, Town’s Hull City loanee midfielder Cameron Gray added a fourth goal to seal victory and three priceless points.
Town’s good following had extra support from locally based players Josh Egginton and Josh Waldram and they were delighted to cheer off their heroes.
Tarangadzo is likely to miss out on Town’s home game on Saturday with Pontefract Collieries (3pm) and there was also a worry over the experienced Tootle who has added so much to the Town squad since his arrival from Peterborough Sports six weeks ago.
While Town have signed the experienced Danny South on a dual registration from Hallam FC, he is not available until April and the deadline for signings for this season is in one week’s time.
Town have eight more games to keep earning valuable points and ensure another season in the NPL East Division.
